This week, I put a playlist for running together on my iPod. It actually took quite a bit of time to decide which songs would make the cut. Each song had to pass a little test. It had to be upbeat (poor John Mayer). It couldn’t be a waltz (sorry Mumford and Sons). It had to have a positive or uplifting message (and there goes half of my music library; especially all of my Pink Floyd). I considered my favorite songs for working out, and even googled other people’s favorite songs for working out. After much consideration, I came up with about 2 hours of music suitable for running. I updated my status on Facebook declaring my intention to go for a 4 mile solo run to try my playlist, but then something interesting happened.
The wind was blowing a cold front in to the area while we ran. Leaves rustled and twigs cracked under our shoes. We chatted at some points, but at other times, we just ran. At times our footfalls were synchronized, and I imagined that if a blind person were listening, they’d probably think there was only one runner there. As we approached our cars at the end of the run, a few fat rain drops started to fall from the swirling gray sky and I listened to them plop both on the ground and in the river. The whole run was a cacophony of sound, even though I never turned on my iPod.
That’s when lightning struck! Um… metaphorical lightning I mean. (If you saw the sky Wednesday night, you’d agree that I was lucky it was only metaphorical lightning.) Playing has its own soundtrack. It’s got its own Greatest Hits compilation. It’s got a Track (and Field?) List that just can’t be topped with anything that I can load on my iPod. So, in no particular order, here are the 10 Tracks of Play I like to listen to most. You can’t download them, but you can Get Out and enjoy them any time you like.
The Play List:
- Squeak! By: Tennis Shoes on Tennis Court
- Crack! By: Summertime Baseball
- Swoosh! By: Nothin but Net
- Crunch; Walking in an Autumn Wonderland By: Hiking, Running, and Walking
- Rhythm Section By: Shoes on Pavement
- Shhhhhhhh By: Bike Tires on Blacktop
- Ploomp! By: Soccer Ball On Foot
- Kapow!!! By: Football’s Greatest Hits
- Wzzzzzzz… Plink! By: Gone Fishin’
- LOL- By: How Friends Play
I’d like to hear more about your favorite sounds of sports or play too! Leave a comment below and tell me what your soundtrack is like!
Original Post November 8, 2011
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