It’s true what they say that music can motivate you. I guess it has to be good music, have a certain feel, certain rhythm, a certain message. I routinely hit the treadmill three times a week running on average about four miles each time. I can’t remember a time I didn’t have some music playing in the background to keep me pumped. The louder the feel the faster I run. When a particular song is mellow my mind is steady and my form becomes graceful and mechanic.
The words of the song draw major emotions. Message is vital and I would never slip anything into the deck that would slow me down or interrupt my form. When I feel like giving up I don’t, instead I stay strong and wait for the next song. Some songs are more motivational than others but I always manage to find a track I can accelerate to. I’ve listened to a lot of different songs while running on the treadmill…all different kinds of genres country, hip-hop, gospel…you name it.
One evening after work I got on the treadmill and I decided to run to my debut album “Everything’s Good.” Half way through the album around track five or six I knew I was coming up on four miles if I hadn’t already passed it. I started to look down at the monitor to check my distance when I said to myself go all the way you’re not even tired, c’mon Ray challenge yourself. The stereo in the garage was bumping and “How to Get to Heaven” was shooting me through the roof. I knew at that point I had to finish the whole album…no turning back.
My heart must had been beating a million beats per minute but “Back to Brooklyn” kept me focused and calm. As the last song came on I knew I had broken a record I could feel it even if I hadn’t my goal was to finish the album and that’s what I did. “Everything’s Good” came to the long instrumental part with the saxophone…slow and mellow. The music began to fade and I began to boast with internal excitement running faster than the programmed 7mph. I looked down at the monitor and confirmed my suspicion of a broken record with a distance of 5.96 almost six miles. After the cool down I walked outside through the open garage door and looked into the sky. The sun was almost all the way down but not quite. I looked out into the distance at a range of trees that I had often stared at before but this time they looked closer. It was as if … if I wanted to I could get there in a single step. I turned around looking at the tall trees in the back yard but ironically the tops didn’t seem so high. It was as if …if I really wanted to I could jump over the tops of the trees with no problem and land on the other side like a superhero.
Was it the run or was it the music? I think it was both. It was the life in the music that kept me going on the treadmill. Next time you run make sure there’s life in your music.
