Annie's all smiles after completing the Rock 'n' Roll Half.
Last week’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon is a major stop on the Philadelphia Marathon journey for a lot of runners. It’s a great way to test your training while still giving you enough time before the Big Day to tweak a few things in your plan. It’s not a surefire prediction of your marathon experience, but it’s definitely a huge help.
For this race, I had a finish time of 2:30 in my head. It would give me a 30-minute cushion for the marathon and a big confidence boost. With the pep talk from John Bingham fresh in my mind, a great long run the week before and perfect weather, I was itching to get moving.
I met up with my friend, Meghan, before the race. Even though we didn’t plan to run together, it was nice to have a buddy for all of the pre-race rituals, especially the never-ending Porta Potty line. It was in that line that we realized that Meghan had somehow lost her headphones between my apartment and the start line. The look of pure terror on our faces said it all: How would she run for the next two hours without an iPod? Luckily, I had stuck an extra pair of headphones in my Spibelt (if you do not have one of these really awesome fanny packs, get one) because I’m equally fanatical about my running playlist.
I know, I know—I’ve heard all the lectures: running with music is distracting and unsafe, and you shouldn’t do it. Thing is, sometimes it’s the only reason I make it through a run. I have a pre-race ritual of handcrafting a playlist tailored specifically to race day. This race was no different; I had an hours-long lineup of everything from Guns N’ Roses to Grease, and I knew it help me get through 13 miles.
I love the Rock ‘n’ Roll course because it winds its way through the same parts of the city that I visit every day, except the streets are filled with happy runners and bands. Between the crowds and live music, the first five miles of the race felt unreal; I was moving along at a pretty good pace, didn’t feel like my legs would fall off, and had a smile on my face. That’s really all I can ask for in a race.
This dream run lasted until mile nine, when my legs started to tighten up. The crowds were thinning then, too, the bands were fewer and further between, and happy runners were hard to come by. The tighter my legs got, the slower I ran; the slower I ran, the tighter my legs got. It was a vicious cycle and I knew I had to break it before I ended up in a contorted heap of muscle cramps and hunger pangs on Falls Bridge.
And here we are, back to my playlist. At the exact moment when the thought “This is the worst I have ever felt” raced through my head, Belinda Carlisle came blasting through my headphones. Thank god for ‘80s pop icons. I promised myself I’d run through this song, and then I could slow down. But the Belinda was followed up with Brooks and Dunn, and then West Side Story, and then Kanye. How are you going to slow down when Kanye West is telling you you’re a monster? Answer: you’re not.
The last four miles of the race definitely were’t as easy as the first nine, but after blocking out everything and listening only to my music, I was suddenly at the finish line. My smile came back pretty quickly—another 13 miles on the books!
While I didn’t quite hit my goal of 2:30, I was able to take 15 minutes off my PR with a 2:41 finish. It’s impossible to be really disappointed in yourself if you’ve beaten your PR by over a minute per mile. I finished strong and knew that I had more in me. I also knew that these next few weeks of training are going to be seriously important. It’s one thing to have to push yourself through another four miles, but I’ll be running double the distance in two months.
This gives me 56 days to cook up a killer playlist to power me through the marathon. What do you guys listen to while you run? If you don’t listen to music, how do you distract yourself? I need some help!
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Annie Acri is an administrative assistant at the Drexel University College of Medicine and is working toward her master’s of communication degree. The 2012 Philadelphia Marathon will be her second marathon. Follow along every Tuesday as Annie posts about the ups and downs of training as she prepares for the big race on November 18th. Catch up on the series here.
GO ANNIE GO!
Totally agree music is a must … good song is Stronger (what doesn’t kill) by Kelly Clarkson (good power song)
Yay!!! Keep it up!
Belinda Carlisle – makes total sense. Throw in some Bonnie Tyler (I Need a Hero), Survivor, 90s classics like Eve 6 and Third Eye Blind, Van Halen, Bon Jovi, and an overload of Kelly Clarkson to make you feel especially empowered.
Prince, Controversy, is a good one to get moving with. Congrats on your PR!!!
Thanks EIA!
Great job! It’s so 90s of me, but Green Day, No Doubt, and Rancid always get me to pick up the pace for a bit. I also have quite a few songs from the Killers and the Red Hot Chili Peppers on my playlist. I only use my ipod on the treadmill, though. I don’t know how I manage to stay focused outside, but I do find that any other runners motivate me to keep going.
And throw an energy gel or something in that Spibelt – no reason for hunger pangs with all the refueling options out there!
Beth, you are a girl after my own heart….who does love a good 90s playlist???
Which energy gels do you prefer? I normally use Chomps, but I’m open to suggestions!
Happy running!
I typically use Gu – vanilla bean or triple berry are my go-tos – about 90 minutes in, with water. I find chops or other chewables get too sticky for me (maybe it’s just me), which is why I suggested gel. I’ve also used the Powerbar gels. I definitely suggest a test-run before race day, just in case your digestive system decides to revolt against a new brand.
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Congrats on a big PR!!
Congrats on the PR!! My go to is always Gu’s vanilla bean. I give myself a pep talk when the pain gets to be too much & sometimes pretend I’m floating in the ocean on some tropical island. The music always helps on those forever long training runs but I usually go without the headphones on race day.
Foreign songs!!!! Especially Hindi and Arabic…they are fast-paced, fun, unpredictable, unique – you won’t get bored! Also, songs with African Drum beats. Are you surprised at my comment? haha
So proud of you, Annie!!!!
Annie, I was going to suggest you write a blog entry about your favorite ipod songs!! I am partial to Jay-Z myself and love Big Pimpin’. Is that weird? I also love Stronger by Britney, Fighter by Christina Aguilera and Survivor by Destiny’s Child.
I listen to Rhianna, Kelly Clarkson, Kanye, some JT,
Britney, Pitbull, Flo rida… basically anyone that I wouldn’t really go see in concert (except JT) and that is on no other playlist I have!
I rely on Chompers, too. I was using Gu but when I was having some GI problems wanted to try something different and find them easier to eat then opening the Gu packet.
Congrats on the PR!
Thanks Helene! Who doesn’t love some guilty pleasure music!
I doubt you want my music recommendations…
Way to go on the PR Annie! Love reading these each week!
First of all, congrats on your PR. That’s fantastic! Now to the gravity of the situation: Why do you need to be distracted when you run? Can’t you just “be” out on the course? If no, then weren’t there bands at every mile who had the sole mission playing music for you that day? Admittedly, they were probably belting out yacht rock or Green day–definitely not Belinda Carlisle, but still, that was a music half marathon you just ran. Can you gut through the miles without play lists and earbudded iPods? I would argue you don’t need all this to run fast; you just need your legs and lungs. But regardless, again, congrats on your accomplishment and I hope you try to train for your marathon without the music. There are falling tree limbs and honking cars out there; there are also the chirping of beautiful birds and the rustling of newly fallen leaves.
Ironically I just posted on my own blog how I’ve gone completely tune-free for my runs. I usually have a song or two that pop into my head (ok maybe a few more on longer runs) along my run and don’t miss actual music. I definitely don’t miss all the wires and armbands/belts to hold whatever device I am listening to that day. It was daunting at first and was more of a fluke that I began running music-free, but it’s a lot easier to keep going than you’d expect.
Hey Kim! I’ve decided that I should try some shorter runs without music and see how that goes. I’ll keep you posted!!!
The enjoyment of running is different for everyone. Those of us who run with music usually choose it to supplement our running. My music helps me be in the moment, but maybe that’s hard to explain.
I ran this same race (without my ear buds) but I felt like there wasn’t much music on the course and what was played wasn’t that enjoyable–at one point I did hear bagpipes in the distance but I never passed it, I think the slower runners like me missed out. The music I did pass was really loud and I had to hold my ear to block it from hurting. I now know to switch to the other side of the road if I can if I’m coming up on a band (if I do RnR again).
Congrats on the PR!
I didn’t see or hear bagpipes…I wish I did! I have a weird fascination with them. I agree with the race route music. There were certain bands I really enjoyed, and even more that I wasn’t a fan of. I’m glad I wasn’t the only one!!
Anne
Started Dragon Boat practice for our race in St Pete’s Oct 5. I thought that my arms would fall off so I know how your legs must feel. Keep up the good work. We listen to a drummer but almost the same as music because it keeps us going. Great time in the 1/2. You can do shave time for the next marathon. Love ya
Congrats on the PR!
I also use the Gu gels- I was using the shot blocks, but they just didn’t cut it. I do them about every six-seven miles or so. I run about the same pace as you, and hey, five hours of running is a LONG time!
(I also like to say that we must be in awesome shape. Sure, we don’t run a marathon in two and a half hours, but we have to run TWICE AS LONG as the people who do, right? 
)
Favorite things on my playlist include anything by P!nk, half the Glee songs (I like peppy, dorky songs. What can I say?), any strong songs sung by female artists, anything driving about war (“This Is War” by 30 Seconds to Mars, “Some Nights” by fun., “Silent Running” by Mike and the Mechanics, “Blood of a King” by… I forget who), anything by Queen, and definitely a lot of 80′s stuff. I know I can run without headphones, but it’s just a lot more enjoyable to me to run with them.
Lissa, you are so right! Sure, they’re fast…but we’re on our feet for HOURS. I wonder if we could get an Oakley sponsorship with that logic…I’ll get back to you.
I LOVE Glee! Who doesn’t like epic Rachel/Finn ballads while they’re trying not to fall over from exhaustion?! Thanks for the suggestions and happy running!
I stopped using headphones last year, and won’t go back. Even though I need ridiculous amounts of external stimuli elsewhere — music while reading, iPad while watching tv, phone everywhere — running is the one place where I can disconnect. I clear my mind and just run. Everywhere else I get bored in seconds, but not here.
It doesn’t matter how long 5, 10, or 20 miles, I don’t get bored. I just move. I left me mind go. If I was the least bit religious, I’d say it is spiritual.