I never doubted it for a second but it turns out The Beatles are really good to run to. Well, mostly.
As I headed out and Jo Whiley got going, I still hadn’t decided what to listen to so I had a quick scroll down my list and Beatles were of course near the top. That’ll do it. I couldn’t decide on which album though so I just put them all on shuffle. The results were interesting...
So just for fun* let’s grade the songs for how suitable they are for running! I am a music geek, I genuinely enjoy doing this. Looks like this is going to be a long one so get comfortable.
*may not be fun.
Run For Your Life *****
Couldn’t be more appropriate! Unfortunately it was wasted on the warm up walk. Still, it’s a great, energetic song that really got me fired up. It was already dark when I finally got away so I had to avoid stabby park today, otherwise I really would have to run for my life.
Part of my “safe” route goes by the main road and when I got there this time I passed a group of runners, all dressed in brightly coloured running clothes and... wearing... torch things. Not sure what they were doing but it was a lot more organised than me in my scruffy combats so I left them to it.
There was also another girl who was nothing to do with them walking behind me. She then started running and passed me and I saw she had headphones in, so I wonder if she was doing this too. She went the same way as me for a while, away from the road and down the path so I probably looked like a stalker speedwalking after her. Luckily she went a different way further down. Maybe I scared her off.
Happiness Is a Warm Gun ****
Wouldn’t be an obvious choice for running but it worked surprisingly well. It’s a slow, drowsy dog but there’s actually a pretty solid beat you can jog to and it was perfectly timed because the run started at this point and it was a good rhythm to get into.
Piggies ***
Well... it wasn’t boring.
So by the end of this song I’d finished the first 3 minute run and was having my first warm up walk before the real challenge started. But I was feeling good and definitely in a good mood. It was as good a time as any to step it up to 5 minutes.
Boys ****
This one was in full swing when it was time to run but again it was a good, energetic song to get me going and I’d more or less recovered so I was ready to go. I wanted to pace myself but I also didn’t want to go too slow either so this song set a good running speed.
Dizzy Miss Lizzy ****
I was still running, I was feeling it a little but I was into it and time was flying by, helped in no small part by the soundtrack. This song had a similar beat to the last one so it was a good one to lead into to keep me going. Having said that, I thought the 5 minutes must nearly be up by now but then Jo Whiley choked in with a friendly reminder that I was halfway through it. Uh, thanks. Still, I got through easily enough.
Magical Mystery Tour *****
Another appropriate song that was ever so slightly mistimed. I would love to run to this one but it overlapped with the walk so I found myself all fired up but had to be disciplined and walk it. Then again, after a 5 minute run, that walk was very welcome.
Julia **
Yeeaah... I mean objectively it’s a good song I guess but it’s such a downer and I usually tend to skip it. But on this occasion I stuck with sad John Lennon and moped along with him as I walked.
Honey Pie *****
Personal favourite and in this case it was perfectly timed. I was still walking during the slow bit, then when it picked up it was time to run so I was off on what I thought was the last run, because I’m an idiot who didn’t read the instructions. I decided to pick up the pace for a big finish.
When I’m 64 ****
Not the most obvious workout song but it’s fun and bouncy and I thought it was the perfect way to end a run. Of course, then I got onto the walk and was reminded that I had a whole 5 minutes left to run coming up. Oops.
Ticket to Ride ****
Still it wasn’t all bad, or even bad at all. I had it in me to carry on, sure there was a little leg pain and I was lighting up the neighbourhood with my beacon face but I was all up for it. This was a good song o do a tired last run to because it’s not a slow song but it does have a decent relaxed pace so I was jogging along comfortably to it.
Physically comfortable, not mentally because I had to run last several different dog walkers. Why were they all out at the same time on the same part of the footpath while clearly having nothing to do with each other? Go home, I’m having some me-time! One of them was the neighbour who always happens to be out walking her dog whenever I go for a run. I really must look like a stalker.
I’m So Tired ***
What could be more appropriate than this? Well the title anyway, the actual song was perfect for a cool down walk but I wasn’t quite there yet. It wasn’t so fun to walk to, although I appreciated the title. As I was nearing the end I decided to speed up, partly to make the most of it and partly to get well clear of all the dog people. Seriously, get a cat. They walk themselves!
Anyway, clear of the people, out of breath, painful legs, I kept it up for a decent finish and then stopped for a much needed a walk.
Yesterday **
Good song, obviously, but just felt wrong here. I just did a good run, I needed a victory song! But whatever, I walked to it and it was all nice and pleasant.
I think shuffle might be the way to go, when I listen to the same albums over and over I know how long songs last and where I’ll be when they come on. I’m much more aware of how long I’ve been running that way, I’d rather the runs fly by while my mind is elsewhere, music should be a distraction, not a guide.
So here we go in week 4. It’s had a very strong start so I hope it continues like this. I look forward to shuffling the Beatles again on Friday.
Week 3 and Graduation Day
Week 9 Run 3 ✅😁 Graduation Day !
Week 7 Run 3 
Week 5 Run 3 - I DID IT!!!
Week 6 in the bag!! Run 3 powered by Metallica
