Today at noon, South Buffalo's Old First Ward will be hosting the 2011 8k(4.97 mile) Shamrock Run. Those who have not been to a Shamrock Run do not know what they are missing. The entire First Ward comes out for the event. Those who are not running, tailgate all along the course, especially near the First Ward Center. Even those doing the run can be seen with the occasional beer as they make their way through the neighborhood. This is Buffalo you know.
This marks my 2nd year participating in the run after I decided to give 8ks a try last year. Every time I participate in 5 or 8k, I like make a new running mix. For me, running is as much mental as it is physical, so making a good running mix is key for taking my mind off the run, and keeping it on the songs. I have a couple rules, although I tend to break them, when I am putting together a running mix:
Rule 1: This should be obvious, but NO SLOW songs. There is nothing worse than hitting your stride in the run and having a ballad interrupt your flow. Keep it up beat.
Rule 2: Songs should be under 5 mins. This is not to say that a good running song can not be long, but when I am running, I want shorter songs that keep my interest and do not drag, especially when running a longer run like an 8k.
Rule 3: Songs should try to build towards an epic finale. Well, epic may be a strong word, but you don't want a song that putters out too soon or you will too.
I have done three 8k's prior to today's run, having averaged around 45 mins, so I tried to make a mix that was right around that time.
1) "Electioneering" by Radiohead - Out of all of the running mixes I have made, no song has been the first track as often as this. The tense, menacing song is the perfect tune to get you started as you try to bob and weave through the packed crowd after clearing the starting line. The cow bell that plays throughout the verse provides a great beat to run to.
2) "The Bleeding Heart Show" by The New Pornographers - Just two songs in and I have already broken a rule of having a slower song in the mix, but this early in the run, you can get away with it, plus it really only takes a little over a minute for the song to pick up. Once you pass the two minute mark, as the NPs sing "ooh" over and over in unison, you know the song is building towards its epic coda. Nothing pleases me more to hear Neko Case singing at the top of her lungs as I finish my first mile.
3) "The Wrong Way" by TV on the Radio - "Wolf Like Me" was the most logical choice by the band as that song was made for football montages, but the funky, chugging melody, horn section, and hand claps found in "The Wrong Way" made this an easy choice for the beginning of the mix
4) "The Video Dept" by The Radio Dept - I once heard LCD Soundsystem say that when setting a track list order, your strongest song should be Track 4. This is not to say that "The Video Dept" is my favorite tune, but after discovering the band last year, it has been a part of every one of my running mixes. The guitar literally explodes from the headphones after the 2nd chorus, and after nearly finishing up mile #2, this is the perfect song to kick me into another gear.
5) Under Cover of Darkness" by The Strokes - My favorite song of 2011 so far made the list solely because of its soaring chorus. The verses features the typical Strokes sound, but once Julian Casablancas voice truly opens up in the chorus, featuring harmonies from the Strokes none the less, you can't help but forget about the race and have a bit of fun.
5) Under Cover of Darkness" by The Strokes - My favorite song of 2011 so far made the list solely because of its soaring chorus. The verses features the typical Strokes sound, but once Julian Casablancas voice truly opens up in the chorus, featuring harmonies from the Strokes none the less, you can't help but forget about the race and have a bit of fun.
6) "Inni mer syngur vitleysingur" by Sigur Ros - This may seem like a strange choice for a running song if you know Sigur Ros at all, but all you have to do is get to the 17 second mark to know why I picked this track. The pounding piano, blaring horns, and steady percussion make for a great running song. I don't know what Jonsi is singing either, but who cares. As the song builds and builds to the final burst of horns over the last 2 mins, you can feel yourself pushing to move past those pesky runners ahead of you.
7) "Calamity Song" by The Decemberists - Another new track from 2011, from my favorite album of the short year, finds Colin Meloy and crew finally tightening up their long winded literate indie rock. His song ending "ah oohs" reach for the sky as you pass the third mile mark.
8) "If I Should Fall From Grace With God" by The Pogues - This is the Shamrock Run so I have to include some kind of Irish music. "Shipping off to Boston" by The Dropkick Murphys may have been the selection of others, but why not take a song by the band who had such a strong influence on them? Hearing Pogues front man Shane McGowan's rollicking yelps following each chorus gets you in the mood for that after run beverage that is awaiting you at the finish line.
9) "Young Adult Fiction" by The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Who would have thought a song about getting it on in the library would make a good running song? Like "The Video Dept", the guitar following the second chorus take the track to the next level as the final mile lies ahead.
10) "A More Perfect Union" by Titus Andronicus - I am aware that I have broken yet another one of my rules by picking this 7 plus minute track, but this one simply does quit. The blitzkrieg guitar that begins and ends this riotous anthem keeps my spirits up as I begin to run out of gas.
11) "The Rat" by The Walkmen - I want nothing more at the end of a run than to kick into that final gear and pass every runner I can to get a better finish (I am a bit of a sore winner) Between the shredding vocals of Hamilton Leithauser and the pounding guitars and drums that sound like a freight train plowing through a tunnel, "The Rat", a song of tortured desperation, provides the fitting finale for pushing your body to the limit to end a long, tiring run.
My running mix clocks in at just over 46 mins, a time I would be more than happy with today, especially if the weather is less than pleasant(have you looked outside?). Today's Shamrock Run beings at noon in South Buffalo's Old First Ward. You can still register today for $25. With that being said, I am off. Wish me luck.
~mm
Helluva mix! Great stuff!