Usually the most read and fun post that I do for everyone is my race-specific music playlist. This isn't just some random mix of music put together to get me through my race. This is a well thought out, time taken, thought provoking, course specific mash of music that is designed with every minute of the race taken into account.
I've done play lists for other people and they really appreciate the ebbs and flows that go along with putting a mix together. There are things to consider such as, how long are you planning on running, hills on the course, how long flat sections are, where you think you're going to need to get a boost of energy or where you need to bring yourself back down and a whole lot other factors.
Looking at the NYC elevation profile on the link, you see that I have thought long and hard about my playlist and how I'm going to shoot for a sub-3 hour race this coming Sunday.
NYC Marathon Elevation
While the majority of the music I like is Top 40, there are other songs that have a weird meaning to me and just something different to lighten the mood. It might not be for everyone, but below is the playlist that will take me along the streets of New York City.
1. This Town- OAR
2. She Ain't You- Chris Brown
3. Sick of Being Lonely-Field Mob
4. Up in Da Club- Marquees Houston
5. Stitches- Shawn Mendes
6. Danza Kuduro- Don Omar
7. Miss Independent- NeYo
8. Bailando- Enrique Iglesias
9. Price Tag- Jesse J
10. Where Them Girls At- David Guetta
11. Dip It Low- Christina Milian
12. International Love- PitBull
13. Don't Stop Believing- Journey
14. Bad Blood- Taylor Swift
15. Airplanes- B.O.B
16. On MY Mind- Ellie Goulding
17. Dangerous- David Guetta
18. Whistle- Flo Rida
19. Barden Bellas Final performance- Pitch Perfect 1
20. Let Me Love You- NeYo
21. Wild Wild Love- PitBull
22. See You Again- Charlie Puth
23. My Time- Fabolous
24. Pump It Up- Joe Budden
25. The Man- Aloe Blacc
26. Starships- Nikki Minaj
27. Rest of My Life- Ludacris
28. Raise Your Glass- Pink
29. Magic- B.O.B
30. Like a Warrior- Matasyahu
31. Good Feeling- Flo Rida
32. The Monster- Eminem
33. Ghost- Ellie Goulding
34. Break Your Heart- Taio Cruz
35. Stand By You- Rachel Platton
36. I Cry- Flo Rida
37. Right Now- David Guetta
38. Timber- Pitbull
39. Empire State of Mind- Jay-z
40. Talk Dirty- Jason Derulo
41. Let It Roll- Flo Rida
42. Fight Song- Rachel Platton
43. Dynamite- Taio Cruz
44. Time of Our Lives- Pitbull
45. Payphone- Maroon 5
46. Can't Hold Us- Macklemore
47. Give Me Everything- Pitbull- Plan on Finishing on this song
48. Club Can't Hold Me- Flo Rida
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Thursday, October 22, 2015
When the student becomes the teacher
Those who have followed my blog for a while know that my friend Leo and I often race together. We have been doing it for close to 10 years. But not many people know the true story of how it all started. We became friends as a result of being neighbors. However, Leo used to smoke, and I would refuse to hang out with him when he smoked. This led to some weird nights where Leo would go outside to smoke and leave me at the bar. Finally, I said to him that if we were going to hang out, then he would have to stop smoking. He reluctantly agreed. But over time he started to get healthier and began to run. At first it was just a mile or so, but it ultimately we did our first Half Marathon together in Baltimore, and have built on it for the past 10 years. Over time, it has been half marathons, marathon, triathlons, etc
That is a very general synopsis of our race history. Why is that important, really it's not. But to say how impressed I am with him is an understatement. Leo basically turned his life around and is (almost) just as active as me.
Now Leo has become the teacher. He has taken my lead and next week he is running the NYC Marathon for the 2nd time (maybe 3rd, I can't remember). But this year will be completely different. He now is running with a friend from college for his first marathon. Leo has taken everything that I have taught him and is using it to help coach his buddy. In fact, Leo is taking it a step further and running the entire race at his friends pace. Something that I have never done with Leo. It takes a lot to slow down and run at someone else's pace, but Leo understands the importance of making sure his friend gets the training he needs, and that he enjoys his first NYC Marathon experience.
As a result of this great thing Leo is doing, Mizuno got hold of his story and is sponsoring both Leo and his friend for the marathon experience. Leo has always asked me about my partnerships, but now he has this great opportunity as well. Leo and his friend, Doug get to see what it's like to be pampered throughout race week. Much like I did for Timex last year, they are filming spots of them running in NY, getting free shoes/gear, having a nice pre-race dinner, and some more great things.
Since, I feel like a proud papa, I wanted to help share Leo's story and experience this week. I'll continue to post his link over the week leading up to the race and show his progress, pictures, videos, etc. Though I am a proud Skora users and will be wearing them for my NYC Marathon (and for every run that I will ever do), this is Leo's first experience of getting some type of sponsorship, so I want share his excitement as well
Great job Leo.
Full video of Leo's journey
That is a very general synopsis of our race history. Why is that important, really it's not. But to say how impressed I am with him is an understatement. Leo basically turned his life around and is (almost) just as active as me.
Now Leo has become the teacher. He has taken my lead and next week he is running the NYC Marathon for the 2nd time (maybe 3rd, I can't remember). But this year will be completely different. He now is running with a friend from college for his first marathon. Leo has taken everything that I have taught him and is using it to help coach his buddy. In fact, Leo is taking it a step further and running the entire race at his friends pace. Something that I have never done with Leo. It takes a lot to slow down and run at someone else's pace, but Leo understands the importance of making sure his friend gets the training he needs, and that he enjoys his first NYC Marathon experience.
As a result of this great thing Leo is doing, Mizuno got hold of his story and is sponsoring both Leo and his friend for the marathon experience. Leo has always asked me about my partnerships, but now he has this great opportunity as well. Leo and his friend, Doug get to see what it's like to be pampered throughout race week. Much like I did for Timex last year, they are filming spots of them running in NY, getting free shoes/gear, having a nice pre-race dinner, and some more great things.
Since, I feel like a proud papa, I wanted to help share Leo's story and experience this week. I'll continue to post his link over the week leading up to the race and show his progress, pictures, videos, etc. Though I am a proud Skora users and will be wearing them for my NYC Marathon (and for every run that I will ever do), this is Leo's first experience of getting some type of sponsorship, so I want share his excitement as well
Great job Leo.
Full video of Leo's journey
 |
| Nice shot of Leo's leg's and new Mizuno shoes |
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
It's been 5 years
This post is a little premature by a few days, but this Friday is my 5 year wedding anniversary with the wife. Usually my posts are about training, racing, products, or random things, but the truth of the matter is that none of it would be possibly without the support (cough, cough, most of the time), from the wife.
A little background on us is we actually met when she was 12 and I was 13. I was her first slow dance ever, and I was actually her junior prom date back in high school. She will admit that she had a huge crush on me throughout high school, so I like to remind her every once in a while that not many girls get to marry the man of their dreams, or at least their high school crushes. We never dated back then, but we reconnected after about 15 years of not seeing each other and dated for about 2 years before tying the knot. What's cool is that we have pictures from her junior prom (which there is no way I will post) and also have pictures from our wedding. It happens to be a very nice full circle.
There are very few people in this world that can put up with me. I tend to have a lot of moods, keep to myself, have little desire to socialize except for during racing/training, so the fact that we have been together for this long is pretty amazing. The wife definitely puts up with a lot of crap and while I am not an emotional or affectionate person, she definitely deserves some type of award. She is the one who allows me to travel for both work and racing, put the long hours in on the asphalt, and recognizes when I need to get out and just run to calm me down.
There have been some rough patches over the 5 years, but there has never been any between us. Every couple fights, but we have limited ours to the most stupid things that are insignificant in reality. I can't think of any drag it out, no holds barred, punches being thrown fits that we have had which is quite amazing if you know both of us. We are both strong opinionated people, so the fact that we can somehow make it work is special.
The wife has taken care of Thunder when I travel for work, and has given me Riley, so life seems pretty good. And without her support, I could never have become the TriRunningDad so this anniversary is for her. What seems to be very coincidental is that the 5 year anniversary present is considered the "wood" anniversary. I'm going to use the fact that I bought her a house this year, and cash in that the house has wood as her present. I think it definitely counts.
To the wife, thank you for the past 5 years, and looking forward to many more.
A little background on us is we actually met when she was 12 and I was 13. I was her first slow dance ever, and I was actually her junior prom date back in high school. She will admit that she had a huge crush on me throughout high school, so I like to remind her every once in a while that not many girls get to marry the man of their dreams, or at least their high school crushes. We never dated back then, but we reconnected after about 15 years of not seeing each other and dated for about 2 years before tying the knot. What's cool is that we have pictures from her junior prom (which there is no way I will post) and also have pictures from our wedding. It happens to be a very nice full circle.
There are very few people in this world that can put up with me. I tend to have a lot of moods, keep to myself, have little desire to socialize except for during racing/training, so the fact that we have been together for this long is pretty amazing. The wife definitely puts up with a lot of crap and while I am not an emotional or affectionate person, she definitely deserves some type of award. She is the one who allows me to travel for both work and racing, put the long hours in on the asphalt, and recognizes when I need to get out and just run to calm me down.
There have been some rough patches over the 5 years, but there has never been any between us. Every couple fights, but we have limited ours to the most stupid things that are insignificant in reality. I can't think of any drag it out, no holds barred, punches being thrown fits that we have had which is quite amazing if you know both of us. We are both strong opinionated people, so the fact that we can somehow make it work is special.
The wife has taken care of Thunder when I travel for work, and has given me Riley, so life seems pretty good. And without her support, I could never have become the TriRunningDad so this anniversary is for her. What seems to be very coincidental is that the 5 year anniversary present is considered the "wood" anniversary. I'm going to use the fact that I bought her a house this year, and cash in that the house has wood as her present. I think it definitely counts.
To the wife, thank you for the past 5 years, and looking forward to many more.
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