It’s been a great day today, not least because this marks a full week of sleeping well! What a difference a decent sleep makes, and also what a difference this diet is starting to make… I’m feeling happier, more energetic and just peachy – it’s awesome. 
After a good run yesterday evening and an even better one today after work, I am also SO glad to be out pounding pavement again. To be free of this back pain is amazing, and being able to lose myself in my bursting lungs, racing heart and pounding feet is something special alright. At just over a month since my last run, it has just nothing short of awesome to be back into the swing of things!
Some all important tunage that keeps me going throughout my run…
Getting started
I begin my run with a downhill, getting onto Buitengracht road where it’s nice and steady, before it starts getting to the uphill bits. This calls for something upbeat that I can sing along to under my breath and get into my groove. Any of the following options do the trick:
- Def Leppard: Pour Some Sugar on Me
- AC/DC: Shook Me All Night Long
- Kenny Loggins: Danger Zone
The major uphill
Reaching the Kloof Nek intersection, I get to be gawked at by people at Rafiki’s (and I know they are watching, because that’s what you do on the balcony at Rafiki’s) and then I begin my uphill. This is one of the toughest bits, and requires something suitably hard. The following all work well:
- Run DMC: It’s Like That
- Beastie Boys: Rhymin’ & Stealin’
- DMX: Party Up in Here
The joyful coasting
Finally at Camp Street (or sometimes De Lourens if I’m feeling strong) I get to my favourite bit – the cruise downhill. Camp Street offers the best view of the mountain, and allows me to coast a bit, get my breath back, marvel at the beautiful mountain and feel supremely glad to be alive. Never fails to make me happy, whatever the weather. This means I need something uplifting, such as the following:
- Protoculture: Circadians
- PVD: We Are Alive
- Roxette: Dangerous
The endurance stretch
After Kloof Street, Camp Street loses its appeal and becomes long, flat and flanked by bergies. Around halfway, near the reservoir or so my lungs start getting a bit tight and I sometimes get a cramp in my side if I’m pushing hard. The motivation here is that there are enough dodgies around to make you want to get past them quickly, but a little extra oomph helps too. Good options for this stretch could include:
- Rihanna: Breakin’ Dishes
- 50 Cent: If I Can’t
- Jay-z: 99 Problems
Approaching the home stretch
Making my way onto Orange, it’s smooth sailing – dodging a few tourists and avoiding getting run over because you can’t hear cars turning into side roads is the name of the game. You need a bit of oomph to remind yourself how hardcore you are and push through a bit more. Best bets for this include the following:
- Usher: Yeah
- Roxette: Dressed for Success
- Jay-z: Big Pimpin
Kloof Street mayhem
Getting onto Kloof Street, I sometimes have to slow down to avoid the tourists/car guards/bergies who don’t get out of the way. Then I have to cross Kloof, which can take longer than you’d think when your reflexes are too slow to get that gap. Sometimes the car guards help you, if you’re lucky. This can be good to get your breath back, and prepare for the epic final hills ahead. I prefer something a bit more chilled for this stretch, such as the following:
- Bon Jovi: Living on a Prayer
- The Offspring: Spare Me the Details
- 50 Cent: 21 Questions
The final homestretch
Getting onto Park Road, I am fine til about just past three quarters, then my lungs start feeling the burn and my calves start feeling the hills. I force myself up the road, crossing New Church and finally getting back onto Buitengracht. By this point, my butt is sore, my calves and ankles are sore, I’m burning up and sweat is blinding me. I need something to take my mind off things, something perky and upbeat and stuff. Something like the following:
- Roxette: The Look
- Eminem: Till I Collapse
- Beastie Boys: Sabotage
By the time I reach the bottom of my mini-mountain, I am generally just not able to master the hill at a run – so usually I power walk up the hill with whatever happens to come on to my Shuffle. Walking up my stairs is always fun, nothing like that muscle wobble to tell you that you’ve had a good session!
What music do you like to listen to when you run or gym, and why?
indie rock or new wave. often four or five songs of one band as opposed to loose tracks. belle and sebastian are my favourite band for running but it varies last week, i listened to a hour of old new order, then it was the slow moody smog, the new nouvelle vague and the radio dept it does vary but in autumn/winter it may just exclusively be sinatra.
kewl – i have weird tastes but works somehow!