Oops. Caught myself singing to my headphones at the gym again

Runners love peppy jams. We crank our favorite upbeat tunes into our ears to rev up our own energy levels and get our feet moving. And it helps.

I cannot count the number of times I’ve been ready to sink and stop, right in the middle of a run, only to find a high-tempo song starting and juicing me right back up again.

Heck, it happens nearly every run.

Like many runners, I’ve personally curated dozens of custom playlists of favorite songs (with various beats-per-minute levels) to serve as soundtracks for my runs. I have faster songs for 5Ks and somewhat slower ones for long-distance outings. (I’m working on my full marathon playlist now. Got any song suggestions?)

Running without music is a lot harder for me. 

I need the rhythm to urge me to keep going. And when I run, I’m usually listening to songs I wouldn’t otherwise pick. Often, I can be found singing my way along a trail or the shoulder of a county highway.

My running playlist is fully loaded with cheesy uptunes. They work! I can “Crocodile Rock” on the run – all the way “Up Around the Bend” to the “Marrakesh Express” and “Break on Through to the Other Side” to reach the “End of the Line” with the best of ‘em. I even have some guilty pleasure pop numbers in the mix.

That brings us to today and my “Oops” moment.

I was cranking along at the gym, right around mile 4, and getting in the zone. Then I realized my lips were moving. And I looked up to see a couple of folks staring.

Ugh. I was singing again. I was pretty much belting it out, if you want to know the truth. And the weird part was that no one else could hear the rest of the music. It was just me – panting out the melody with sweaty gusto.

OK, it gets worse.

On this particular day, the playlist pumping in my ears was filled with show tunes. Yup, that’s right. It wasn’t exactly “Hakuna Matata,” but that’s not a far cry from what it actually was.

Ever done this? C’mon, admit it. Hey, it happens. Chalk it up to workin’ it while working out.

Or you could just say I was hearing voices.

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Running to feed many in the Foodie 5K charitable race

Running with friends is extra fun, especially when the race benefits a worthy cause.

As much as I enjoy competitive running races, my heart beats in a different way for charity runs. With that in mind, I just joined a team of pals to run the Foodie 5K charitable race this spring in Northern Illinois (although I do not actually live in Illinois). Here’s a link to my fundraising page.

Take a look at this great team of friends, gearing up for the Foodie 5K in May. We're all members of the same Sweet Adelines four-part acappella harmony chorus. (We're still recruiting new members from our chorus to do the race with us.)

Left to right: Lindsey, June, Rhonda, Kim, and Susan

The Northern Illinois Food Bank works tirelessly all year to feed hungry people in their region. The hunger statistics are astonishing. The need is great, and this group is doing a lot to help. In 2017, the organization raised $1.8 million through their Foodie 5K event/s. This year, they hope to bring in $2 million.

Our chorus has been invited to sing the National Anthem for this event. We are excited about this possibility!

So, although my primary training and fundraising efforts this year are aimed at the Chicago Marathon to benefit Misericordia Heart of Mercy, I am enthusiastically supporting this cause as well. Who’s in?

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Foodie 5K promo photo – fair use

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Ever been bugged by a bug at the gym? I have!

What bugs you most when you work out at the gym?

Lots of distractions and annoyances can interrupt our workouts. Too-chatty gym rats are a prime example, especially when we don’t even know them. Nosy folks on neighboring machines are another, as they peek repeatedly at our consoles to view our speeds or distances. Stuff like that can bug us.

But have you ever encountered an actual bug at the gym?

 

Eek. I just did.

I was cranking along on the elliptical machine and minding my own business. I picked up my gym-issued towel, which was draped over the control panel. I wiped my face and then nearly fell off the contraption -- after I noticed there was a big bug on the towel. There he was, clinging to the terrycloth in stark black and white.

I shook the towel, and he fell to the floor. He scurried away and ducked under a rowing machine nearby.

Was it a cockroach or a beetle?

I was NOT about to stop my workout to climb down for a closer look. All I know is that it was big and shiny and altogether unexpected.

But I would bet the gym is due for an exterminator visit.

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Adapted from public domain artwork

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