Meet fellow CTG Emily! Em also loves to run, and she’s been kind enough to share her running story as well as her current playlist! She is also a totally kiff chick, so I recommend you follow her on twitter too.
“After a medical diagnosis shot me back to reality and out of early-twenties debauchery, I re-evaluated my lifestyle. I was partying up a storm, pretty much every night, drinking like a student, eating badly and getting zero exercise. Oh yeah and I was smoking 20 Stuyvies a day. Eating a few greens, getting an early night and choosing a spritzer over a martini isn’t difficult, but getting fit was something I had no idea how to begin. Because I’m the kind of girl who needs a push, I set a goal for myself to reach. For years I had been trying to complete the final exam of my Associates Diploma in Contemporary Dance (yes, at one point in my life I was thin and fit enough to be a dancer, that time passed quickly) but I’d always had excuses – I couldn’t get to the classes on time, I was too weak in cardio, my upper body strength wasn’t developed, I was too stressed at work.
But the need for some kind of prize, some kind of reward to work towards was at this stage, non-negotiable. So I registered for the exam, started going to classes and then got myself a personal trainer. He taught me how to run. It was really terrible most of the time in the beginning. I loathed it. I made up fake excuses to get out of running and often felt like crying at the thought of how badly I did each time I got on the treadmill. But gradually it got better, slightly easier, slightly less puke-inducing. And then I got an MP3 player and my entire running life changed.
Music is more important to some than to others, but if you’re a music-lover, you’ll know that nothing improves physical performance like a song you just can’t sit still too. I find hip-hop works best for me, they’re good motivation tracks, help you disappear inside yourself and work well for the more competitive of us. But mostly the tracks that really start me smiling are the ones I love for personal reasons. Running is now my daily sweet relief.
It’s been 9 months now, I’ve lost 14 kilos and dropped 3 dress sizes, but the best part is in December last year I got my Associates Diploma.
Here’s a soundtrack I’m loving at the moment. Hope you enjoy it.” – Emily
Harder faster stronger – Daft Punk
Work It – Missy Elliot
Lose Yourself – Eminem
Breathe – Prodigy
Remember the name – Fort Minor
Rock Superstar – Cypress Hill
Till I collapse – Eminem
For my People – Missy Elliot
Around the world – Daft Punk
Back in Black – ACDC
Funk Soul Brother – Fat Boy Slim
Pass that Dutch – Missy Elliot
Do it – Missy E and Nelly Furtado
If you’d like to share your playlist with us fellow running addicts, drop me a mail with a pic and your running bio and I’ll post it. xx
