WHEN 'LOVE' IS 'RUNNING'

You're in my veins

You're in my blood

You stop the feeling of giving up

This hell feels better with you

Michl, 'Better With You'

In the past, my husband has been a pretty fair weather runner; usually hitting the road for somewhere between three and five miles when he goes.  Recently, however, he's started running more often and for longer distances.  He even doubled last week, claiming his first run was done so early in the morning that he felt like he wanted to go out again in the afternoon.  Which makes us both a little crazy, right?  Unlike me, Jeff does not listen to music when he runs.  Last week we were out to dinner and I asked him what typically went through his mind when he was out there for over an hour.  He told me most of his runs broke down into three different modes.  First, he goes deep into thought.  About whatever pops into his head; work issues, life issues and so on.  Second, he takes in the scenery; really soaking things up and observing what's around him.  And last, he just zones out completely.  Usually, he goes through all three in no particular order.  I nodded in agreement.  Because, in truth, I do all of the same.  I'm guessing a lot of us do.  For me, the only difference is that I have music playing in the background.

My long run playlist is compiled of 878 songs which is almost 52 hours of music.  When I pick songs for this one, I just listen to various stations on Spotify and if I hear a tune that I like, particularly the beat and the melody, and I think it's got that extra something to keep me moving, then I add it to the list.  The lyrics, and on a higher level, the song's overarching message, are not really that important in the selection process.  And, until today, I never really thought they made much of an impact on me as I ran.  Not so, my friends.  This morning I was out for 19 miles, and in addition to thinking, not thinking and observing, I also found myself paying attention to the lyrics of the songs as they played.  Like, really digesting them.  I'll be the first to admit that a lot of the songs on my long run playlist are cheesy, pop tunes.  And as I listened today, I realized said tunes are frequently about love - falling in love, falling out of love, fighting about love, falling back into love, looking for love, etc.  What I also discovered, however, is that in most of them, I can put something more related to my own life, like... oh, I don't know, running perhaps... into the meaning of the song and it instantly sounds less like a sappy love song and more like a motivational running song.  Let me show you what I mean.

Committed by Ivory Layne


In the beginning of this ditty, the singer is explaining to whoever she's singing to that she's not asking for diamonds or gold.  That she doesn't want to box the person in.  But that she's gotten to a point where she's looking for more.  Seems fair.

Don't let me call you up if your heart's not in it
Your heart's not in it, if you're not committed
Oh no, don't let me go, oh no, don't let me down

Now let's relate it to running.  I mean, I'm not expecting to get diamonds or gold from running either.  And I should definitely not be calling on it if my heart isn't in it.  Because you know, when your heart's not in it, you're not committed.  Then, I'm going to let running down, running is going to let me down, it's just not going to end well.  We just really both have to be committed.  See what I mean?

Another example for you.

Control by Feder


In this one, the singer is straight up telling the person he's singing to that he or she is everything that he wants and he's just trying to put a melody to it.  Pretty straight forward, really.

Do you hear the rhythm of my heart
Through the beatin' of my soul?
When I'm with you, I lose control

Now the running twist.  I couldn't help but feel like this was me speaking about running because in running I, too, often lose control.  Good and/or bad.  Doesn't matter.  Either way, when I'm all in, particularly in a race situation, I can easily get out of control; physically, mentally or both.  Not that I want that.  It just is the way it is.  And if I could, I would definitely ask (hypothetical) running, do you hear the rhythm of my heart and the beating of my soul?  Because you should.  Both are in full force when we're together.  See??

Okay, last one.

Count On You by Paperwhite


In the beginning of this gem, the singer is throwing rocks at her lover's window, wondering if he or she will come around.  Basically, she wants to know if she can count on them through thick and thin. Again, fair question, no?

Can I count on you
To pull me up
When it's too much
Can I count on you
Cause without us
I don't know what I would do
You're running through my head
You're running through my head all night
Can I count on you

So, let's say the 'us' in this song was me and running.  How many times have I depended on running to get me through?  Lots.  Let's be honest I need running.  Without it, I'm...well...I really don't know what I'd do.  So, it's fair to say that if I could, I'd probably ask running if I could count on it the way I assume it can count on me.  And running would hopefully answer, Yes, Rebecca, yes you can. You can always count on me.  I know, it's a stretch.  But, I was getting really tired at this point, so it made perfect sense at the time.

The point is this, music serves a lot of purposes for me when I'm running.  It's a distraction, it drowns out my breathing, it pumps me up, it helps me find a rhythm, it keeps me going.  And, what I now understand, is that it kind of speaks to me.  In weird ways, yes.  But I find that I'm nodding my head in agreement or smiling because I can relate to the message.  Not necessarily the 'love' message, or whatever message the artist might be singing about, but the message as it relates to me and running.  And that's pretty cool.  Perhaps it's not what the artist intended when they wrote the song.  But, I have to believe that they would be fired up to know that their lyrics have reached me in their own unique way.  Try it.  Take whatever it is your passionate about; running, ballet, cooking, race car driving, anything really, and work it into the meaning of a song when you're listening.  If nothing else, it's kind of fun.  But maybe it will provide a little extra motivation or stir up some deeper thought next time you get ready to do what you love.  And who doesn't want that?

Listen to this:
Be Someone - Jake Bugg