Music motivates

I've wanted to do a Blog for a long time. Started one about a year ago and never found my voice. I'm hoping this one will be more successful.

I made a new change in my life for the new year and I thought if I wrote about here it might help me stay on target. I'm training for a 5K with The Couch-to-5K Running Program. I just started week 4 of a 9 week program. Technically I should be able to run my first 5K on March 10 or 11.

The Couch-to-5K 

I think another thing I've changed in my life is I've brought back music into my everyday life. I had no idea how much I was missing it. My dive back in started when my sister gave me Adele 21. I've listened to it almost every time I'm in the car. It reminded me how much music means to me. I've been a huge fan of hers since before she was a household name. That led me to take the time to figure out how to get music on my smart phone. It's a lot smarter than me. I think one of the best parts about running is listening to Pandora shuffle all my favorite artists. I never know what song is coming next.

The other day while cleaning my house, I had my music in my ears and in no time I was done cleaning and a much happier person for it.

I'm convinced that all my years of dancing and music being such an important factor, not only in the feeling behind the movement but the timing and accents used it is helping me run. Not that I can throw a kick or execute an arm movement while running to go with the music, it sure is tempting. I'm thinking once I get stronger I'll be able to have a little more fun with it.

When I first started riding my bike to work 2 years ago, I would pedal to the beat of the music (yes, I illegally wore earbuds while riding) and sway back and forth with the music. I was much faster and stronger riding when I focused on the music and keeping up than when I rode in silence. Now I ride mainly with groups so the conversation, setting a steady pace and sometimes fiercely concentrating on keeping up with the line I don't miss music.

And lastly because I work full-time from my home office, I have started to put on my headset and listen to Pandora to help me keep on task. Working from home can mean I get easily distracted or I'm interrupted by family that enjoy having me around. This way I can focus, get my work done and move on with my day.

I really believe I've made a couple of good decisions recently and hope to continue to do so.