HALLOWEEN GIVEAWAY:TRICK OR TREAT?

TREAT... of course.  Today, and today only, I am giving away a pair of YURBUD INSPIRES for women.  Why?  Because it's Halloween and I'm feeling spooktacular.  For those of you who aren't familiar with these headphones let me give it to you in a nutshell:

~ they are ridiculously comfortable due to the    FlexSoft (TM) material of the ear buds
~ they DO NOT fall out thanks to their TwistLock (TM) technology
~ the sound quality is amazing
~ they look freakin' cool

For music lovers and runners alike, they are a dream come true.  Once you try them, you will never wear anything else.  Yes, I am obsessed.  I want you to have them.  To enter, comment below.  Share your best Halloween costume...EVER.  Don't dress up?  Totally fine.  Tell us your favorite kind of candy.  Don't like candy?  I give up.  Just tell us something good.  Make it spooky.

THE DETAILS:  This contest will go on until midnight tonight and then I will use random.org to pick a winner.  It is for US residents only.  Retail value of Inspires for women is $29.99 and the winning pair will be orange (of course).   Many thanks to YURBUDS for the awesome treat.  GOOD LUCK, ROCK ON & HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Listen to this:
Figure - This is Halloween

Thank You, Paul

"He who sings scares away his woes."

~ Cervantes

I'll come right out and say this post is a bit odd.  But, in the middle of the night, when I was having this conversation with my 6 year old, I was awake enough to appreciate it and tired enough to think it might be worth sharing.  It was 2:30am and my younger daughter was crying, totally "freaked out" (her words), and unable get back to sleep.  After multiple conversations and a trip down to the basement (by me) to get the item that was causing the issue, the problem was resolved - sort of.  Actually, I'm not sure we resolved anything, but our final solution was to put music on with the hopes that it would clear her head and lull her to sleep.  Enter Paul Simon, the master of mellow.  In the end, I'm sure the reason she finally succumbed to sleep was mainly because she had been up for 30 minutes and her little eyes couldn't stay open anymore.  But, I like to think that music had a lot to do with it.  No doubt it calmed her nerves and eventually helped her nod off, which for me, at that hour, was all that I cared about.  Here's how our conversation played out:

Grace: (who had just shuffled into my room and was poking me) Mom, I have bad thoughts in my head and I can't get them out.
Me: Oh no.  Let's get them out.  Come on, I'll tuck you back in and we'll think of some good things.
Grace: I keep thinking about my American Girl doll.
Me: The one in the basement?
Grace: Uh huh.  When I close my eyes, I see her coming upstairs and scaring me.
--->Gotta love Halloween.  Both fun AND scary.
Me: Grace, that's a doll.  She's sweet and you like to play with her.  And she's all the way downstairs.
Grace:  I know.  But, still.  In my head, she's mean and I keep seeing her that way when I try to sleep.  Rosie (her sister, age 8) told me a story about a doll who comes alive and hurts people.

The doll that was "freaking her out"
(The hair alone freaks me out, so I kind of get it)

---> Wow.  Nice work, Rosie.  Next time I'm going to wake her up and make her deal with this.  Add mental note to have a little chat with her tomorrow.
Me: (At this point, I was getting really tired, losing patience & ideas)  That's silly, Grace.  Would it help if I go get the doll and bring her in my room.  She'll be with dad and I.  You will be totally safe and you can think about things that make you happy.  Let's come up with something now.  Thanksgiving with Gran and Grandaddy?  Your birthday?  Candy?
Grace: Okay, I want to think about my cousins, Katherine, Elizabeth and Will.
Me: Perfect.  They always make you smile.  And they just got a new puppy, so you can add that in there.
Grace: Is he wild?
Me: Who?
Grace: The puppy?
---> I saw where this was going...crazy, wild, scary puppy
Me: No.  He's adorable.  He sleeps, eats and plays.
Grace: Does he drink from a bottle?
Me: No.  Wait...what?  Grace, can we roll with this now?  Do you think you can close your eyes and sleep with these good thoughts?
Grace: I'll try
---> No dice.  I hear sniffling and whimpering within minutes.  So, I go back in.
Me: Grace, come on.  We have to get some sleep.  What are we going to do?  
Grace: I don't KNOW.  I can't help it. 
Me: How about some music?
Grace: Okay.

I put on Paul Simon's Graceland, one of our favorites, with the hope that his soothing voice would take her to dreamland.  Who knows where she ended up going; hopefully somewhere bright and sunny with her cousins.  Wherever she went, the bad thoughts were gone.  And that's all that matters.  In the end, music was the answer.  Thank you, Paul.  I owe you one.  Big time.

Listen to this:
Coffee Kids - Be the Bear  

10 Weeks

10 Weeks ago, the 58 girls on the Lexington High School XC team began their journey.  As their coach, I had the good fortune of supporting, encouraging and pushing them through each day, from start to finish.  Today, as I reflect on the season, I am trying to think of the words they might use to describe the past 70+ days.  Here's a few that instantly came to mind:
~ Fun (yes, I do hope this would be their knee jerk response)
~ Hard (both physically and emotionally)
~ Frustrating
~ Exciting
~ Amazing
~ Fulfilling
~ Telling
~ Unpredictable
~ Exhausting
~ Eye-opening
~ Rewarding
Today, for many of them, the season will culminate in this final meet as they race against all the other schools in their Middlesex League.  The top 10 girls on the team, which at this point we still don't know because we have such incredible depth, will continue on through November.  But for the rest of them, particularly the seniors who run jv, this is the big kahuna.  This is my third year working with this team.  Every year has been as good as if not better than the last.  Not because the girls are different or the team is stronger, but because I have gotten to know them in a new way with each practice, each conversation, each phone call, and each run.  They are a family and slowly but surely I have squeezed my way in.  I have learned so much from them...to be a better coach, a better friend, a better mom, a better person.  I hope I have done my part and returned the favor.  I am beaming with pride as I write this post.  How lucky am I?  GO LEX!

Listen to this:
Annie You Save Me - Graffiti6  

Youth

Last week, after a few much-needed days off, I slowly eased into running again.  Surprisingly, my legs bounced back relatively well this time, which I'm guessing is due to the fact that they are becoming more and more accustomed to the pain I put them through with each marathon.  (good or not good....hmmm).  I was fortunate to have a couple beautiful days where I was running with no watch and no agenda;  simply soaking in the scenery and zoning out to my music.  So nice.  Despite a frustrating performance in Hartford, I was quickly reminded why I love running and continue to do it - race or no race.  My plan at this point was to maintain my base mileage and then, in a few weeks, to shift my focus over to the shorter races that I have coming up this winter.  And then I got sick.  Not a big deal.  Just a little cold with a sore throat and some sinus pressure.  Totally manageable.  After I dropped my kids off at school on Monday morning, I headed out for a run.  I ran .37 (yes, that's point three seven) miles, turned around, walked home and crawled back into my bed.  My body pretty much called a time out.  Okay, fair enough.  I rested for a few hours and then got up and got ready for work.  Whether I run with my cross country team or not, I always wear running clothes to practice.  It's comfortable, it puts us all on the same wavelength, and more often than not I jump in with the girls at some point to motivate them or help them get through their workout.  But running with them was not in the cards for Monday.  Earlier that day, I had let my own coach know that I couldn't muster up the energy to get a run in and that I felt like I could use a couple days off, which he completely agreed with.  As I headed over to the field, my motivation was low and I was struggling to put on my game face.  The girls warmed up; catching up with each other, many of them laughing and bubbling with their ever-present youthful enthusiasm.  Their energy was tangible and it was quickly rubbing off on me.  As they got ready to head out, one of them said, "Coach, you coming?" "Not today", I responded, "I'm trying to knock off this cold."  They turned to go.  -->Insert 6 second pause here<--  Wait, I said, I'll just do a little with you."  They smiled, came back, scooped me up and off we went.  My legs were tired and I couldn't breath through my nose but neither of these things seemed to matter at the time.  My mood shifted, I got a pleasant little surge of energy and for about 30 minutes I forgot about my cold.  Those who are constantly hunting down the fountain of youth...I get it.  Do I want be young and free forever?  Not really.  But, a short burst of that youthful feeling every once in a while?  I'll take it.  Sometimes all we need is a little sip.

Listen to this:
Counting Stars - One Republic* 

* Thanks for sharing, ALS  

Time For Music

Recently, one of the girls on my high school cross country team said to me, "Coach, I don't get how you find time to go through all of the music that you write about in your blog."  I smiled.  This, from a girl who runs on the team, plays piano, is currently powering through her junior year in high school (the hardest academically, by far) goes to church on Sunday and still manages to look cute and fresh on a daily basis.  If it's something that is important to us, we find the time.  My family is my number one priority.  I will scrap a run, skip a meeting, or bail on a night out with friends for my kids, my, husband or both, any day if need be.  Running comes second.  I need to run.  Want to run.  It's my physical and mental release.  You already know this.  My family knows it.  My friends know it.  I work my day around it if necessary.  I will always find time for it.  And then, there's music.  I have always been an avid music fan.  At a very early age I was drawn to it and the way it made me feel.

Back in grade school I had two specific 45s (yes, 45s - those very small records with an A & B side) that I used to listen to over and over and over again.  I played I Love Rock and Roll by Joan Jett and Dirty Laundry by Don Henley, on my cheap, plastic record player non-stop.  I'm sure I successfully ruined both songs for my older sister while also driving my parents totally nuts.  My sister in particular, still makes fun of me for the (slight) obsession I had with these two gems back in the day.  As I got older, my tastes evolved and my love for music continued to grow.  In junior high, I was given a gift certificate to Tower Records (a huge 3 story music mecca) for my birthday which I took straight to the store and used to purchase an assortment of cassette tapes.  Curious to know what they were?  I am both pleased and slightly embarrassed that I can easily recall this list:

Squeeze - Singles 45s and Under  

Yaz - Upstairs at Eric's

Big Audio Dynamite - This is Big Audio Dynamite  

Big Country - The Seer  

The Police - Synchronicity  

I still remember how giddy I was when I got home, ran upstairs and madly unwrapped the plastic that covered each tape.  Within minutes I was singing "Goodbye Girl" at the top of my lungs and dancing around my room as only a teenager would.  This purchase was a game changer and I was officially hooked from this point on.  Music became a huge part of my happy, yet tragic 80s world along with perms, braces and neon clothes.  Fast forward to today.  Music is STILL blowing my mind.  New bands like AWOLNATION and Alt-J along with bands that have been around for a while like Radiohead and Wilco, all of them are continuously taking their music to a new level and I am more than thrilled to be along for the ride.  I listen to them.  I run with them.  I see them live.  I talk about them.  And then I do it all over again.  And today, just as I did back when I was 10, I make time to explore, discover and dig in.  Music is something I love.  It is one of my true passions.  It is incredibly fulfilling.  It inspires both my running and my life.  So, like I do with anything that is this important to me, I find time.  There will always be time for music.

Listen to this:
Play With Fire - Vance Joy  

We Learn

"You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don't try to forget the mistakes, but you don't dwell on it. You don't let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space."
~ Johnny Cash 

This past Saturday morning, my high school cross country team raced at the Catholic Memorial invitational in Boston.  The day was gorgeous, perfect for a race.  We arrived early and headed off to walk the course.  The girls seemed to be in a good place mentally; both as a team and on an individual basis.  This is not always the case and I have learned to pause and appreciate it when it is.  Our performance at an invitational does not affect our overall position in the school league and won't change our record.  We do them because they help us learn to race in bigger crowds with more variables against teams who are stronger than us.  They take us out of our comfort zone and challenge us in new ways.  In a nutshell, they make us better.  My team did well, placing 3rd in a field of approximately 15 teams.  The girls were happy.  I was, too.  Most of them had pushed hard and run their best.  When I found them all after the race, their were many hugs and high fives.  We are a close and supportive group.  It is one of our greatest strengths.  As I read the expressions on their faces.....exhaustion, relief, excitement...I could predict the race reports they would eventually give me before they even came out.  Ah, but cross country is such a fickle sport, particularly with younger runners, and rarely does everyone on the team have a good race.  One of my runners, despite a decent performance, was both sad and angry about how her race had unfolded.  Her tears started to fall almost instantly.  She had not performed to her potential.  She had gotten a stitch early in the race.  Her legs were heavy, her body was off.  She'd had a really hard time hanging on.  "Coach", she said, "I don't get it".  Personally, I find this is one of the easiest situations to understand and the hardest to help a runner get through.  I have been there.  I was there last week.  Literally.  I am pretty sure I might have even said the exact same words to my own coach after my race..."I don't get it."  Oh, how I felt for her.  Because, in all honesty, we will never truly "get it" - neither of us.  It's all part of the process; that crazy, challenging, wonderful process that keeps us coming back to the line over and over again.  At the time, I knew there were few words that I could say to relieve her pain and frustration.  And I did not have that magical potion to help her snap out of it and move on.  But, I still tried.  I explained that not every race is going to be our best.  They are building blocks.  We learn from them.  We analyze them.  And then we have to let go.  Because there will always be another race and holding on to the last one isn't going to help anyone. "I know you are a good runner" I told her.  "I am not worried and you shouldn't be either.  I believe in you and your ability.  And nothing has changed.  You had a crappy race.  It sucks.  But you are still that great runner.  And you have to remember that."  She nodded, shrugged, and walked away with a heavy head.  My words might not have sunk in right then.  But I know she heard them and that's all that matters.  I have always wanted to be a coach.  One of the reasons is so that I can share my passion for running with others.  Another is to teach from my own experiences.  I am 38 years old.  I've run hundreds of races and will hopefully run many more.  And, despite my age, I am still learning and trying to be better.  Just like they are.

Listen to this:

I Can Hardly Make You Mine - Cults  

TOP 5s

Today, I thought I'd share the latest and greatest assortment of TOP 5 LISTS that I've put together over the past few days.  WHY?  Because who doesn't love a good Top 5 list now and again?  Okay, but really.  Because it was something to think about before, during and after the marathon that I ran on Saturday. Because I can't believe I remembered all of them.  Because I am still seeking out the humor and joy in these crazy runner situations; even when they are disappointing and/or frustrating.  (I know, I know...I'm can't seem to stop talking about joy and pain.  This is it for a while, I promise).  And...well...just because, dammit!  Enjoy.

TOP 5 SIGNS HELD UP BY SPECTATORS

1. You have already run WAY more than I ever have!! (At MILE 2)

2. Just Keep Swimming. Just Keep Swimming. Just Keep Swimming. (w/ pic of Dory)

3. My grandma is CRUSHING it. (how awesome is this??)

4. TEQUILA - 3 MILES AHEAD (yes, I did think about a post-race margarita here)

5. YES. YOU. CAN. (I vaguely remember nodding back to this sign, not the person)

TOP 5 QUOTES FROM MY KIDS POST-RACE

1. Grace - Did you win? (she asks this every time)

2. Rosie - Good job, mom.  Can we go get ice cream now? (a promise is a promise)

3. Grace - Can I have a piggy back to the car? (because her legs were tired)

4. Rosie - You gonna eat these chips? (while digging through my marathon goody bag)

5. Grace - Are you done running now, mom? (I'm pretty sure she meant forever)

TOP 5 COMMENTS FROM FAMILY, FRIENDS & FELLOW RUNNERS

1. So, you went for it.  It didn't work.  But you gotta give yourself some credit for taking the risk. (KH)

2. They can't all be perfect.  But your life is still pretty darn good. (Mom)

3. You're not an elite athlete.  You're a mom with a job and a very busy life.  And still, you ran a marathon in 3:21.  That's kind of insane. (LD)

4. I know you are not happy with it, but from here its a 3:21 marathon which is pretty damn good.  Sending you a well deserved congratulations. (slow_running)

5. Congrats on Marathon #7. 30 years from now you'll remember the time you bonked a 3:21. (deuce deuce)

TOP 5 SONGS THAT GOT ME THROUGH

1. BURN - Ellie Goulding  

2. TIGER KIT - Sleigh Bells  

3. EMILY - MIKA    

4. A STILLNESS - The Naked and Famous  
5. GIVE IT TO ME - Timbaland (feat. Justin Timberlake & Nelly Furtado)    

Listen to this:
CHOLLA - The Joy Formidable  

Race Recap: Hartford Marathon

6:00 AM, Hartford, CT

Saturday morning in Hartford could not have been more beautiful.  The air was crisp and cool.  The sun was just starting to rise.  It was perfect weather for a marathon.  With an 8:00 start, I had gotten got plenty of sleep.  Things were looking really good.  The Hartford Marathon staff was totally dialed in.  There was an orange jacket everywhere I looked, happily telling me where to check my bag, how to get to the start and wishing me good luck.  Thanks to them, my stress level was zilch.  There were tons of port-o-pottys and there were no lines.  All of it was almost too good to be true.  And it was awesome.  As I waited at the start, I was thinking two things: first - don't go out too fast. And second - I wonder what this song is that's playing over the loud speaker and whether I could ask this person next to me to Shazam it with their iPhone.  (I did not do this, but I really wanted to).  The horn blew and right from the get-go, I tucked in with the 3:15 pace group, something I'd done at my last marathon that had worked really well for me.  We did some quirky zigging, and zagging and a bit of surging to get our group into a secure place which made me a little nervous, but after a couple miles we finally settled in.  And then, at mile 3, my pacer jetted off to the side to go to the bathroom.  Hmmm.  Okay.  I guess I will just plow ahead.  I jumped in with a group of 4 men that had been running with the same pacer.  After a couple more miles I noticed we were cruising at a 7:15 pace.  What to do?  My thoughts were all over the map:
---> Is this too fast?  Can I hold this?  Probably not.  But I feel SO good.  Maybe I can hang on.  Maybe this time is different?  Maybe??  
And then I had to pee.  I could not stop thinking about it.  In all my marathons, I have never had to duck out to use the bathroom.  I did not want to break my stride and lose my group, but with each water stop I worried that it would get worse, so I decided it had to be done.  I made it quick and tried to jump right back in, but I had lost my crew and my groove.  First bleep on the radar.  I settled back in and for the next ten miles or so, I maintained a pretty solid rhythm.  I was running steady 7:20-7:25 miles and I was feeling strong.  And then, well, then I wasn't.  At mile 18 my mind started to mess with me.  I was beginning to get tired and the message I kept hearing was "this is so damn hard, Rebecca, maybe you should just stop and take a break."  My brain was sending the same message to my legs and they were happy to oblige.  I was so pissed off; willing myself to block out these thoughts and forge on.  But with each mile it was getting harder to fight.  I started to stop at the water stations and take several gulps of gatorade, hoping the fuel would trick (or drown out) my brain.   No such luck.  By mile 22, I had slowed to a shuffle, my stomach had too much liquid in it and the cramps were in full force.  It was touch and go.  And it wasn't pretty.  Finally, I made it to mile 25.  Hallelujah.  I almost cried I was so happy to see that number.  My time at this point was 3:10.  I poured my heart and soul into the final 1.2 miles to cross the line in 3:21:27.

My coolest medal, by far.

Was I was pleased with my time? Sure.  But I was really disappointed with how I felt through those last 8 miles.  It was not a joyful race.  In the end, I was mad at myself, mad at my legs, mad at my obsession with running, just mad.  This was not the outcome I had been hoping for.  But, all that said, it could have been worse.  A lot worse.  As my coach told me later that evening, "The marathon is a tough animal.  Rarely does it 100% reflect your capabilities, but we keep going at it to try to get one of those near perfect runs."  I train for these monsters for four months of the year.  I've done it seven times now.  I work my tail off and push myself beyond my comfort zone on a regular basis.  And then...then, I cross my fingers and hope for the best.  Sometimes it all comes together.  Sometimes it doesn't.  And yet, I still do it.  There is something about the challenge that is appealing to me.  Even more so, when things don't go as planned.  As my husband said when I was talking through it with him post-race, "That's the thing, Rebecca.  When you PR, you're always going to wonder whether you could have gone a little faster or pushed a little harder.  When you crash and burn, you wonder what went wrong and how you can change it.  And there will always be a next time.  You know it and I know it.  He's right.  I do know it.  Later that night, I called my mom to give her the low down.  She listened quietly as I gave her the play by play.  When I was done she said, "well, I'm sorry it didn't go as well as you'd hoped.  But, they can't all be perfect.  And you're life is still pretty darn good."  I won't lie and say I wasn't a little annoyed by her response.  But, it's only because I knew she was right.  Life does go on and I'm still happy, healthy and lucky as hell.  And running will always have a lot to do with this.

Rosie's first post-race comment:

"Good job mom.  Can we go get ice cream now?"

Listen to this:

Tidal Wave - Sub Focus feat. Alpines 

Marathon Montage

"If you feel bad at 10 miles, you're in trouble. If you feel bad at 20 miles, you're normal. If you don't feel bad at 26 miles, you're abnormal." 


~ Rob de Castella, on marathon racing

I have put together a photo montage of my typical marathon experience.  Not only am I seeking out the joy of running, but, I truly believe there has to be some humor in all of it to lighten things up.  Because, really, without a little humor, what's the point?  Okay, and if I'm being totally honest here, I had more time this week than usual on account of my taper.  Who knows what would happen if I had this much time on a regular basis.  Fortunately, it's not something I need to worry about.  1 day, 42 minutes, 56 seconds to go.  See you on the flip side.

Miles 1-5

Let's go. Let's go. Let's GO!

Miles 5-10

Settling In

 Miles 10-15

Zoning Out

Miles 15-20

Digging In

Miles 20-26.2

The Final Push

FINISH

Hallelujah!

POST RACE

I'm NEVER doing that again!*

(*which I have said after all 6 marathons that I have run)

Listen to this:

Run Boy Run - Woodkid   

I Choose

So here we are.  Here I am.  Marathon number 7.  Giddy up.  New race (Hartford).  New state (CT).  New adventure.  Same age category (35-39).  Same socks (New Balance).  Same awesome running partner (KH).  Why do I keep running marathons?  When I think about it, the main reasons never change.  I love to run.  I love the rush.  I love the challenge.  I love the pain.  I hate all those things, too, but not always and never at the same time.  Do I want the PR?  Hell, yeah!  But that's not my main goal this time around.  Through this training cycle, my mental state has shifted.  I have reached back and tapped into the simple joy of running.  On Saturday, I'm running to remind myself how lucky I am that I get to do this.  It's my choice.  I choose to train.  I choose to push myself.  I choose to do it again.  I choose.  I'm ready.  Let's ride!

Listen to this:
Black Out Days - Phantogram

The Three Mile Run

Lucy, catchin' the breeze.

This Saturday, I'm running the Hartford Marathon in CT. (pause here for minor freak out)  Over the past four months, my running partner KH and I have been tackling various workouts including tempo runs, marathon pace runs, long runs (20+ milers), and short repeats of various lengths on the track.  These workouts were typically a minimum of 8 miles and our weeks would total anywhere from 40-60 miles.  Both of us were admittedly beyond tired on a regular basis throughout most of September.  As I write it all down like this, it does make me wonder why the hell I continue to do this over and over again.  But, that is for another day.  Back to the point.  Next week, my training schedule looks like this:

Sunday - 8 Miles

Monday - off

Tuesday - 5 miles

Wednesday - cross train

Thursday 3 miles

Friday - off

Wait...THREE MILES???  Okay, yes, I am running 26.2 miles on Saturday, but still.  To a crazy, marathon runner like myself, a three mile run is such a simple pleasure.  Mentally, it is, by far, the easiest run to tackle.  Even if I'm lacking motivation or desire, just knowing it's three miles makes it doable.  Logistically, it's easy to squeeze in three miles, even on the busiest of days.  Physically, it's short and sweet while, at the same time, it's just enough.  Would an easy three mile cruiser satisfy me all the time?  Probably not.  But once in a while it's really nice.  Yesterday, as I thought about my upcoming week, and specifically, the three mile run that I have to look forward to,  I took a minute to think about other things that are equally enjoyable, while also relatively simple.  For my 8 year old, I would guess that it's doing a cartwheel, as, these days, it always puts a smile on her face.  For my 6 year old, it might be eating a cupcake or anything sweet which tends to have the same effect.  For my dog, Lucy, perhaps it's a long drive on a beautiful day.  Clearly, you can see how this makes her feel.  For me, oh where to begin.  I had a lot of fun with this one.  Below are just a few that I came up with right of the bat.  But the list goes on and on.  I've got a lot on my plate this week, but on Thursday, I'm going to do my best to soak in the simple joy of the three mile run.



The "3 Mile Run" List: All Things Simple & Sweet

1. A hot cup of coffee.

2. A freshly vacuumed car. (just did this.  yes, it was that good)

3. The start of a new book.

4. An unexpected hug from my daughter.

5. Hooded sweatshirts.

6. New running socks.

7. A high five. (giving OR receiving)

8. A bubble bath.

9. A good song on the radio.

10. A cat nap.


Listen to this:
Fantasy - MSMR  

She Rocks

When it comes to music, I do not discriminate.  Pop, rock, alternative, reggae...I am all ears, all the time.  My radar is always on and, at this particular moment, it is honing in on bands that are either comprised of women or have a badass female lead.  Why?  Because these lovely ladies are writing, singing and/or playing incredible music and I'm hearing it everywhere I go.  I am literally pulling over to the side of the road (in bustling Winchester, MA) so I can write it all down; on a daily basis.  I am loving it.  I am inspired by it.  I am sharing it.  I am running with it.  I am more than thrilled to listen to it with my own girls (ages 6 & 8) who are also into music and think it's "really cool" when they hear the ladies rocking out.  And beyond cool when the band is made up of sisters.  (I'm not going to lie...I think it's AWESOME that Rosie and Grace have been wearing their Hannah Montana wigs and rocking out on their Barbie keyboard & guitar, pretending to be HAIM, less one sister).  These bands are creating some serious waves and I'm willing to wager that you will want to hear what they've got to say.  If not, that's okay.  You can at least appreciate the many channels of music and the incredibly positive influence it can have over someone.  Bottom line, I continue to be amazed on a regular basis by really good music and the fact that these ladies are currently on top of my list doesn't bother me a bit.  Here's a few bands that are, in my humble opinion, killing it and some of the songs I think are worth your time.  Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.  Many thanks to these lovely ladies who do what they do so well.

HAIM

Sisters - Daneielle, Este, & Alana Haim

CHVCHES

Lauren Mayberry

I BREAK HORSES

Maria Lindén

AU REVOIR SIMONE

Erika Forster, Annie Hart, and Heather D'Angelo

LISTEN TO THESE:
I Break Horses 
            Denial (new this year)  
            Hearts (from 2011. Undoubtedly makes me run faster)  
Au Revoir Simone - Gravitron  
Haim - Don't Save ME  
Chvches - We Sink  

Trick, Treat, Etc.

Sweet, sweet October.  Literally.  The candy situation is officially out of control starting today.  It's a mom's worst nightmare.  There is really nothing I can do but embrace it and join the fun - or hop on my broom and fly with the best of them.  (insert a good cackle here).  Fall is in full swing now.  And I LOVE it.  The leaves are changing and coming down, the temp is dropping and the jackets are coming out on a regular basis.  It's easily the best month for running.  I have a perma-grin every time I head out.  My kids also have perma-grins every day as they countdown to Halloween.  I have nothing to complain about...well, except the sugar situation, but that's minor and has an end to it.  The new music continues to flow and I continue to enjoy it.  All in, I am one lucky....witch.  Here's what's on my October "to-do" list:

1. Run a marathon.  Oh BOY!! (the tone here is both sarcastic AND excited).
2. Take two weeks off from running after said marathon.
3. Guide my high school girls' xc team through the rest of their league meets.
4. Buy candy corn and eat too much of it (happens every year).
5. Carve pumpkins with my daughters.
6. Attempt to drum up a costume for myself as my girls claim that I never dress up.
7. Listen to the girls (and their friends) talk about candy, costumes and everything else related to Halloween for 31 days. Non-stop.
8. Start planning my daughter's birthday 9th party.  (wait...9??? How did that happen?)
9. Enjoy the first fire of the season with my family. (ooh, better get my chimneys cleaned)
10. Last, but not least, sit back, relax and listen to some really good music.

Hope you all have a spooktacular month.  Happy listening & Happy Halloween.

SONG:
Team - Lorde


ALBUM:


In Rolling Waves
by The Naked & Famous