Keeping up

I have been doing a good job (if I do say so myself) about running lately.  I've been running 3+ miles on the treadmill twice a week, and a long run 5+ miles on the weekend.  It's been a little over 2 weeks of that and I think I'm going to fare well in my 10k coming up in...let's see....11 days.  I've got one more week of regular running, a long run this weekend, and then I'm going to take it easy next week and just do a couple miles on the treadmill.  I know I could hoof through 6.2 miles without doing this prep stuff, but my goal is not to rack up a fast time - my goal is to not injure myself and I know that if I train steadily I should be ok. 

*** That said...I've been having a pain in the back of my left foot about 3-4 miles in during the last few runs.  I just keep going, hoping it's nothing. :)

So what has helped get me back in "running mode"?  I don't really know - except an impending deadline.  However, a re-vamping of my playlist has helped greatly and I kinda laugh at myself every time I listen to it because it's a pretty odd collection of songs.  I thought I would share with you....

Shuffled up during the run...

• Got Some (Pearl Jam)   I'm almost done with this song, but it has a good steady running beat.
• If It's Love (Train)    Another one I'm about to delete....but haven't yet
• Manhattan (Kings of Leon)
• Dog Days Are Over (Florence and the Machine)    Quite possibly the perfect running song.
• Animal (Neon Trees)   I have to skip this song when it comes on now because I'm quite sick of it.  It's gotta go, but was fun for a while
• Big Wave (Pearl Jam)
• Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise (The Avett Brothers)  Just a nice song
• All I Want (Toad The Wet Sprocket)  Toad is just good stuff anytime
• Good Intentions (Toad The Wet Sprocket )  Again, good stuff
• Rumor Has It (Adele)  Good tempo, love Adele
• Set Fire to the Rain (Adele)  I get out of breath because I have to sing along, but it's worth it
• We're Going to Be Friends (The White Stripes) 
• Sweetest Thing (U2)
• My City of Ruins (Eddie Vedder)  Relaxing, calming

And the best ones yet.....

• Born This Way (Lady Gaga)  The 3 times I've heard this while running, I almost cried.  Chalk it up to adrenaline, surges of excercise chemicals, whatever.  Again, a perfect running song when you're running just for yourself.
• Lonely Boy (The Black Keys)  Just comes on and you know you have to run a little faster
• Rehab (Amy Winehouse)  I realize it's a bit of an ironic choice, but it totally takes my mind off the task at hand.
• Moves Like Jagger (Maroon 5)  My guilty pleasure....

And some that I tried....and so didn't work out.

•  Last Train To Clarksville
• Mary, Mary
• Heart and Soul

The last 3 are all songs by The Monkees (whom I love) - wonderful to listen to when I'm not doing something physically taxing.  Otherwise, totally annoying to me for some reason.