Music Makes Me Stronger

This past Tuesday when I woke up it was snowing (well, flurrying, but still) and the temperature had dropped to the low 30s.  Motivation to run:zero.  Regardless, I threw on my running duds hoping that if I was already sporting them after I dropped my kids off at school I'd have one less reason to procrastinate.  Turns out, there were several other ways to delay my run, including but not limited to, checking my email (for the second time), having another cup of coffee, calling Delta Airlines to book a flight, folding laundry, unloading the dishwasher (which I hate doing).... I could go on but you get the point.  Sometimes it's really damn hard to lace up and hit the road.  I hadn't run on Monday so I couldn't even play the "day off" card.  I just needed to get out there.  I put my headphones on and started listening to my music as I grabbed my hat and gloves and got ready to leave. Typically, one or two songs does the trick to get me fired up and ready to roll.  Yesterday?  Not so much.  My own playlists weren't even working their magic.  It was a problem.  I sat down and pondered over my situation (translation - stalled).  Each time I looked out the window I was convinced the sky was getting darker and the air was getting colder.  Oh, boy, I thought to myself, this is going to be a long winter.  Finally, I snapped to and asked the question that always seems to help me solve my problems...What would Keanu do?  Okay, not really, but I have seen that bumper sticker and I do think it's amazing.  What I really did was grab my phone, set Pandora to Alt-J, turned up the volume and got my arse outside.  My thinking... if anyone could work some magic, it would likely be Pandora.  A goddess known as "she who sends up gifts," has got to have something up her sleeve, right?  As expected, she did not disappoint.  Two songs.  That's all it took.  Not two songs of my own choosing, mind you.  Two songs that I'd never heard before and would not think to run with if I had.  The music flowed, my mind drifted and my legs responded.  I settled in and grooved out for an hour, picking up my pace and easing back down with the bpm of each new song.  All was good and before I knew it, my originally dreaded run was coming to an end.  As I sit and write this now I can't tell you how my legs felt during this run or what my pace was.  I have no idea.  Nor does it matter.  Running makes me strong.  Music makes me stronger.  Oh, and a little magic always helps, too.

Listen to these: PANDORA'S MIX

Forever - Walter Meego  
Heart It Races - Dr. Dog  
Walk On By - Noosa  
Say Aha - Santigold  
Regalia - Savoir Adore  
1940 (Amplive Remix) - The Submarines  
40 Day Dream - Edward Sharpe & The Mangetic Zeros  
Buzzcut Season - Lorde  
Let Me Show You Love - Cut Copy  
Electric - Atlas Genius  
Runnin' - The Pharcyde  
Creator - Anti-Crew (feat. Santogold)  
Hearts (R.A.R Mix) - I Break Horses  
&
On & On - Autre Ne Veut