Day 92: Listen to Music?

On Day 92, I am reflective over the last 3 months of running nearly everyday. I say nearly because there have been a handful of days, under 10, that I have for one reason or another gotten in a minimum of 2 miles. Usually, it was due to long travel, schedule, or just sheer "I aint running today" attitude.

Each morning I find myself frantically looking for my ipod and headphones. Music is imperative. For some, very few, music is not part of their regiment. But for me, its a must. Listening to music is therapy. Listening to music is strategic and motivational. At times it can also be a crutch.

Do you listen to music while you run?

Consider these thoughts.

1. "Its Therapy"
I choose music that untangles my mind through its rhythm and lyrical content. Anyone who looks at my ipod would wonder what is up with my choices. But in reality, all types of music help me process. I have playlists called "LONG RUN SLOW' and list that say "PAIN". I have a list called "HAPPY" and even one called "DARK." Music motivates me and helps me put words to what I am feeling in my mind and heart. Once I understand it through the voice of another in song, it helps me untangle thought...while running.

2. "Strategic"
Regardless, each list is designed to move my mind to a better place. While running, I am cautious to not listen to music that will AMP me and cause me to run to fast. I also have music that AMP me to run faster. I am fanatical with rhythm and even the "beats per minute." BPM's equates to the tempo. On specific runs, I use music as a cadence maker. Like a metranome the down beat drops as my foot drops. If I slow down, I get out of sync. I have learned that if I am to run at my desired pace, I have to have music that is about 102-104 BPM. Thats how many footstrikes I seek (Cadence of Foot Turn-Over) each minute. Based on the length of your stride, that equates for me to be between 9 and 10 min miles over long runs.

For shorter, fast, interval workouts...Metallica. :)

3. "Motivational"
My friend Jimmy Dean Freeman who runs the So Ca Coyotes (A soon to be a "Runner You Need To Know Feature") has reminded me that with music everyone has a Power Song. A Power Song is the song buried in a play list that can turn your soul up. Its the song that can get you out of the "woe is me" funk. Its the song that when you get to the base of a big climb, you cue it up and hunker down and tear that hill a part. Power Songs motivate you.


Whats amazing to me is how goofy some of my power songs are. From a Jason Aldean song to a song from the Cure- From a Dave Mathews song to an occasional song from an obsure Tracy Chapman CD...I am motivated by music. At the same time, I am always a few clicks away from my most current Power Song. Yes, they change often.

What are you listening to? What songs motivate you? If you are not a music listener, can you give it a try?

Do what is best for you. Regardless, just run.


JAS

Fitting For Today: A Funeral For a King

I can't quite get it.

People some how think it is their job to be judge and jury. I have done it, but in recent years, I have sought to learn how to love when love seems so fleeting.

I recently had a close friend to me say, referencing Michael's death, that "At least now the kids are safe now." He is a pastor. I thought in America that we are innocent until proven guilty...not guilty after pronounced innocent. Such is man.

Had he studied the case file and learned of a piece of evidence that a jury of MJ's peers and a judge overlooked? He must of. As a friend of mine, he didn't seem like the kind to follow blindly simply off of what he had seen in the media...as if that can be trusted? But he was judgmental. It made me want to get as far from him as possible for fear his judgement would some how land on those I wanted to reach...or worse, land on me. And I love this guy.

But it goes deeper.

Think of those that have judged MJ's eternity. Oh, don't be surprised. The day of MJ's death I posted 5 letters: RIPMJ. On that simply facebook post, I was threaded with text messages and private emails demanding an explanation as to how I could think he is resting in peace? I wanted to know how they could be so audacious as to think they could assert he is not resting in peace...

A day after MJ died, I got and email that I back-lined to MARY MARY's website. They had knowledge of a recent encounter Michael had had with Andrae and Sandra Crouch. Weeks before his death, MJ had invited Andrae to his house and recording studio. He wanted to know more about the "Spiritual Side of Music." Andrae confirmed on his website that this was true and that he had even prayed with the King of Pop.

"Michael always had a respect and curiosity for spiritual things. During our meeting, not unlike many other creative/music meetings we've had with him in the past, we sang together, prayed together and had a wonderful time."

Crouch and Jackson have collaborated on many projects throughout their careers including the song "Man In The Mirror" and the theme from Free Willy, "Will You Be There", among others. The two met along with Crouch's sister, minister and musician Sandra Crouch for a writing session weeks prior to Jackson's death.

For his part, through a spokesman, Andrae Crouch attempted to further clarify the story, "Andrae and Sandra did in fact visit with Michael Jackson two times, once at the recording studio, and once at his home in the last two months, as recently as three weeks ago, asking for prayer concerning the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and how he could make his music more 'spiritual,' noted Crouch’s Facebook administrator. "So Andrae and Sandra explained to him about the anointing and about Jesus. He wanted to know what makes your hands go up, and makes you 'come out of yourself,' and what gives a 'spirituality' to the music? He then requested to hear his favorite song that he loves and wanted then to sing to him, so they...joined hands and sang together, and he said, 'it was beautiful.' He first heard it in New York, and loved it and wanted it on tape. He had the engineer tape the song sang to him by Andrae and Sandra. He definitely had an encounter with them."

Andrae did not embellish and say that he led Michael to Christ, he just confirmed they had connected at a spiritual level. Essentially, that he had nurtured to a point of harvest the seeds that he had planted years ago. Friends of mine are close with Andrae and recalled the times he would report back to them of a great conversation he was developing with MJ... But I digress.

Even with that knowledge, there are some who are so narcissistic and maniacal, they feel an unction to pronounce judgment upon a man's soul. Somehow they feel credentialed to place themselves on a perch higher than the Christ himself and state a pronounced judgement.

What if they are wrong? After all it was Jesus himself who said, "I cannot judge. For Judgment is reserved for my Father alone who is in heaven."

Where does the audacity and arrogance come from, in so much as, some think they can assert themselves into a position that even Christ did not sit?

Amazing.

Perhaps, it is the single greatest dogma, that some would say is the reason they find Christianity, simply unbelievable.

Until then, enjoy this MJ tribute from Madonna.



Peace,
JHARP