Vegas Baby

It is time again for Playlist Thursday, although I’m a little late getting this posted...Brian’s topic from Pavement Runner this week is “Viewer’s Choice”, so as he said on his post “each Playlist Thursday around the web will have it’s own different theme”.

I spent part of the week in Las Vegas, so while I had some other topics I was thinking of, I’ve decided to go with Vegas Baby!

Rules:

Something Old: Songs that are at least 5 years old. (Mine will most always be older than that!)

Something Current: Songs that have been released within the past year. (Harder for me)

Something to Consider: This is the wild card category - any song: old, current, guilty pleasure, underground, whatever.

Something Old

Artist: The Killers

Title: Somebody Told Me (2004)

Side Note: The Killers are from Las Vegas and urban legend says they wrote most of their first album, including this song in the band room at UNLV. I really like this song to run to, it has kind of an urgent feel to it that makes your feet move. 

Something Current

Artist: Calvin Harris (featuring Ne-Yo)

Title: Let’s Go (2012)

Side Note: Yes, I know Calvin Harris is Scottish but Ne-Yo spent a good deal of his school years in Vegas. The words and the beat make this a perfect running tune. 

Something to Consider

Artist: Elvis Presley

Title: Little Less Conversation (1968 & 2002 JXL Radio Edit Mix)

Side Note: What Las Vegas playlist would be complete without Elvis. I run to the JXL Radio Edit Mix, groovy horns and drums.

Feel free to check out my other posts for more playlists.

Make sure you take a look at the other Playlist Thursday entries by visiting Playlist Runner's playlist catalog each week.

Women in Song

I am trying to get caught up on a few of Pavement Runner’s previous topics and I couldn’t resist this one. There are so many great tracks on my running playlist from the ladies, here are a few. Enjoy!






Rules:


Something Old: Songs that are at least 5 years old. (Mine will most always be older than that!)


Something Current: Songs that have been released within the past year. (Harder for me)


Something to Consider: This is the wild card category - any song: old, current, guilty pleasure, underground, whatever.

Something Old

Artist: The Go Go’s


Title: Head Over Heels (1984)


Side Note: This song came out when I was in high school and even then I considered it to be a guilty pleasure. The rest of the albums in my collection were either pop synth (Duran Duran) or British New Wave (Style Council) but what can I say, this song is so contagious. There is a section in the chorus where there is a clap and I still do the clap EVERYTIME! And to my neighbour Morgan, who drove me to school in the morning, I’m sorry for my singing.

Something Current

Artist: Neko Case


Title: This Tornado Loves You (2009)


Side Note: Okay, I admit it, this song doesn’t fit ‘current’ as per the rules, but it is too good not to include. This song is absolutely amazing and not that I am biased, also features guitar by my friend Paul Rigby. This is a live version that she performed on David Letterman. In addition to her solo work, she also provided vocals to Canadian indie group The New Pornographers (their song Mass Romantic will make it on a Playlist Thursday list one of these days).

Something to Consider

Artist: Sarah Harmer


Title: I Am A Mountain (2005)


Side Note: This is the title track from her 2005 release. Sarah is a Canadian musician’s musician and makes vocal appearances with the who’s who of Canadian Folk/Rock/Indie scene. This song is pretty folk/country but is definitely one to consider.

Check out the other "Songs that make you wanna dance" from Pavement Runner and the other bloggers playing along.


http://pavementrunner.com/playlist-thursday-catalogue/

Songs that make you wanna dance

This is an interesting one, Brian at Pavement Runner described them as “songs that make you want to move your feet...while your moving your feet”.  I don’t have a lot of dance music per se but I do have a lot of music that makes me want to move.

Rules:

Something Old: Songs that are at least 5 years old. (Mine will most always be older than that!)

Something Current: Songs that have been released within the past year. (Harder for me)

Something to Consider: This is the wild card category - any song: old, current, guilty pleasure, underground, whatever.

Something Old

Artist:  Depeche Mode (1989)

Title:  Personal Jesus

Side Note:  Before husband, kids, full time jobs and mini van, I used to go out and this is the type of music we danced to.  When it comes on when I’m running, I’m instantly faster (and younger). 

Something Current

Artist: Neon Trees (2011)

Title:   Everybody Talks

Side Note:  This is a pretty new addition to my playlist.  It may not be a classic dance song but it has a great beat and puts a spring in my step.

Something to Consider

Artist: The Autumn Isles (2008)

Title:   It’s Been Awhile

Side Note:  A fantastic song from Austrailian Band, The Autumn Isles.  I first heard this song online on the Aussie radio station Triple J.  It never fails to get me moving!  Sorry, no video but here is a link to the song (try it, it is worth it!)

http://theautumnisles.bandcamp.com/track/its-been-a-while

Check out the other "Songs that make you wanna dance" from Pavement Runner and the other bloggers playing along.  

http://pavementrunner.com/playlist-thursday-catalogue/

10 Running Questions a'la RLAM

My post today is answering 10 running questions.  The idea came from one of my favourite running blogs, Another Mother Runner.   The website and their book, Run Like a Mother, besides having totally awesome names, is a great read for women and mothers who run.

1. Best run ever - That is pretty easy, my first half marathon.  It is still the best I've ever felt running; strong, easy, joyous.  It is the only race I ran as a group and I fed off the energy of my running mates.

2. Three words that describe my running are necessary, empowering and centering.

3. My go-to running outfit is my MEC Sixes running shorts, which ever race shirt is on the top of the pile, Teko eVapour8 Socks, Mizuno Wave Precision 9 runners and most importantly my Under Armour jog bra.  Winter outfits are another story...

4. Quirky habit while running - I'm not sure I have any but it makes me wonder if I should ask my running partner. I'm pretty anal about tracking my mileage but I think that is a runner thing.

5. Morning, midday, evening - early morning or at lunch mostly due to my schedule.  If I had my choice it would be about 8:30am with time for a long stretch after.

6. I won’t run outside when it’s really icy.  I live in a part of Canada that is below freezing a good part of six months a year hence the 'really' qualifier.

7. Worst injury—and how I got over it.  When I was training for my first half marathon I over trained and ended up not being able to start due to a painful case of posterior tibial tendonitis.  How I got over it?  Lots of complete rest, daily stretching, ART, acupuncture and massage.  I still have to keep up the stretching routine and take mileage increases slow but sure.

8. I felt most like a badass mother runner when I ran the Skookumchuck Narrows trail on the Sunshine Coast, BC.  It is a 4 km trail to amazing tidal rapids.  I did the out and back twice for a total of 16 km.  It was the first trail I ever ran and the feeling of accomplishment was...well...badass.

9. Next race is Banff Winterstart 5 Miler.  It is an evening run, almost always cold, one long trudge up and down and the best post run party ever!  Canoes full of beer in a parkade, classic!

10. Potential running goal for 2013 - honestly, just to stay healthy and keep running consistently.  I am working on logistics to run the Arizona Rock and Roll Half Marathon in January but that might be a long shot! 

Running with Barefoot Neil

I haven't run a race with my pal Barefoot Neil in a year or so but I thought I would share some video he  put together in a few of the races we have done.  We need to do another race together...soon.

This is from the 2010 version of the Urban Venus Cupcake run, which I ran again today.  Much much warmer today; 2010 was 4 Celcius, today was about 10 at the start and I'm guessing 15 at the finish.

This is from the Harvest Half Marathon a few weeks later, we had a really fun time running in a herd!

This is the Last Chance Half Marathon which takes place in November.  It turned out to be a very reasonable day weather wise, it almost never is!

Epic Songs

The theme this week on Pavement Runner is Epic Songs - ones that make you run faster or workout harder. It is a good topic but what makes a song epic? Pavement Runner described them as “ones that will live on forever (good or bad). The anthems, the songs that go down in history as “the song of your generation.” That’s a tall order! Here are my choices, rock on.

Rules:

Something Old: Songs that are at least 5 years old. (Mine will most always be older than that!)

Something Current: Songs that have been released within the past year. (Harder for me)

Something to Consider: This is the wild card category - any song: old, current, guilty pleasure, underground, whatever.

Something Old

Artist: The Jam

Title: Town Called Malice (1982)

Side Note: I love The Jam. Paul Weller has an amazing way with lyrics and this is one of his finest with The Jam. It is a time and place song that takes me back to high school and is the sound track to some epic times.   Skinny ties baby.

 

Something Current

Artist: Electric Guest

Title: This Head I Hold (2012)

Side Note: Not classically epic but definitely gets me moving. It is one of my favourites this summer and will have a place on my playlist for a good long time.  (The video features a little vignette in the middle that is not in the recording)

Something to Consider

Artist: Gomez

Title: Options (2011)

Side Note: If you aren't familiar with them, Gomez is a very cool band. They have three singers, all with very distinctive voices, making for a very diverse catalog. This song from last summer is amazing. It has all the makings of a generational anthem “Or I could be the one who gives it all up and moves back to the parents’ house, live in the basement baby, and that’s OK, At least I've got options.”
Also, how many videos feature the singer on a treadmill?

Local Flavour

Local Flavour!

I am proudly Canadian and appreciate the amount of amazing music that comes from such a large place with so few people. I couldn’t go with my City (Calgary) or Province (Alberta) as I don’t have any to choose from in my playlist but open it up to Canada and there is lots of choice. I am not a Nickelback, Celine or Shania fan personally but feel pride at their accomplishments. I like the quintessential Canadian band, The Tragically Hip but don’t run to any of their tunes. I do have three or four Arcade Fire, lots of Metric and even one from Lady Ga Ga but I want to add a different slant. Hopefully you find something new or remember one you liked.

Here are the rules:

Something Old: Songs that are at least 5 years old. (Mine will most always be older than that!)

Something Current: Songs that have been released within the past year. (Harder for me)

Something to Consider: This is the wild card category - any song: old, current, guilty pleasure, underground, whatever.

Something Old

Artist: Bryan Adams (Vancouver, BC)
Title: Back to You
Side Note: This song comes from his MTV Unplugged album released in 1997. I loved the MTV Unplugged concept; Nirvana, Alice in Chains and 10,000 Maniacs are all in my collection. This song is so energetic and singable (yes, I have found myself singing along while running at times).

Something Current

Artist: Simple Plan (Montreal, Quebec)
Title: Summer Paradise
Side Note: This is a new entry to my playlist from a few weeks ago. I knew of the band but didn’t have any music of theirs and would have been hard pressed to tell you the name of one of their songs. My 7 year old son came to me with a list of 3 songs he wanted for his iPod and this was on it. It was so catchy and upbeat, I had to add it. Not sure if it will stay for good but it is sure fun for now!

Something to Consider

Artist: The Skydiggers (Toronto, ON)
Title: Just Over This Mountain
Side Note: This is from The Skydiggers 3rd Album of the same name released in 1993. The song has a great indie folk rock vibe and makes you move a little quicker. Andy Maize is the lead singer on the track and has a wonderfully unique voice and dancing style. This is one to consider! (Note - I can't find a polished video but this should give you a good idea)

Honourable Mention

The Spoons (Burlington, ON) - Nova Heart. 80’s pop-synth awesomeness.