Sunday, March 27, 2011

Music and Maturing as a Runner

As far as hobbies and interests go, music is easily my 2nd biggest passion. Not being musically gifted myself, I think this has only enhanced my appreciation of it, and my respect for those who are. This post is going to be a little off-subject in that I primarily want to talk about music, but there is a major correlation with running...

I've gravitated further and further away from the iPod being a necessity while running as I've progressively begun to love the actual act of running more and more. This is a change for me, because until about a year ago, I truly disliked the running part of running (weird, right?). Instead, I just loved the overall health benefits and great sense of accomplishment that came with competing, and completing super long distances under my own power. The thought that I was doing distances that nobody else with CF had ever covered would generally help motivate me to keep going, despite my muscles and joints telling me I sucked. Besides this psychological incentive in the back of my mind, music always provided a key distraction while logging miles.

Let's fast forward to 'Brooks 2011'.
I can honestly say that I love running now, even with all the pain and suffering that goes along with it. Because of this, it's no longer a neccessity to have tunes with me while running, but I still find they help my mind-game tremendously when going really long... generally after the 4-5 hour mark. In the last year I've done numerous marathons and 50 milers sans tunes, but I still prefer to have the option, so I will always carry the iPod at an ultra, just in case I hit a super low point, and need the distraction to pull through it. That's the correlation music and running have with me.

Now it's time to just talk music.

2010 was a great year for Indie music, which is a broad term for the genre I primarily listen to. I don't want to bore you with a laundry list of obscure bands that you may or may not have heard of, or that you don't even care about. Rather, with the Grammy's being just a few weeks ago, I've been trying to decide what my top albums of 2010 were. It was great to see Arcade Fire take album of the year - since they still aren't really considered a mainstream band - and I agree that they are phenomenal, influental musicians in the Indie genre, but was 'The Suburbs' worthy of this honor?

In my book, they definitely deserved to be in the running, but I don't give them the top spot.
Here are my top-5 albums of 2010, in order:
  1. Foals - Total Life Forever
  2. Yeasayer - Odd Blood
  3. Geographer - Animal Shapes
  4. Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History
  5. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Here is a sampling of each if you've got the time.







A couple other bands/albums worth mentioning are Ratatat (LP4) and Against Me (White Crosses).

In preparation for the challenge of running a seemingly endless number of road miles at Brew to Brew next weekend, I'm putting together a new running playlist to fight off the bad thoughts. Currently getting the most playtime is Phantogram, a band D-Rock (aka Tony Krupicka) just made me aware of last week.Thanks, man... I can't get enough.



Until next time, enjoy!

6 comments:

Patrick Thurber said...

2010 a great year? where were you in 2009? holy moly.

i can't get into those collegiate festival bands you listed and this chillwave shit that is finally beginning to die out is so boring it's paralyzing. 2010 was forgettable.

in the meantime, i'll wait patiently for micachu, liars, bill callahan and panda bear to get some new stuff out. make it rain.

kill that brew to brew, bro! yesh!

Brooks said...

I totally agree on '09, but 2010 had it's moments.

I dig Panda Bear, but haven't heard of the others you threw out there, so I'm stoked to check 'em out.

Thanks, man!

Deborah Sexton said...

I've said this before but I've never met anyone before who has musical tastes as close to my own. All great bands! I'd love to see you post more about music!

Anonymous said...

What is up with ultrarunners and gay music?

brownie said...

I'm with anonymous. I feel like I'm not a REAL ultrarunner because more than four people have actually heard of the bands I listen to.

Good luck this weekend! Run hard!

Natalee said...

Dear Kansas State's Ultra runner of the millennium (or something like that),

Feel privileged to have raced behind you and be in your company. You, Sir, are a big deal. Congrats on your win and thanks for the motivation! Great memories have been made.

Til the next race,
GP