Correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t think there is a thread dedicated to running on here. I mean I could head over to the Runner’s World forum but it seems fucking boring over there and they don’t make music.
Anyway, anyone interested in sharing their experience with running and how it may tie into your music making and listening experience?
My background: I started running in September last year and completed the London 10k Winter Run last Sunday. Training for a half marathon in May and then a full marathon next spring.
Have a complex relationship with it - was a high level teenage athlete, injured myself, gained weight, lost the weight through dieting about 3 years ago and over the last year or so have dabbled with running to regain some of that lost fitness. Sometimes with friends, one lived right by a nice creek track which was great and I enjoyed the social aspect of it. Lately I’ve been into it hard again, running 5K most days on a treadmill before hitting the gym. Not into anything super long range, there’s a nice loop around the nearby creek thats about 6.8k with a few big hills. Overall it feels good to be moving and regaining some fitness and strength and I sleep very well.
It does however, cut into my time that I previously used to make music. Between work, study and my partner being on an opposite schedule I don’t have a HEAP spare. I do however cherish the time I do have to be creative a lot more, and tend to be more focussed on what I actually enjoy most/productive I think.
Running is a nice way to blow the mind free and get the cardio on track. What I have found out though is that running is not the thing you need to lose weight. It can help, but you just dont really burn that much calories doing it. To lose weight, you should lift weights and eat right. I would run while doing this to get the capilar veins extended. Otherwise you will huff and puff going up stairs.
I use running more to get my head free and saturate my blood with oxygen. While running ill listen to my tracks and see what needs improvement or I’ll get inspiration from other tracks. I don’t like running without music.
I’m trying to get back in the habit. I try to do a small 5k run three times a week along the river here. Occasionally I try to go all the way (admittedly walking bits in short bursts) out to the sea, which is about 12k. Clears the mind and I like the mental challenge of having a word with myself, just get to that next whatever and see how you feel, then the next and the next… Surprising how you can carry on most times breaking it into manageable chunks
I used to hate running.
But I have promised my wife I would run with her and it’s been 9 months now, about 2x10km a week and 1500m swimming, it feels really great.
I run mostly in nature, this morning 11km by the sea under the winter sun, I appreciate such moments more and more.
I crave less for making music though, so I guess it’s giving me similar shoots of endorphins…
Used to absolutely love running, about fifteen years ago as a student I’d run 4k most evenings and 10k once every fortnight or so. Runners high was amazing, it felt as though the meaning of life was just to keep moving. Listening to music while running did wonders for my mental health. There is something about running to a driving rhythm that massively boosts endurance. Unfortunately got a job out of university with awkward hours that made it hard to keep it up and subsequent life circumstances made it hard to get back into a good routine. I dream of running again one day.
I took up distance running last year after getting covid and I’m pretty much hooked now. I got tired of the injuries from soccer (I’m in my mid 40s) and really just started running to get my head right after being sick for 6 weeks.
I’d never run more than 10km until April of last year and decided to train for a half marathon and found out that I really enjoyed the process. Ran my first trail race in July, a road half in August, and a trail half in October. This year I’ve got a few trail races scheduled and my first 50km race in September.
I’m finding it great for my mental health, it’s keeping me in really good shape, and I love trail running. Makes me feel like a kid again. Not sure how the ultra thing is going to go, but I like doing things that sound scary and that distance scares the hell out of me right now.
It doesn’t overlap a lot with music for me, outside of giving me dedicated time to listen more. I run about half the time listening to something and the other half just appreciating nature. It’s a cool hobby.
I know it went the other way for a lot of people, but the pandemic really messed up my fitness routine. I got knocked off course and I have not yet found my way back. In the before times, I was running 5k about 4 days a week, plus cycling and trekking a few times a year etc. But running was the baseline, “everything’s ok, you have endorphins now, and a 6-pack” thing.
I’ve never been a natural runner. Even when it was regular, it wasn’t fun or easy, but it was absolutely worth it for the endorphins, the physical fitness and the sense of achievement. Sorts me right out.
Would love for people post some tunes they’ve had battle-tested runners’ highs to.
Songs that have nudged you over the edge, from suffering to joy. From “I can’t possibly go on, everything’s shit, I’m dying, this is hell” to “I feel amazing! We proved that asshole wrong, eh? You are a god.”
It typically takes 20-25 minutes of wanting to stop before I experience the flood (if it comes), so motivational tunes are essential.
It’s radio-friendly alterna-pop that gets me, more often than not. Here are a few tunes that have done it previously:
I’m building my base fitness at the moment in preparation for the half marathon training. Means lots of long, slow runs so I’ve been taking the opportunity to listen to my favourite prog albums in full. Here’s my (potentially controversial) list of “prog”:
I like to run and keep a database of all the places I’ve lived and visited where I get to experience the place through morning runs. Richmond Park is near me and that is great for running. Have fallen out of the habit - I tell myself I’m working on some long term niggles especially my calves. I can’t listen to music, though I saw some new runners earphones I might try. I’m also curious what shoes work for people here - I switched to altra zero drop about ten years ago but wondering if I need something different these days for my knees. Oh, and recommend Eat and Run by Scott Jurek, good read.
Please do pay attention to your knees. Everybody gets arthritis if they live long enough, so you’ll want to be doing the lowest impact, smoothest running possible. Good shoes and a mindful technique. I’ve been happy with Asics Nimbus in various iterations for years now (it’s a neutral shoe) but I’m sure everything’s good when you get to the higher-end stuff. It’s important that they fit, of course. I’m a size up from what I normally wear.
Would also recommend eating sardines or similar, 3 times a week (oily fish has many benefits - looking after your joints is one).
I usually run early morning before breakfast at least every second day or so. Distances vary between 8-15K. It’s not exactly meditation, but getting close to meditative practice and helps staying focused during the day, too. I also take at least 20min for extensive stretching and body weight core exercises after running to prevent injuries and disbalances which seems to be even more important the older I get….
The reason I started running is because I was born with a spine defect that affects my knees and hips. I have a specialist that recommended running as it’s extremely good for your joints.
There seems to be a common misconception that running is bad for your knee joints and cartilage but all evidence suggests the opposite. Most running injuries occur in the knees because of overtraining but assuming you are sensible and wearing the correct footwear you’ll end up stronger.
Definitely good to start slow and short and see what aches, then you’ll have a good idea of what to watch out for.
