RWR: MEET CHERYL, CREATOR OF BIA

ROAM FREE, UNPLUG, LIGHTEN UP:BIA

About 6 months ago, my Garmin died.  RIP Garmin.  Fortunately, I'd already gotten on board the BIA train so I knew all my watch problems would eventually be solved.  I just had to wait.  And I was more than willing to do so.  What's BIA, you ask?  It's an athletes' dream device.  Two devices, actually.  The watch itself is the first piece and the Go Stick, a small computer that clips onto your clothing, is the second. (see photo) Together, they are the technology dream team.  The BIA-Sport tracks your workout with QuickConnect GPS, provides an SOS safety alert to your emergency contacts, and automatically uploads all your data to the online training log without having to plug in...to anything.  Why two pieces?  Keeping them separate allowed for a crazy slim and lightweight watch that is an absolute joy to run, bike and swim with.  Clearly, I love my BIA.  Today, I am so fired up to introduce you to Cheryl Kellond, one of the two masterminds behind this brilliant product.  Cheryl is a triathlete and realized years ago that there was not a single watch/GPS device on the market that was able to meet all of her needs.  Rather than wait around to see if it would eventually be developed, she grabbed the bull by the horns and made it herself.  How 'bout them apples?  When my BIA arrived in the mail, I immediately reached out to Cheryl to see if I could feature here on RWR.  Here is her story.  Many thanks to Cheryl for sharing and to the BIA team for rocking my wrist.

RUNNERS WHO ROCK: 

CHERYL KELLOND

Name: Cheryl Kellond
Where you're from: I am an east coast transplant to California.
Where you reside now:  Manhattan Beach CA (it doesn’t suck!)
Age: 43
Occupation: Founder of Bia Sport
Blog/website: www.bia-sport.com

RUNNING & MUSIC:
What do you love most about running?  Disconnecting from work.

What do you love most about music?  If I play it loud enough I sound like I sing really well.  Oddly no one else agrees.

Her biggest runner girl fan moment ever 

w/ Kara Goucher and Lauren Fleshman

CHERYL'S FAVORITES:
Band (current, all time or both):  The Replacements
Album (current, all time or both):  Totally tied on this one: Aerosmith's 'A Little South of Sanity' and Sugar's 'F.U.E.L.'
Race venue: Anything in Utah.
Music venue: My car.
Race distance: 70.3 (I am a triathlete)
Show you've seen live? I’ve seen Green Day, John Mellencamp, and Maxwell live multiple times. That’s sort of screwed up, huh?
Ice cream flavor: Vanilla

THIS OR THAT:

Sweet or salty? Salty

Live or recorded? Recordings of Live

Coffee or tea? Coffee

Summer or winter? Summer

MORE MUSIC INFO:
Which band or artist would you go see tonight if you could? Bob Mould

Which band or artist (wait...but no longer alive or playing together) would you go see tonight if you could? The Replacements

Which band or artist would you like to have dinner with tonight if you could? Pink. But I actually don’t like her that much, so I would swap out with my bestie Kirsten, because she loves Pink. I would sneak out for dinner with my husband.

CIRCA 1984

Which band or artist would you like to be playing alongside you during your next race (or long run)? The GoGo’s

Top 5 Songs for running, dancing or both?
Dancing With Myself - Billy Idol  
Mama Kin - Aerosmith  
Is it Good to You - Heavy D  
Everlasting Love - Gloria Estafan  
Hit me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benetar  

Last 5 Songs you listened to today?

SAME AS ABOVE

Long Beach 1/2 Marathon w/ her besties

(Cheryl's in the middle rocking her BIA)

WELCOME DISTRACTIONS

Long runs are....well...long.  I actually enjoy them.  Most of the time.  But, once in a while they're a bit tedious.  Thankfully, I have a good friend who doubles as my running wing (wo)man and we are both in the process of training for a fall marathon, so I haven't had to tackle any solo long runs in months.  (Bless you, Kirsten).  This past Saturday, my family headed over to Martha's Vineyard to spend a couple weeks with my extended family.  A quick side note here; my parents no longer own a house on the island, and my sister's family is moving down to GA from CT, so I'm guessing this gathering might become a logistical challenge for all of us in the future, but for now, we're making it work, so it's all good.  If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know that I love running on Martha's Vineyard.  The scenery is gorgeous, the people are ridiculously nice and the new routes are a welcome change from home.  But still, the long runs can be....well...really long.  I'm not complaining here.  I do realize how lucky we are to get to do this together each summer.  But, that said, if I'm being totally honest, I find it much harder to motivate for a 2+ hour run when I'm on my own versus when I'm running along side my running partner.  Go ahead and say it..."suck it up, Rebecca".  Totally fair.  When I woke up yesterday morning I was staring down a 15 miler.  Oooh boy.  I dropped my kids off at camp and then attempted to get myself mentally geared up to head out.  For 2 hours.  Alone.  As I ran, I tried to drum up some solid distractions to help make the time and miles go by faster.  I actually did pretty well.  Below is a list of the many, very random ideas that I came up with.  It ended up being a great run.  I should mention, however, that I do miss my running buddy and I will always opt to run with her over the solo mission.  Now, what was I talking about?  Oh yes, distraction.

CREATIVE WAYS TO DISTRACT YOURSELF ON A LONG RUN 

~ Get lost.  Literally.  If you're like me, you don't go out and crush your long runs.  Take it easy.  Rome.  Explore new neighborhoods.  You've got plenty of time.

~ Use your senses.  Within the first 3 miles of my run I had smelled the pleasant aromas of sweet honeysuckle, I'd tasted the salty ocean air, I slowed down to listen to the crickets and cows who were making music on the farm next to our rental house and I'd stopped to stare in awe at the fields of wild flowers and the rows...and rows...and more rows of green veggies sprawled across the farms.  Amazing.  Look, listen, smell, touch and take it all in.

Wild flowers, Morning Glory Farm, Edgartown Bay & the Red Barron

(from top left, clockwise)

~ Run to the beat.  Literally.  The BPM (beat per minute) of a song is often the driving force behind our running motivation.  Each time a new song comes on, shift your pace to that song's BPM.  This will give you some faster miles and slower miles, depending on the music.  And the surprise of what's coming next will keep you interested.  Double distraction.

~ Try something new.  Wait, don't go bananas and switch up your entire mid-run fuel routine.  But if you always eat Vanilla GU, why not mix it up with something different?  Today I tried peanut butter chocolate for the first time.  Holy smokes that is some good shit.  Just knowing I had something new in my pocket was a distraction.  The awesome taste afterwords was an added bonus.

~ Sing.  Quietly or at the top of your lungs.  Personally, I prefer to belt it out.  Either way, singing along with the music always gets your mind off the miles.  It might get you some stares, too.  But, if you've been out there for 15 miles I'm guessing you won't care.

~ Pick a new genre.  Of music, that is.  Choose and new decade (80s anyone?) from your iTunes library or on Pandora and groove out to some oldies but goodies.  Prince and Genesis sound awesome when you haven't listened to them in a while.

~ Make new friends.  Lots of people are out running on vacation.  Maybe they'd prefer to run with a buddy, too?  If you end up stride for stride with someone, why not start up a conversation?

~ Jump in.  If you're running near a beach, a lake, even a good set of sprinklers; take your shoes off and jump in.  You'll be thoroughly cooled off for the rest of the run and easily distracted by how wet you are.  Don't even think about jumping in a stranger's pool.  I never did that when I was a kid.

~ Work on your form.  Toward the end of my long runs I tend to start dragging my feet and my posture goes to hell.  Not good.  Take the last few miles of your run to focus on keeping your form solid and perhaps you'll forget about the run itself.

~ Run faster.  Desperate times call for desperate measures.  If you run faster it will end sooner.  And you can stop thinking about it.  Until next time.

Listen to this:
Turn Up the Radio - OK Go  

LIVE MUSIC REVIEW: BONNAROO 2014

 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival 2014

Entrance to Centeroo

Today I will be turning RWM over to my friend and fellow Oiselle teammate, Ashley F.  Ashley recently attended, Bonnaroo (lucky dog) and then reached out to see if she could share her story with the rest of us.  Yes please!  I don't know what I'm more jealous of....the fact that she got to see Lional Ritchie live or that she got to eat multiple meals at HAMAGEDDON.  All I can say after reading this is that Bonnaroo is now officially on the top of my bucket list.  Huge thanks to Ashley for giving us a taste of this epic adventure.

OK, so how thrilled am I to be doing my first guest post ever on my friend/ Oiselle teammate Rebecca’s awesome Running With Music blog! Exciting stuff. And even more excited that I’m writing to recap my experience at what many people consider to be the best music festival in the U.S.A and the closest thing to the famous Eurofests -- the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival!

Checking out the campgrounds closest to the main “What” stage

For the uninitiated, Bonnaroo is a four-day festival in Manchester,TN usually beginning on the second Thursday in June. This year marked my third time at the festival, which in 2014 celebrates its thirteenth rocking year.  New Orleans musical legend Dr. John is credited with the first popular usage of the word “Bonnaroo” on his 1974 album Destively Bonnaroo. It’s often repeated around the festival circuit and online that the word “bonnaroo” translates loosely from creole/Cajun slang to mean “a real good time.” HOWEVER I have actually asked some awesome southeastern Louisiana folks I know who are fluent in what they refer to as “Cajun French” if they’ve ever heard the term “bonnaroo,” and they say they haven’t. But really now, who cares? It’s a cool word and an even funkier track, so let’s go with “a real good time” and get into how it all went down.

Gotta work in some Oiselle pieces so as to show off the festival #flystyle!

Last week, I took a vacation from real life on Thursday and Friday and headed north to Manchester, TN. My in-real-life friends will tell you that this is a big deal for a bill-by-the-hour lawya like me. I am just trying to do my part to prove that stodgy old attorneys CAN leave the office and actually have a good time...

To drive this point all the way home, when I returned to the office bright and early after the festival on Monday morning, a colleague with whom I am friends on FB told me she saw a fun pic of me in a Lionel Richie shirt (oh, it’s coming; just you wait) and asked me how my weekend was at Bonnaroo. Another office colleague - clearly not quite so cool as the first one - eavesdropped and asked me “What exactly does a woman of your age (ahem) DO at Bonnaroo? I saw some pretty...um...interesting pictures of some young people at Bonnaroo in some articles I read online, and something about that Kanye West fella....and it looked pretty...um...interesting.”

OK, so what DO you do at Bonnaroo? What’s it like?  Well, you will get hot. And you might get rained on a bit. It’s Tennessee in June.  You will get dusty and dirty. The festival takes place on an actual farm, affectionately known to all the festival-goers as “The Farm.”  You will get tired. Bands play pretty much all night long, and even if you don’t stay up all night long or even close to it (we don’t) you are, at a minimum, guaranteed to miss your standard bedtime.  You may see some unpleasant things and will most certainly smell some unpleasant smells.   If you don’ t have a VIP ticket, you’ re stuck in the general admission campgrounds when you’re outside of the primary stage area of the fest, and even inside of it, you’re using a port-o-potty all weekend long.  But with all that in mind, you will leave the Farm a few days later with a clear mind, a relaxed outlook, having made new friends or strengthened bonds with old ones, eaten some amazing food, seen some creative costumes and found at least one -- if not ten -- new musical discoveries.  And you’ll have developed a desire to get back to the Farm as quickly as you can.

Outside the VIP tent inside Centeroo 

(a favorite spot to cool off and use the facilities)

Bonnaroo’s main draw are five main venues of music (the “What” and “Which” stages, then the “This”, “That” and “The Other” tents) surrounded by several smaller stages, a comedy tent, a cinema, a silent disco, a “rave barn” decorated in Christmas décor in June, a ferris wheel and hundreds of acres of farmland and campgrounds all around.

Life on the Farm!

Scattered around throughout all of this are lots of food, beverage, clothing and other small-goods vendors. You’ll also find a pretty cool fountain where overheated festivalgoers find a fun and colorful place to cool themselves down.  

I happen to be friends with some of the very best people in the world who enjoy all genres of music (not counting that rando photobomber above us) and as such, they make for awesome Bonnaroo buds. To sweeten the deal, we’ve been fortunate to get VIP tickets for each of the three years we have gone as a group.

Lest you think I am a festival snob and only go if I have VIP tickets, I have attended Hangout Fest in Gulf Shores (multiple years), Lollapalooza (Chicago; multiple years); Voodoo Fest (NOLA) and many other smaller music festivals all on a general admission (i.e., non-VIP) ticket. Bonnaroo is the exception. If you can stomach the cost of VIP admission here, I am a true believer that anyone over the age of 25 (and maybe 21) should spring for it. The air-conditioned bathrooms alone make it worthwhile! Even better - for each of the three years we’ve attended, we rented an RV for our group, so: (1) no camping on the ground; and (2) no waiting in line or sharing a shower with strangers.

Outside of our castle for the weekend; 

about to head over to see Mr. Richie himself!

We don't bother with cooking in our RV, even though there's a stove, microwave, etc. We learned quickly that festival food can be kind of amazing.

And finally, the reason we go to Bonnaroo.....THE TUNES. You can check out the full 2014 lineup here. As you can readily surmise from this stellar schedule, almost every time that a band you really “can’t miss” is on one of the stages throughout the fest, I can guarantee you’ll be missing another performance you really wanted to see. Some standouts for me other than the ones featured below in my posted videos were Disclosure, Sam Smith, Valerie June, Tedeschi Trucks Band and Chaka Khan at the Friday Night Superjam.  The wise festivalgoer will eventually make peace with the fact that for every show you enjoy, you’ll simultaneously be missing out on someone else that you wanted to catch, but you’ll catch them next time. Or if you have crippling F.O.M.O (*fear of missing out) like me, you’ll dash back and forth, catching 15 minutes of this person, then 20 minutes of the other. True story.... gets exhausting.  There’s no way I could describe to you every one of the amazing musical experiences my friends and I had over the weekend, so below I will share some of my favorite performances from Bonnaroo 2014. I’ll be the first to say that my videos aren’t of the greatest quality, but I really wanted to give you the Bonnaroo experience from my perspective, so if a certain song or the band piques your interest, google the band, spotify/soundcloud the song, or better yet, go purchase a high quality copy of the track.  First up, I must feature St. Paul and the Broken Bones. This band makes me INCREDIBLY PROUD to be an Alabama girl, as these cool guys are from - and recorded their debut album in - our great state! More than that though, Browan Lollar (guitars, vocals) is engaged to a Oiselle teammate of Rebecca’s and mine, the speedy speedster of the trail world Alison Hulsey! A small world indeed.

To wrap it all up, I wanted to share some shots of the amazing people we found enjoying the 13th edition of Bonnaroo. What a weekend!

Pretty solid advice, if you ask me.    

Listen to these:

Broken Bones & Pocket Change - by St. Paul and the Broken Bones

Let’s Be Still - by The Head and the Heart

Darkmatter - Andrew Bird and Hands of Glory

Unbelievers - Vampire Weekend

Tiff - Poliça

All Night Long - Lionel Richie

Entertainment - Phoenix

& Watch this:

Lead singer of Phoenix, Thomas Mars, ending the show with some of the most incredible crowdsurfing I’ve ever seen.

FLOAT ON

Recently, someone asked me "What sort of music do people want to run with?"  Great question.  This particular individual works for Soundtrack Loops, a company that creates music loops for musicians, composers, djs and anyone else out there designing media that needs music.  He thought it would be cool to have his musicians create songs specifically for runners that we could then post on RWM for your listening pleasure.  Yes and yes.  He went back and chatted with the owner of the company, both a musician and a runner (perfect candidate for RWR), about what type of loop might appeal to the running community.  Then he came back and told me,

----> ...it is an interesting thing...he thinks "high energy"....I think more laid back (but then I don't run very fast!). 

To which I responded,

---> Honestly, it is all over the map with running and music.  I have a friend that runs with classical....it's whatever gives us the motivational push that we often crave.   

Okay, truth, I did suggest music with a higher BPM for the downloads they're creating for RWM.  If I have to cast a wide net with the selection, my gut says that most runners seek out high-energy music to get them fired up or for the often needed distraction.  But, having said that, I do realize that your music picks are going to be whatever floats your boat.  People head out to run for different reasons.  They're stressed, they're antsy, they're frustrated...no need to go on, right?  Personally, I am almost always craving a run.  For one of those reasons or all of them.  And I am very specific about the music I listen to when I hit the pavement.  When I am running repeats on the track, I use a totally different playlist than I do when I am out for a 20 miler.  My pace is different for both workouts and I want my music to mesh with that.  I have different warm up, cool down and race specific music, too.  This degree of selectivity is likely not the norm for most runners who listen to music, but the point is, different songs work for different people at different times.  My friend Kirsten can tell from the first 4 or 5 notes of a song whether she's going to want to run with it or not.  My sister-in-law focuses primarily on the beat for her picks, not so much on the song itself.  She will also run an entire half marathon listening to NPR.  Now, that is crazy to me, but it works for her and that's all that matters.  So, really, there is no "music that people want to run with." It all works,  just on an individual basis.  And that's a beautiful thing.  FLOAT ON.

Listen to this:

Can't Do Without You - Caribou  

STRONGER

“That which does not kill us makes us stronger.”

~ Friedrich Nietzsche

This past Thursday morning, I was powering...er, um, struggling...through 800 repeats on the track.  Six of them, to be precise.  Man, 800s are just so damn hard.  As I was gearing up for my last one, Kanye West's song, 'Stronger' came on.  It was exactly what I needed.  I turned up the volume and kicked it into high gear as I listened to him shout, "Na-na-na that that don't kill me can only make me stronger...".  I'm not gonna lie, there was some serious head bopping and hand gesturing going on during that last repeat.  Whatever works, eh?  Upon finishing the workout, I decided two things.  First, I was all sorts of fired up to go home and drum up a playlist compiled of songs about being strong, finding strength, holding on, never giving up, etc.  I do realize this is a bit dorky.  But playlists are such a simple pleasure of mine, so I don't really care.  Second, I decided that I want to get stronger.  Not just in running, although that is on the list.  But, in all areas of my life.  My older daughter is going into 4th grade this fall (holy crap).  I want to be a stronger, more understanding, more patient mom for her.  My sister is relocating her family to GA from CT and starting anew.  I want to be a stronger and more supportive sister for her.  My high school girls cross country team will be starting back up in August with almost 70 runners on the squad (again, holy crap).  I want to be a stronger, more knowledgable, more enthusiastic coach for them.  And finally, yes, I want to be a stronger runner.  Both physically and mentally.  I work hard and I need to trust that the effort I am putting in now will help me get where I want to be this fall.  I want to be more confident and know that I am capable of achieving what I have set out to do.  And the cool thing about all of this?  I'm convinced that by becoming stronger in just one of these areas, I will undoubtedly be gaining strength across the board.  So, who's with me?   Because there is strength in numbers, too.  High five.

STRONGER PLAYLIST

Stronger - Kanye West  
Stronger - Glee Cast Version 
Stronger - Britney Spears  
Strong - London Grammar  
Strong (ft. Miella) - Kid Massive & Alex Sayz  
Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) - Kelly Clarkson  
Stronger - Mary K. Blige  
Strength - The Alarm  
Strength - Zebrahead  
Strength, Courage & Wisdom - India.Arie  
The Strength to Go On - Rise against  
Not Giving In - Rudimental  
Never Look Back - Graffiti6  
Hold On (Sub Focus Remix) - RUSKO
Hold On (feat. Sampha) - SBTRKT  
Hold On - Alabama Shakes  
Hold On - NERVO  

Listen to this:
Stronger Than Ever (MJ Cole Remix) - Raleigh Ritchie  

A couple things about this playlist.  First, it is ALL over the map.  With the 'strong' theme in mind, I did my best to cast a wide net in regards to music genres.  While some of these songs are on my running playlist, there are others I've never heard before (ie. the band Zebrahead).  So, that said, take it with a grain of salt.  Second, I'd love to get your input and keep this playlist rolling.  I could have spent all day digging up additional songs, but I had places to go and things to do.  Plus, it's probably not healthy for me to be listening to music all day.  Or is it?  For real, if you've got some good 'strong' related ditties that you're willing to share, please do.  I'm all ears.  Rock on.  Be strong.  

BEAT THE HEAT: A TOP 10 LIST

Ahhh summer.  The long days filled with popsicles, sprinklers and bbqs are finally upon us.  Many of us, I'm sure, have started training for fall marathons.  Giddy up.  Even if you don't race and have no plans to train for anything specific, if you're a runner, you're still going to get out there.  And let's face it.  Summer running is a beast.  Yesterday, up here in the Boston area, we had our first day of high heat and heavy humidity.  And so it begins.  As I was running, I was willing myself not to complain.  Training for the Boston marathon this past winter just about did me in.  Once I got through it, I swore I would embrace the heat and praise the sun forever.  So what if my feet felt like cinderblocks yesterday and it seemed like I was swimming through the air.  I was determined to keep my mouth shut.  So, instead, I drummed up several ways for a summer runner to beat the heat.  Here's what I came up with:

TOP 10 WAYS FOR A RUNNER TO BEAT THE SUMMER HEAT

1. Run inside.  I'm not a huge fan of the dreadmill, but running 20 miles in the heat and humidity doesn't appeal either.  So, why not head to the gym.  Run a loop outside and then go inside and do another 6-8 miles in the A/C.  Or, do your speed work inside instead of on the track, which tends to feel like a frying pan in the summer.  Hey, it's a change of scenery, so that's nice, right?
2. Run near water.  Here in Winchester, we have a road called Mystic Valley Parkway that weaves along a couple lakes for several miles.  I would not swim in these lakes, mind you.  But, I have been know to dunk my head under mid-run if necessary.  Also, if there is a breeze of any kind, it's gonna be near water.
3. Switch your coffee.  Don't start your morning off with a hot drink.  You'll spike your body temp and hit the road in overdrive.  Make coffee the night before and throw it in the fridge.  That way, you can get your caffeine fix in without sweating while you're forcing it down.
4. Freeze your accessories.  No, seriously.  Throw your hat, visor, headband, sweatbands in the freezer and pull them out right before your run.  This will keep your head and pressure points cool from the start, which will keep your overall body temp down, for a few miles at least.
5. Clover.  My running partner and I have coined the term "clovering" meaning, running 3 or 4 loops from one of our houses so we can grab fuel and water every 6 miles or so.  When it's hot and you know you have water every 6 miles, it can make a huge difference mentally.
6. Break it up.  Do half of your run in the am.  And half in the pm.  Then brag to your friends that you did double sessions because you wanted to, not because you had to.
7. Wear sunglasses.  I used to think it was dorky to wear sunnies designed specifically for running.  That was dumb.  They shield the sun, weigh nothing, and keep you from squinting for 2 hours, which can be very uncomfortable.  Done and done.
8. Wear as little clothing as possible. (within reason)  I used to be modest/ embarrassed about running in a sports bra and short shorts around my small town.  Again, that was dumb.  It's hot.  I'm out running.  Who the hell cares what I'm wearing?  I certainly shouldn't.
9. Start early or wait and start late.  In other words, don't leave your house at noon.  It's gonna hurt.
10. Get yourself some new music.  Bottom line, music is a pleasant distraction and can be a major source of motivation.

I would have put "don't go at all" on the list, as I'm sure there are days when it's so freakin' hot it just doesn't seem feasible.  But, if you're a runner of any kind, you're going to figure out a way to get it done.  So, go run.  And stay cool.

Listen to this:
Where We're Going - DAE  

RWR: MEET JOEL of DE & The Great Lakes

"We play music and we really, really like you."
~ Daniel Ellsworth & the Great Lakes

One of the major perks of my job (okay, no, this blog isn't really my job, but it might as well be) is discovering new music and, and more specifically, bands that I might never have found on my own.  Recently, I had the good fortune of being introduced to Daniel Ellsworth & the Great Lakes, quite a dapper crew, if I do say so myself.  The band hails from Tennessee and their new album, Kid Tiger, was released back in March.  I highly recommend spending some time with this one.  I've had it on repeat over the past couple days and it continues to get better every time I listen to it.  I love that.  Today I am psyched to introduce you to Joel Wren, the band's drummer.  Somehow, despite a very hectic schedule, Joel manages to run while he's on the road, touring full time.  In an email from the band's manager I learned a bit more:

----> Joel finds inspiration musically through his passion for running.  He has completed 3 marathons and runs at least 5 miles a day, even when the band is on tour.  He seeks out routes for his runs to explore new cities on the road.  As a runner I am sure you know how difficult it can be to find time to get your miles in for the day but it isn't the same if you don't get your fix.

Yes.  I totally get it.  It can be difficult.  Particularly, when you're a rock star.  But we do all need our fix.  So, we somehow manage to make it work.  But, enough small talk, let's hear more about Joel, a runner who rocks.

RUNNERS WHO ROCK: JOEL WREN

Joel (doing his own thing) off to the right.

Name: Joel Wren
Where you're from: Wichita, KS
Where you reside now: Nashville, TN
Age: 29
Occupation: Musician, Drummer
Blog/website: www.danielellsworthandthegreatlakes.com

RUNNING & MUSIC
What do you love most about running?
I only started running because it was the easiest way to exercise, in that I could literally just walk out my door and go. That also makes it the most convenient way to exercise while touring.  Wherever I am, I can easily just step outside and go.  I also really enjoy it because it’s a huge stress reliever and NO ONE CAN GET AHOLD OF ME.  It’s the only time of the day when I’m completely disconnected from my phone and computer, which makes it incredibly freeing.

What do you love most about music?
Music has been an incredibly influential part of my life for as long as I can remember. I love creating it, listening to it, and especially performing it. The most important aspect of music to me is the emotional aspect. When performing, I find it to be an incredible emotional release. I’m a drummer who plays pretty hard and there’s nothing better than being able to hit the last note of a song and know that you put everything you have out there.

As far as listening to music, I know exactly how certain records will make me feel and I love being able to pick and choose what to listen to by what mood I’m in or what mood I want to be in.

Peter Gabriel, circa 1986

JOEL'S FAVORITES:
Band: (current, all time or both) REALLY tough question.  I’ll just say the first ones that I thought of. All time? I’ll say Peter Gabriel.  Something more current?  St. Vincent

Album: (current, all time or both) TOUGHER question. Again, the first things to come to mind. All time? I’ll say Nine Inch Nails “The Fragile.”  More Current? I’ll say The National “Trouble Will Find Me.”

Race venue: Although I’ve never done it, I’ve heard great things about the Detroit Marathon. I think you go through the tunnel to Canada for a little bit? That sounds pretty cool to me. It’s also possible that I’m COMPLETELY wrong about that, so please don’t hate me if I’m way off. 

Note: The course does go into Canada. (see map) And we could never hate you.

Music venue: My favorite place that I’ve seen a show is definitely the Ryman here in Nashville. There’s so much history there and between the sound and the atmosphere, you really can’t see a concert in a better room.  As far as a venue where I’d like to see something, I’ll say the Lykavittos Theater in Athens, Greece. I recently acquired a Peter Gabriel concert shot there back in 1987 and the place looks absolutely magnificent.  It’s an amphitheater cut out of a huge hill overlooking the entire capital city of Athens.

Lykavittos Theater, Athens, Greece

Race distance: Definitely the marathon. I’ve done a couple over the years and there’s just nothing like it. I admire anyone who makes the commitment to complete one. The amount of dedication that it requires is mind-blowing. It demands so much of you physically, mentally, and emotionally, that you’re literally a changed person after you’ve completed it. Although my touring schedule has made it difficult the past couple years, I really hope to do another one in the semi-near future.

Show you've seen live? Rage Against the Machine at Lollapalooza in 2008. It was one of maybe 2 shows that they performed in the US that year and it was absolutely amazing.  They slaughtered that show.

Ice cream flavor: Easy, anything with chocolate and peanut butter.


THIS OR THAT:
Sweet or salty? sweet (big sweet tooth)
Live or recorded? I’ll say recorded.  I love listening to classic, as well as new vinyl.
Coffee or tea? Coffee. For sure.
Summer or winter? I’ll say summer.  I heard someone say once that it’s really hard to train during the summer in the south, but if you can, it makes you a beast. I like that.


MORE MUSIC INFO:
Which band or artist would you go see tonight if you could? I’d love to see Father John Misty.  In general, I’m kinda behind when it comes to new music and so I just recently got into his record, “Fear Fun,” but I absolutely love it.

Which band or artist (wait...but no longer alive or playing together) would you go see tonight if you could? I’ll say Fleetwood Mac, although they are doing a reunion tour later this year and I definitely plan on catching it.

Which band or artist would you like to have dinner with tonight if you could? I’ll say Neil Diamond.  I just wanna hear his stories. I’m sure he’s got some incredible ones. I’ll also admit that he’s definitely one of my go-to karaoke artists.

Which band or artist would you like to be playing alongside you during your next race (or long run)? Definitely Phil Collins.  Lemme hear them hits, Phil!!


Top 5 Songs for running, dancing or both? (All running songs)
Bodysnatchers - Radiohead  
Halfway Home - TV on the Radio  
Vision of Division - The Strokes  
Big Girl - Dr. Dog  
Sussudio - Phil Collins  

Last 5 Songs you listened to today?
Terrible Lie - Nine Inch Nails  
Bedlam - Elvis Costello (and the Imposters) 
Who - David Byrne and St. Vincent  
Secondhand News - Fleetwood Mac  
Release - Pearl Jam  

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