What do I think about/listen to when I run?

Sometimes when I've  told people that I have run a half-marathon or full marathon, they respond with, "do you listen to music? or what do you think about for that long? I would get bored. Both questions are interesting because I also wondered the same things before I started running. I decided I could combine the two topics into one blog post. 

I will start with the music portion of the blog. The first thing I do before starting any run is pick out what I am going to listen to. Personally, I like to listen to anything I can sing along or even occasionally dance to (yes, attempting any kind of dance move while running is as awkward as someone would think it might be). I like to create fun mixes that I know will help keep going and distracted while running. The one thing that I do try to avoid is putting songs on a playlist that might get me too pumped up and make me run faster than I want to. Someone might say it is good to get pumped up and run super fast. Part of that is true, but it is also important to conserve energy for the end of a race or run.

On my five-mile run yesterday this is what came up on what I call, run mix I (in order):

The Mowgli's-Carry your will

Jordan Knight-Give it to you

Foster the people-Houdini

The Mowgli's-time

Walk the Moon-Fixin'

Sleigh Bells-Crown on the ground

The Mowgli's-The Great Divide

Foster the People-Pumped up kicks

Fall Out Boy-Grand theft autumn 

The Killers-On top

fun.-be calm

Royal teeth-for keeps

My phone/iPod really wanted me to listen to the The Mowgli's and Foster the People. I do not mind that at all because both groups have really awesome songs that I can sing along to. Speaking of The Mowgli's, they have a new album out called "Waiting For the Dawn." I would recommend it to anyone that likes upbeat music that makes them feel good.

The answer to what do you think about when you run? Well, not much really. I will set a mental goal saying that if I make it to a certain point, I can easily finish my run. I know that is not a super exciting answer but it is the truth. It probably is the music that makes me think that way but I think even without music it would be the same. It is super easy to kind of just get lost in your mind on run. When I start running the only things I might think about is being done with running and having good form. That sounds funny to say I think about being done with running, but being done is the best part because it means you have made it! 

While I do not think about much on runs, I do notice the scenery around me. Scenery is one of things that keeps me distracted. I do not  really get bored on runs, but I might if I did not have much to look at. I recently ran the Soldier Field 10m and the second half on the race is fun because it is on the lake and you have really cool views of the skyline. Once I saw Soldier field in the distance, I could smell the finish line and finish strong!

Once I am done with running I usually feel pretty good. If I run with my running app I will take a look at it and analyze my run by checking out my mile splits. I will then think about how I can make next run better and think about how I can apply those to my run. That is probably the most thinking I will actually do.