The hardest part about running is, running. At lease that’s the case for me, and it always has been. I clearly can’t go without, but some days, yuck, the last thing I was to do – dawn the Asics and head out. To stay motivated it helps to be creative and maybe do a little impulse shopping. In the states I could just zip out to the local running store and buy shoes, gel, or new shorts – socks are great. Here I can’t really do that. Sure there is always online shopping @ RRS but that’s not a quick fix for the motivational impulse shopper like me. As a matter of fact my current running shoes have more miles than any other pair of running shoes I have every owned – I am quite certain I don’t care. I run in the Army PT uniform which sucks so why buy new shorts? Socks have got to be white, no logo, above the ankle – OMG I miss high-end in running socks.
So how do I stay motivated? Let’s face it; you have to be motivated to run 35 miles a week. Besides the fact I am clearly an addict and feel terrible if I don’t run; now I look to the iTunes for motivation– this week I found some in vintage punk. I am talking the good shit from the 70’s and 80’s. Dead Kennedy, Clash, Iggy Pop, The Ramones, Pattie Smith, The Damned and the list goes on. In an age when everything old is new again I slip into my dirty Gel Nimbus 9s and head to the gym or hit the road with good tunes to stay motivated. Listening to this music with its smooth quick beats not only moves me at an 8 minute mile, but is like going to a yard sell and finding a old Nikon SLR 35mm camera in perfect condition for like $10. As soon as you touch it, you instantly remember how to use it but it takes on a different context in today’s post modern world.
My little secret is out not only am I addict to running but I can’t get enough of the iTunes either. It’s so bad I had to purchase Apple stock to justify the expense and now my iTunes indulgence can be lead to Wall Street profits too – if that is really possible in this day and age. Well that’s. In the land of the unmotivated I stay motivated to run my revamping my music at every chance I can get.
Filed under: Running Tagged: | Running in Iraq
You’ve been tagged, but believe me, I think of all people, you have the best excuse for not being able to do it – I think you have more going on in your life than most of us do.
Sorry I didn’t get to email you back this week but thanks for explaining why you’ve gone back twice. I like learning all those new military phrases from you, by the way.