I’ve discovered that I have a hard time running to music anymore. A big contributing factor to this is that over the course of a summer in Redding (average high temperature of 120°, or roughly the temperature of the surface of the sun) I trained for a half-marathon. In the afternoons, without water.
That’s not actually as crazy as it makes me sound, but it’s close. The desert ferocity, continuous fires, and the general torture of my training schedule made my 10, 12, 15 mile runs less an enjoyable jaunt and more of a Bataan death march set to Fall Out Boy. In fact, I still can’t listen to Save Rock & Roll without slightly feeling the urge to vomit and hide under a rock. Despite what that sounds like, I actually really used to like that album. It’s a god-damned Greek tragedy.
I did complete my half-marathon in San Diego in November with a time of 2:19:36, so that’s not too shabby. Thanks FOB for that.
However, I’m not really willing to wreck any of my other supposed favorite albums while working through this training binge. Anyone who knows me knows my general loathing of radio and especially of radio DJs. I. Can’t. Stand. DJs. They make my skin crawl. So you would think that podcasts would be the bane of my existence. They’re 30 – 60 minute long segments of talk radio without the reprieve of music. But that’s really only if you’re listening to the wrong podcast.
I like to listen to Lore when I’m going to sleep. Aaron Mahnke is a quiet, level-toned guy telling creepy stories that are impeccably researched with just the tiniest inflections of gallows humor. Perfect for sleeping, right?
I like to listen to Sawbones while I’m driving because it’s interesting enough to keep me from zoning out and winding up in Canada while I’m just trying to get home at the end of the day.
But when I run neither of them have the facets I’m looking for. I need something long enough that I won’t be interrupted in the middle of a 40 minute run. I need something loud enough that the rumble of treadmills and weirdly small dudes throwing weights around behind me don’t bleed through too much. It needs to be fast-paced enough that I don’t get bored. This is a chronic problem I have with treadmills and why I prefer to run outside anytime it’s not the Ice Planet Hoth out there as happens in Minnesota. Also, it needs to be funny. This isn’t for any particular reason except that it makes the time go by faster and makes running a relaxing activity.
Enter SYSK.
Stuff You Should Know is probably one of the oldest and best known podcasts on the market these days. With hundred of episodes going back to 2008 they’ve covered almost anything you can possibly think of in a silly, but decently fact-checked way. I listened to an episode about Port-a-Potties (I said everything) while running Sunday night and it kept me entertained and grossed out while pounding the rubber pavement.
As for today, I took a break from the fitbit and mostly cleaned the house today, but still listened to the Golden Age of Grave Robbing and The Kitty Genovese Story.
Pics or it didn’t happen:
Sunday:
You – yes you – are awesome! Love you so freaking much, and am impressed with you to the utmost.
Aw Thank you Papa.