run, rest, eat, bitch, buy things, cross-train, blog, repeat.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

The bad.

Running has changed my life.

Obviously, it's made me healthier and more fit and active. But it's done more than that. I no longer deal with depression or anxiety. There's no more insomnia. It gives me something in my life to completely control (which frees me from trying to control absolutely everything else in my life), it's boosted my self esteem and made me more independent and stronger. It challenges me and gives me an outlet to be competitive and to set goals and work towards them.

It's the best thing I've ever done for myself.

But...

There is one thing that has changed since I started running... and... it's safe to say that it's not really for the better, but for the worse.

You see, I have always been a music lover. And from high school on... my taste in my music was very... in a word: pretentious*. I never listened to the pop radio stations or heaven forbid the hip hop or rap stations. No, I was too good for that. Not only that, but I was wayyy ahead of the curve... I was always one of the first to hear of new band X or Y. I was a total music snob.

But, as I've started running... and making running playlists, my music taste has plummeted. I now listen to the pop stations some trying to find new upbeat songs to run to. And It's turning into, not just listening to them when I run... but, other times, as well. I downloaded some new tunes this weekend... check this out:

"Circus" Britney Spears
"Rehab" Rhianna
"Single Ladies" Beyonce
"Decode" Paramore
"Live your Life" T.I. and Rhianna
"Paper Planes" M.I.A.

Ugh. I've totally gone 13 year old girl with my music tastes. Before you know it, I'll start hanging posters of the Jonas Brothers and Hannah Montana on my bedroom door.

At some point, I'm expecting an intervention...



*Okay, so I have to include this disclaimer because if I dont, April will totally call me out on it. YES, I did own a Spice Girl single in high school. "2 Become 1" was a kick ass song... and... I had a special dance that accompanied the song... I have no problems admitting that.

13 comments:

Spike said...

Welcome to the pop underground, where your finer tastes are shelved for block-rocking-beats that keep your feet moving and your spirits up. I strongly suggest 'Untouched' by the Veronicas.

Oh, and when you start looking for dance mixes of Abba songs, feel free to consider yourself a running pop snob.

April said...

Oh so now YOU had a special dance that went with that song? I thought it was OUR dance. Guess I was wrong. I'm shattered.

Amy said...

I just can't win...

April said...

Haha. I'll try to be nicer in my comments from now on. But...I'm just keeping it real like you said...

Orland said...

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www.dalvindoorlando.blogspot.com

Best Regard,
OrLaNd
---INDONESIA---

Matt said...

Ha, nice post.

I'm the same way with music (the "snob" type..) If you want a good list of songs I run to, let me know.

And before M.I.A. was in all the movies, it was very pretentious...
The whole album is great for running also!

Vandy-Montana said...

I'm so glad I can't hear your BS music when we run. I hardly even know you.

Van 1- Hall said...

Pop Music? Do you have a "I love Miley" singlet?? I can't tell you the last time I've listened to any new rap or pop station...I occasionally hear it if I go out. If you have any cuts from Shaq on your Ipod I'm done reading it.

Andrew Banecker said...

Isn't dating Craig like having your very own "Hannah Montana" poster at all times?

Anonymous said...

My fiance always says he has the musical tastes of a 50 year old black man (loves Marvin Gaye, Marley, etc.) and that I have the musical tasts of a 20 year old black man (I've always loved hip hop, etc.). But I've also generally enjoyed pop music. He is running his first half marathon this weekend and he has been training with an ipod. And you should know that we live in a trendy part of Dallas, not the gay part, but very close to the gay part. My fiance's big fear is that he'll collapse on the running trail and whoever finds him will look for a male emergency name in his cell phone since they'll know he's gay b/c they'll hear things like Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, and his current fave "Don't cha" by the Pussycat Dolls on his ipod. But it cracks me up now when we're shopping or hear one of those songs elsewhere and he knows all the words...

Adam said...

I just happened upon your blog. I'm in the same boat as you as far as music goes.

RunnerMom said...

abI am known for my diverse (read sucky) taste in music. I especailly like a little rap, metal, pop, and hip hop in my ears on a run.

I, too, shamefully downloaded "Single Ladies."

RunnerMom said...

I don't know where the random extra letters came from....

I was going to tell you I'm bringing my posse (if a 38-year-old woman can still use the term "posse") on Saturday consisting of husband, 3 kids, two neighbors (running with me), and various members of my running club. Any idea how big this race has been in the past?