Three Things Thursday: Motivational Songs

Have you ever been running or walking down the street and the PERFECT song comes on your shuffle just when you needed it to? or

Have you spent hours the week night before the race trying to craft a playlist so spot on that you would want to sell it on the internet?

Yeah me neither. ;)

I've been working over the last year to run without music. Since I am trying to make the leap to triathlons and am training for that little race called the Pumpkinman Half Ironman in September 2014, I am tackling the mental exercise of running/swimming/biking sans music.

For those that don't know. music is not allowed during triathlons. That's right. I will need to come up with a way to entertain my head space for a good 6-7 hours during that Half Ironman so that I don't keep asking myself: "Are we there yet?"

NOW, that doesn't always work. If I am not running with Tedy's Team or a friend, I am NOT at the point where I can break out a half marathon or more without music. Especially if there isn't a crowd around to distract me. You all don't know how crucial those signs are along a course as entertainment and distraction.

So I still rock my iPod shuffle on many a long run and during the Dopey Challenge in Disney I had it at the ready for the stretches of course without a character stop or music playing (aka outside of the parks for the most part). I even had it stored in the back pocket of my capris during the Boston Marathon in 2013. Even though it never left that pocket, I felt comforted knowing it was there if I did.

Well, since it is three things Thursday and I have been dabbling in the music/playlist realm lately, I thought I would share my top 3 favorite motivational songs. These tunes have always come on the shuffle (aka I've hit 'forward' until I hit the song I want) in the big races this year.

1) "Go The Distance" - Hercules

This jam came on during Mile 10 of the Disney Marathon back in January. It was a magical moment. I was texting with Eric (aka @TheMochnacz) during the run and I think of Hercules whenever I talk to him. And then "Go The Distance" came on. I started belting it out loud. I'm sure the runners around me were staring at me like I had three heads and wishing I would slow it on down to be out of their ear shot. ;)

It was exactly what I needed to hear. I knew that I was going to make it through the marathon. I was going to finish the Dopey Challenge. I was going to go the distance and prove to myself and to others that I could.

I also made sure to listen to this song pre-race as a pump up. Especially the line - shown above - "I know every mile, will be worth my while." I anticipated the 48.6 miles of the Dopey Challenge to be more of a mental than a physical challenge. But I went into the race saying that I would enjoy every single mile and take it all in ... and I did. :)

2) "Defying Gravity" - Wicked

I've been talking about this song for ages. It has been a staple on my running playlist for a while now. I am ALL about belting this song out in the middle of a run ... and I have been known to do it.

Some non-theatre folks might be questioning the choice, but I am telling you - this song is for everyone. If you have ever been an underdog or have had anyone question you abilities, this song is for you. It truly encompasses my entire weight loss and fitness journey.

I'm through accepting limits 'cause someone says they're so Some things I cannot change But till I try, I'll never know! Too long I've been afraid of Losing love I guess I've lost Well, if that's love It comes at much too high a cost! I'd sooner buy Defying gravity Kiss me goodbye I'm defying gravity And you can't pull me down:

I mean how could you NOT have your spirits lifted when hearing that sung by the amazingly talented Idina Menzel (more on her later).

3) "Let It Go" - Frozen

This.

I told you Idina Menzel would be back!

I'm not sure there is anyone that I know that hasn't seen Frozen yet. If you are one of those folks, run out and see it NOW!!! This is the title track in my opinion that has taken the world by storm (no pun intended).

This song can satisfy all of your moods: happy, sad, angry, lethargic, pumped, etc. It truly is one of the most versatile songs I know.

And one that has really resonated with me. For obvious reasons, this song was all over Disney during the Dopey Challenge in January, but it has been on my iPod since the day I saw Frozen in late 2013.

When it comes on the iPod during a run, I can't focus on anything else except the words. If there is pain, it is numbed. If there is sound, it is silenced. If my mental state is failing, it is rejuvenated. Plus, it always puts a little pep in my step.

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I feel emotionally lighter after listening to all three of these songs. Now I know they are more Disney/Musical theatre themed than some people may like. But if you close your eyes and listen to the words and the music, the genre slips away ... and the emotions stay!

What is your top motivational song to listen to while running?

An Exercise For Motivation...

The topic I am asked most about is motivation: How do I keep it going? How do I find it again once it's lost? Can I buy it somewhere? Will you come to my house and motivate me on a daily basis? (Only if you live somewhere tropical on the last one ;))

There are a hundred things I could suggest and maybe some day I will take the time to write a wicked long post with all the things I can think of about motivation. But for now, I leave you with the number one tip I give everyone.

A little exercise I have been having some of my Weight Watchers members and readers do when saying they need to re-motivate or get back on track:

**get old school and write a list of all the reasons you started this journey (healthy living, fitness, etc)

**put those reasons on tiny pieces of paper in a jar to take out when you need a dose of motivation or put them on post-it notes and hang on the bathroom mirror

Like so...

Thanking myself for deciding I was worth the journey!

Reminding myself I am enough just the way I am! 

So if you are looking to re-motivate yourself, grab some scraps of paper, a legal pad or post-it notes and get to writing! You won't regret it! :)

Can you see your #Proof? Viewsport REVIEW

Euphoria. Heavy Breathing.

Results.

Sense of Accomplishment.

Satisfaction.

Hunger.

These are all emotional or mental proof of a good workout or run, but sometimes you need physical proof ... like sweat!

But, there is a company out there taking sweat to a new level.

ViewSPORT

So who are they? There website says:

ViewSPORT® International Inc. is an innovative fitness apparel line focused on the motivated athlete, sports teams, the military, and others looking to get the most from their fitness and training efforts. When an athlete exercises, the patent-pending ViewSPORT sweat-activated technology reveals a design that is only apparent once perspiration comes in contact with the fabric. The harder the wearer works, the more apparent the image.

After reading this I was intrigued so I contacted ViewSPORT and was mailed a shirt to try. Sweet!

The company offers both men's and women's styles, as well as, both cotton and tech shirts.

Since losing weight, I still don't know how to properly size a shirt when I can't try it on. So to be on the safe side I asked for the Fitfluential Men's Cotton Tee ($26 value).

I am a Fitfluential Ambassador so I figured it was the perfect choice. PLUS, it came in blue/yellow - which are the Boston Marathon colors. It seemed like it was made just for me. ;)

So how does this whole thing work?

When athletes and other fitness-conscious people exercise and begin to sweat, motivational words or images appear on their ViewSPORT athletic-performance attire. The company’s patent-pending “sweat-activated technology” reveals an increasingly clear image the more someone sweats during training. After a workout, when the shirt dries out, the special graphics become invisible again.

Okay, that seems freakin' cool.

On Wednesday, I had a 5-mile run on tap with my best friend and it was going to be high 60s out in Boston so it seemed like the perfect chance to try out the shirt.

Here is how it looked before the run.

I don't normally run in cotton t-shirts, but I made the sacrifice so I could see the cool message revealed. ;)

After tucking the sleeves up under my sports bra, I was ready to rock and roll.

BOY was it hot during our run. I could feel the sweat running down my back so I was really hoping the message would reveal itself loud and clear.

I had my friend Sarah so into this as well that she routinely checked me throughout the run to see the progress. :) When she wasn't happy with how much was revealed, she bumped our speed up. Ummm thanks ViewSPORT for our speedy run. :P

Once we finished stretching, I was ready to see the secret message.

We headed upstairs to find out what my shirt said...

#PROOF

Here is the after:

And the miles I put in, the sweat that showed on my shirt and the pride I felt were all #PROOF of a good workout.

So thanks ViewSPORT for letting me show others the #PROOF I felt inside.

Here is the back before vs. after the run:

Once I cooled down and dried off, the secret message disappeared and the shirt went completely back to the before.

How cool is all that?

Hey, sometimes we need a funky shirt like this to motivate us to get out and move. I say whatever it takes to get us moving.

Now, I think as women we tend to sweat MORE in the lower part of our back - or maybe that is just me - so I think my saying would've appeared sooner or darker if I had worn a women's style ViewSPORT tee since the secret message is located farther down on that style.

I have nothing to back up that theory, but it is a thought I had while running. Maybe some day I will try the women's tee and test my theory, but for now I am pleased with the shirt and the #PROOF I have now.

Time to figure out when I will rock it again...

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Have you tried out a ViewSPORT t-shirt yet? Would a sweat-induced secret message motivate YOU to move more?