Marathon Running Playlist

I mentioned in one of my last posts that I've taken up running.  Long story short - after reading several very inspirational books, I realized that I don't have to be the fastest, I don't have to be the best.  I just have to put one foot in front of the other and run.  And I have to say that I'm loving it.  I'm averaging 15-20 miles/week right now. I'll admit, there are times during each run that I find myself hating the moment.  But overall, running has become a mental challenge for me.  I love seeing if I can run farther or faster than...myself.  I'm a competitive person, but I've never been a good enough runner to be competitive at this sport.  However, I can be competitive with myself.  What a fun mind game!

Part of the fun for me is discovering new music that makes me happy while I'm running.  Although I've started slow and started with reasonable distances, in my heart of hearts I would love to work up to running the Denver Marathon in October of 2011.  In honor of the year ahead in training (and all those races that will hopefully fall into place along the way), I've created a marathon playlist.  I'm always looking for new songs, so feel free to leave your ideas in the comments.  Enjoy!

1. Accidentally In Love - Counting Crows
2. Ain't No Other Man - Christina Aguilera
3. Black Horse and the Cherry Tree - KT Tunstall
4. Bleed It Out - Linkin Park
5. Boom - P.O.D.
6. Break Your Heart - Taio Cruz & Ludacris
7. Brick House - The Commodores
8. Califonia Gurls - Katy Perry
9. Candyman - Christina Aguilera
10. Close To Me - The Cure
11. Come On Eileen - Save Ferris
12. Consequence Free - Great Big Sea
13. Crazy - Gnarls Barkley
14. Dancing Queen - ABBA
15. Don't Let Me Get Me - Pink
16. Fergalicious - Fergie
17. Find Your Love - Drake
18. Flagpole Sitta - Harvey Danger
19. Freak On A Leash - Korn
20. Freedom '90! - George Michael
21. Fuck And Run - Liz Phair
22. Gimme More - Britney Spears
23. Gives You Hell - The All-American Rejects
24. Grey Cell Green - Ned's Atomic Dustbin
25. Heaven - DJ Sammy & Yanou featuring Do
26. Hello City - Barenaked Ladies
27. Hey Ya! - Outkast
28. Hey, Soul Sister - Train
29. Holiday - Madonna
30. Hot N Cold - Katy Perry
31. I Don't Feel Like Dancin' - Scissor Sisters
32. I Don't Want To Be - Gavin McGraw
33. I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas
34. I'm Walking on Sunshine - Katrina and the Waves
35. If I Can't Have You - Yvonne Elliman
36. Just A Girl - No Doubt
37. Kids - MGMT
38. Kill YOur Television - Ned's Atomic Dustbin
39. Kiss Me Deadly - Lita Ford
40. Life Is a Highway - Tom Cochrane
41. Live Like We're Dying - Kris Allen
42. Lump - The Presidents of the United States of America
43. Move Along - The All-American Rejects
44. Nothin' On You - B.o.B. featuring Bruno Mars
45. OMG - Usher
46. One Night in Bangkok - Vinylshakerz
47. The Only Difference Between Matyrdom and Suicide - Panic! At the Disco
48. OOH AHH...Just a little bit - Gina G
49. Perfect Gentleman - Wyclef Jean
50. PJ & Rooster - Outkast
51. Poker Face - Lady GaGa
52. Punch In Punch Out - Seven Mary Three
53. Rehab - Amy Winehouse
54. Right Now (Na Na Na) - Akon
55. Say Hey (I Love You) - Michael Franti & Spearhead
56. Sex On Fire - Kings of Leon
57. She Gave Good Sunflower - The Black Crowes
58. Show Me Love (Safari Remix) - Mobin Master
59. Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It) - Beyonce
60. Smooth Criminal - Alien Ant Farm
61. Spaceship - Benny Benassi
62. Spam - Save Ferris
63. St. Teresa - Joan Osborne
64. Stickshifts and Safetybelts - CAKE
65. Suddenly I See - KT Tunstall
66. Sun Children - Nickodemus
67. Take the Time - The Freddy Jones Band
68. The Takeover, The Breaks Over - Fall Out Boy
69. Tangerine Speedo - Caviar
70. Taste of India - Aerosmith
71. Tiffany Blews - Fall Out Boy
72. Totally Fucked - Spring Awakening Soundtrack
73. Toxic - Britney Spears
74. Typical - Tickle Me Pink
75. Under 21 - Save Ferris
76. Wasting Time - Kid Rock
77. Welcome To Paradise - Green Day
78. When I'm Up (I Can't Get Down) - Great Big Sea
79. Women and Men - They Might Be Giants
80. You & Me & The Bottle Makes 3 - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
81. Zombies Ate My Neighbors - Single File
82. 4 Minutes - Madonna
83. Send Me On My Way - Rusted Root
84. 1, 2, 3, 4 - Plain White T's
85. U + Ur Hand - Pink
86. Paralyzer - Finger Eleven
87. Back To One - All One Surface
88. Cold Hard Bitch - Jet
89. Last Living Souls - Gorillaz
90. I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
91. Hum Hallelujah - Fall Out Boy
92. American Girl - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
93. I Never Knew (Remix) - Gloria Gaynor
94. If I Didn't Have a Goiter - Johnny Socko

I'm Back...and "This, too, deserves its own post!"

It seems like I've been away forever.  I wish I could say that I had some grand excuse, but I just needed a break.  Two blogs, a full-time mom job, a part-time writer/marketer job, a husband, and a dog who is pushing the geriatric envelope have taken up much of my time and energy.

Thought I'd share some of the things that have been on my mind and inspiring me over the past several months:

1.  It would be easy to say that my break from blogging was a technology hiatus.  Although this wasn't a conscious decision, maybe that's truly what it was.  Coincidently, I heard this story on NPR this weekend.  It seemed to explain (or at least provide a convenient excuse) for my lack of blogging, tweeting, etc.

Digital Overload: Your Brain On Gadgets

2.  Speaking of NPR, a friend of mine from college just published his first book and it's receiving great reviews.  He just finished an interview on NPR about the book, titled Interstate 69: the Unfinished History of the Last Great American Highway. You can listen to the interview here. I'm so proud to say that I know Matt. I could write amazing stories about all of the talented people I know from my college days.

3.  I've started running.  If you know me, you know that I'm a self-professed "running hater."  I ran in Junior High because my older brother ran, and I just assumed that's what everyone did.  I have literally tried running a total of 10 times since I was 14.  So the subject of running definitely deserves its own post - which will come soon.  For now, just know that I'm been putting one foot in front of the other and running!  Feels good, too.

4. Both of my kiddos started school.  I have a brand-new Kindergartener.  This, too, deserves its own post.  I have watched a confident, polite, caring "big boy" blossom before my eyes.  Anyone who says kids shouldn't go to preschool needs to meet my kid.  Before two years of preschool, Alex was shy, unsure of himself, easily overwhelmed by sensory stimulus.  Now, he's a completely different boy.  Yes, some of it is maturation and good parenting (tee-hee), but I have repeatedly thanked his preschool teachers in the last two weeks for the safe, caring atmosphere they created for him during those key developmental years.

5.  Ben started preschool.  Same school and teachers that I was singing the praises of above.  He is loving every minute of it (which I knew he would), and it warms my heart to hear him talking about "his new friends."  Although he did tell me that he didn't want to invite any of his new girl friends over for a playdate because girls "go potty too much."  Amazing how the 3-year-old brain works.

6.  We've entered the wonderful world of karate/tae-kwon-do.  The boys were begging me to take lessons.  Ben is too little, but Alex LOVES, LOVES it.  This, too, deserves its own post.  I never thought I would want my kids taking martial arts, but the discipline and respect woven into the forms have won me over.  More on this in a later post.

7.  I've been inspired by several bucket lists recently.  In particular, this one.  I love the idea of 101 things in 1001 days.  Although, as I'm doing the math, I'll need to accomplish one of these major life things every 10 days for the next 2.75 years.  I might have to rethink the timeframe or the number of items on my list.  "This, too, deserves its own post" seems to be the theme of this entry.  So, you guessed it - I'm working on this life list.

8.  That's it for now - except to say that the other day "Dude Looks Like a Lady" by Aerosmith popped up on the iPod shuffle. You remember: "Do me, do me, do me, sue me. What a funky lady. She like it like it like it like that."  Alex (our oldest) got very quiet for a minute, looked at Kevin and said, "Mommy is definitely not that 'Funky Lady.'"  I love it!

Free MP3 Every Day

This is such a cool website:

One Track Mind

What a great way to discover new bands and music for free. I'm sure I'll find a few good tunes to add to my skiing playlist. Can you tell I've been excited about the cold nights? (39 degrees at my house last night!)  Skiing, here we come.  I got a new ski helmet and jacket last weekend, and I can't wait to wear them on the slopes.