On the Road and on the iPod

Rain and lightning can't stop me!

I braved downpours, flashes of light, and deep rumbles from the sky for today's 5:30-in-the-morning run--but I have more than just will power on my side. Over the past few weeks, I've ramped up on the runs because I'm training for the July 4 Harvard Pilgrim 10K road race. I like this race especially because it finishes on the field at Gillette Stadium, where my beloved New England Patriots football team play.

And there's more: I have also started strength training three times a week. I plan to look good and run well on July 4 and beyond. At the very least, I want to do the entire 6.2-mile course without having to walk any part of it. Last year, I was not ready for the full distance and had to walk a good chunk of the race.

I'm moving and grooving now, though. Here's what my weeks tend to look like these days, exercise-wise:

Day	Exercise	Duration
Sunday	Long run	60-90 mins
Monday	Strength training	15-30 mins
Tuesday	Run	30-40 mins
Wednesday	Strength training	15-30 mins
Thursday	Run	20-30 mins
Friday	Strength training	15-30 mins
Saturday	Open	Open

Although I have plenty of desire to get faster and stronger, one motivation for me is the running playlist on my (wife's) iPod. Here's what I listen to, in no particular order and without the usual quotation marks around song titles:

• The Bad Plus
• Lost of Love
• Prehensile Dream
• Flim

• Esbjorn Svensson Trio
• Dolores in a Shoestand
• Did They Ever Tell Cousteau?

• Led Zeppelin
• The Song Remains the Same (Live)
• Deep Purple
• Highway Star (Live)
• Living Colour
• Behind the Sun
• Cake
• The Distance
• Eminem
• Lose Yourself
• Foo Fighters
• Everlong
• Metallica
• Fade to Black
• Twisted Sister
• I Wanna Rock
• U2
• Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
• Miles Davis
• What I Say
• Motorhead
• Ace of Spades
• Andrew Bird
• Sweetmatter
• Armchair

I have other artists and songs on the playlist, but these make up the highlights. I'm really into The Bad Plus recently.