BOSTON BEATS - A MUSIC COLLAB

"I looked out this morning and the sun was gone

Turned on some music to start my day

I lost myself in a familiar song

I closed my eyes and I slipped away"

~ 'More Than A Feeling', Boston

This just in…less than 4 weeks until the Boston Marathon. Gah! Back in 2016, I profiled my friend, Kara Goucher, in my RUNNERS WHO ROCK series and specifically asked what her top five songs were for running and/or dancing.  Given the time I'd spent with her on the dance floor, I wasn't surprised that her picks were straight up pop.  I mean, you really can’t go wrong with that as far as I'm concerned.  Recently, I asked her to give me an updated list of favorites & she went full send with 80s tunes. Which, in my opinion, also tends to be a sure thing for running and dancing. Tho, there are some gems from that decade that do have a pretty high cheese factor.  Break My Stride? Anyone?? No disrespect to my friend, Nicole, who could play this one on repeat.  Anyway, I took my own go-tos from back in 2016 as well as today & combined them with Kara’s to make what we think is a pretty killer playlist.  So whether you run with music or just need some motivation for these last few weeks, I’m guessing there is something on here that you’ll like.  That said, we do have about four more weeks of training & we always need more music.  So here’s what I propose. Throw your current favorite in the comments of this Instagram post so I can make this playlist longer and better.  Because let’s be honest, we all have another 20 miler to get through before April 15th and we might as well do it with some good tunes if we're running on our own. 

And to make things a little more interesting (ok, yes, and because I really want you to share your music picks with me) I will sweeten the deal a bit.  At the end of the week, I'll pick 5 random people who contribute to win a prize from the above stash.  This is fun.  And I need more fun in my life right now.  We all do.  Whether you're into sharing or not, at the minimum, enjoy the playlist for running or doing whatever it is that you love to do.  Rock on.

BOSTON BEATS BY RWM KG & YOU

RWR:MEET LAURA GREEN-RUNNER, MOM, COMEDIAN

"I’m a fairly unemotional person day to day. Even keeled. Stoic.  But once music is involved, that facade fades pretty fast and puts me straight into the song."

~ Laura Green

So her name is Laura Green.  I'm guessing many of you are familiar with her.  And if you're not, you should be.  She's kind of big deal.  But in a super unique way.  Basically, she makes fun of running, runners (herself and others) and most things running related on a regular basis.  And her posts, which incorporate this humor, are not only hilarious but, more often than not, are completely relatable.  Meaning, you are the person she's making fun of (yes, this is me) or you know that person she's laughing at or you've met that person but and you really hope you never have to hang out with them again but then maybe you do because it's freaking great content.  Green is former middle distance runner for Northeastern and an avid runner herself.  A couple years ago she began creating her funny skits and sharing them with friends who then encouraged her to share them with others.  At the same time she realized there was a notable space for humor in our otherwise very serious run world, so she kept going.  I discovered her around February of 2023.  She already had a sizable following by then so I was a bit late on the uptake.  I was in the thick of training for the Boston marathon and one of my training partners sent me this post which I freaking loved for obvious reasons.  And then proceeded to share with everyone else in my running circle because I knew they'd both get it and appreciate it.  Soon I found myself making a point to check her Instagram page daily for a quick laugh before heading out to start my own day.  In her own words she's a " a comedic content creator who aims to get runners and run industry folk to have a good laugh at themselves."  Check and check.  Because we all need more of this in our lives.  Or, at the very least, I do.  She does other things.  She's a mom of two with a third on the way.  She's a physical therapist.  She's probably wearing many other hats but she really doesn't talk about herself much beyond the comedic world that she shares with us.  Which is more than enough.  Okay, that's enough from my end.  Let's learn more about the fabulous Laura Green, a RUNNER WHO ROCKS.

RWR: LAURA MCGREEN 

Name: Laura Green 
Where you're from: Hopewell Jct, NY
Where you reside now: Cambridge, MA
Age (if you're ok sharing): 37
Occupation: Content Creator/Physical Therapist 
Blog/website: lauramcgreen.com

*src:Northeastern Global News

ON RUNNING & MUSIC:
What do you love most about running? 

The way you just start gliding when you get into a good rhythm of training. 
What do you love most about music? 

I’m a fairly unemotional person day to day. Even keeled. Stoic. But once music is involved, that facade fades pretty fast and puts me straight into the song. 

LAURA'S FAVORITES:
Band (current, all time or both): Third Eye Blind (All time) 
Album (current, all time or both): Florence and the machine - Ceremonials
Race venue: Marin, CA- fire roads and rolling single track for trail races that just make you feel like you’re floating above the clouds
Music venue: SPAC - Certainly not the nicest venue, but it’s where a lot of my high school live music memories take place so it has sentimental value. 
Race distance: 10K
Show you've seen live: Guster - It was the first live show I ever saw and so it holds a special place in my heart 
Ice cream flavor: Cookie Dough

THIS OR THAT?
Sweet or salty? Sweet
Live or recorded? Live 
Coffee or tea? Coffee
Summer or winter? For running - Winter
 

MORE MUSIC INFO:
Which band or artist would you go see tonight if you could? Florence and the Machine
Which band or artist (wait...but no longer alive or playing together) would you go see tonight if you could? Whitney Houston
Which band or artist would you like to have dinner with tonight if you could? The National
Which band or artist would you like to be playing alongside you during your next race (or long run)? The Killers 

Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine (src: NPR)

LAST ONE:
Today, I feel like...(fill in the blank): the most productive human alive. 

Top 5 Songs for running, dancing or both?
Free - Florence and the Machine 
Motorcycle Driveby - Third Eye Blind
HandClap - Fitz and the tantrums
Dial Drunk- Noah Kahan
Alaska - Maggie Rogers 

Last 5 Songs you listened to today?
Frozen- Frozen Heart
Frozen- Do you want to build a snowman? 
Frozen- For the first time in forever 
Spooky Scary Skeletons
Moana- we Know The Way 
(Can you tell I have kids?)

Listen to this:

Motorcycle Drive By by Third Eye Blind

Third Eye Blind · Motorcycle Drive By (2006 Remaster)