Music is a huge part of my life, always has been, always will be. A song can lift our mood when we are feeling down or encourage us when we need encouragement. Hearing a song can also bring back certain memories, like the song that was played at my grandfather’s funeral or a song I loved my senior year in high school – hearing it takes me back to an 18 year old carefree teenager.
Every time I hear these lyrics, “Hey….this is the night, this is the night….hey….we’re feeling alive, feeling alive…”, memories of the Inaugural Wine and Dine Half Marathon flood through my mind. The excitement and anticipation in the air for a brand new Disney race as runners made their way to their corrals is a feeling I will never forget!
I don’t do this for every race, but I have a tendency to associate
certain songs with specific races. For example, the Wine and Dine Half Marathon begins at night…“Feeling Alive” by the Jonas Brothers (funny, right) fit right into the 2010 race for me.
I love using music as a way to keep the excitement going for upcoming races. Sometimes, a race can feel as if it’s SO far away
– but having a little pick-me-up midway through training proves to be just what I need!
Other songs I’ve chosen in the past include – “Dynamite” by Taio Cruz for the 2010 Jazz Half I ran with Kayla, and “Long Live” by Taylor Swift for the 2011 Disney World Full Marathon. Oddly enough, it’s been a few years since I’ve associated a song with a specific race – until now. Recently Demi Lovato released a new album (yes, I know…I’m like 12) which I purchased right away, of course. I knew from the moment I heard the song “Made in the USA”, it would become my 2013 Dumbo Double Dare/Disneyland Half Marathon and vacation to California song.
“Just a little West Coast and a bit of sunshine…hair blowing in the wind, losing track of time…”
Ah yes, I cannot wait for the feel of the California sun on my face,
sand beneath my feet, and time away with my husband. It’s going to be epic!
Am I a big nerd? Yes. Do I care? Hey…whatever it takes to keep my training going strong, I’ll take it.
Demi’s music video for “Made in the USA” was released yesterday! Check it out! :0)
Am I the only one that associates songs with specific events? Please tell me I’m not the only nerd out there! :0)
You won't believe this, but I wrote a similar post that is going on our blog tomorrow. The songs on my shuffle have some meaning to an event in my life and they make me smile during my runs! My music choices are obviously different since I am the old lady runner of our duo!
ReplyDeleteToo funny! What can I say? Great minds think alike! :0) By the way, you aren't old!
DeleteI think for a lot of people, music is a subconscious way of bringing back those memories - prom, wedding, birthdays and, for runners like you, big races! Music's never been a big deal in my life however smells bring back the same sort of memories for me. I wonder what smells will remind me of my first big race when I eventually complete one!
ReplyDeleteAh yes...smells is a good one, too! Like the smell of Main Street USA for example! Every once in a while, I'll get a whiff of something at home that reminds me of WDW and it instantly makes me happy! Love it!
DeleteI've only done one race with music and only the last ten miles of my last marathon. I do always train with it though.
ReplyDeleteTotally understand that! I've never run a Disney race with music and the only time I run long distance races with music is when I'm not running it with a friend (which isn't often).
DeleteEvery time I hear LMFAO's "Sexy and I Know It" I think about my first WDW Half and running underneath the over pass on the way to the Magic Kingdom!
ReplyDeleteHaha awesome!! The guy with the ginormous Mickey hands is usually DJ'ing up there, right?
DeleteWhat a perfect song for Dumbo! Everytime I hear "Girl on Fire" I think back to the Princess as that was playing at the halfway point :)
ReplyDeleteYES! Same thing with "Stronger" from 2012! Awesome...glad I'm not the only one! :0)
DeleteMusic definitely has a way of bringing back memories. I love that about it! I don't listen to music when I run though. Maybe I should try!
ReplyDeleteYes it does! I don't listen to music when I run very often, only if I'm way un-motivated or super bored! lol
DeleteLol! Everytime I hear the theme music from Pirates of the Carribean it reminds me of running the Disney Princess Half for the first time! It was amazing to be running, hear that song, and then see the huge pirate ship in the middle of the highway! On the way home I downloaded it and we listened to it about 20 times!!!
ReplyDeleteYeah! That's too funny...I love it! That's a good song, too! :0)
DeleteYou are definitely not the only one! There are certain songs that take me back to high school, vacations, my wedding, etc. Running wise, every time I hear Lady Gaga's "Edge of Glory" it takes me back to crossing the finish line of the Disneyland half (also my first half) since that was playing on my ipod. :)
ReplyDeleteOooh good memories! That's awesome, girl...what a great song to associate with such an awesome accomplishment! :0)
DeleteYou are definitely NOT the only one!!! Mostly the song isn't planned for me...it comes on the shuffle and I think, "This is it." Then I put it on loop. Usually happens around mile 10 when I'm really starting to fell worthless. Music does wonders!
ReplyDeleteI've totally done that as well! It definitely does wonders, I agree!! :0)
DeleteI'm totally 12 and a nerd! I do associate certain songs with runs sometimes or certain spots during a race, like I can remember where I was in the race when a song I love comes on and then when I hear it, it reminds me of that part of the race! Not alone in your 12-year-old-nerdness! ;)
ReplyDeleteAWESOME! So glad I'm not alone in my 12 year-old-ness! Haha! I have memories such as yours as well!
DeleteGuilty! In fact, I was just saying I need to update my playlist. I feel like I need a new set of songs for this training season bc all my other songs have memories attached to them.
ReplyDeleteAww that's cool! Time to make new memories! Love it! :0)
DeleteI am the same way, so much so that I won't listen to any songs I run to when I'm not running...and then I separate even more and don't listen to any songs I race to unless I'm in a race. Bruno Mars' "Marry You" came on just as I was running through the Castle at the '12 Disney Half...I always think of it everytime I hear it!
ReplyDeleteThat's so cool! What a perfect song at the exact perfect moment! Love it when that happens!
DeleteI like Demi Lovato too - and I can't even remember being a 12 year old girl lol!!
ReplyDeleteWhen I ran my first long race - a ten miler - I was nearing the end and really feeling like I just couldn't keep up the pace when this song came on:
(I Will Run - Misty Edwards)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1ytWr7pEB0
It was like a special little push from God :) Now I play it during every race!
HAH! Glad I'm not alone!! :0) I love that song...awesome it came on at just the right moment! Love it when that happens!
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