“We Are Nowhere and It’s Now by Bright Eyes (with Emmylou Harris)

“Fake Empire” by The National

“Nightswimming” by R.E.M.

“There’s A Light (Over at the Frankenstein Place)” – Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack

“Lilies of the Valley” by Jun Miyake

“We Belong” by Pat Benatar

“Runaway” by The National

“No One Is To Blame” by Howard Jones

“Wake Up” by Arcade Fire

“Mad World” by Michael Andrews & Gary Jules (Donnie Darko soundtrack)

“Waves of Mutilation” (UK Surf Mix) by The Pixies

“Good to Be On the Road Back Home” by Cornershop

“Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” by Michael Jackson

“Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees

“Don’t Bring Me Down” by ELO

“Going the Distance” (from Rocky, of course) by Bill Conti

“Born to Hand Jive” by Sha Na Na

“Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd

“Paper Planes” by M.I.A.

“Mountain Song” by Jane’s Addiction

“She’s So Cold” by The Rolling Stones

“I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor

“Tick of the Clock” by Chromatics

“We Are Young” by Fun.

“Chariots of Fire” by Vangelis (of course)

“Dream Operator” by Talking Heads

“Teardrop” by Massive Attack

“Everyday is Like Sunday” by Morrissey

“World Leader Pretend” by R.E.M.

“Running on Empty” by Jackson Browne

“Hold Your Head Up” by Argent

“Heroes” by David Bowie

Photo taken Feb. 25, 2012, in Prospect Park.

Of course the first snowstorm of 2012 was going to happen on the day of the Manhattan Half-Marathon in Central Park. It was cold, snow was falling, and the road conditions were a bit slippery. All of this made the run a bit more difficult. Those questions you ask yourself while running long distance runs, such as “Why why why in the fuck did I decide to do this?” stream through your head with a bit more urgency. The worst part for me is my non-waterproof gloves (great planning on my part, as usual) got soaked-through and my fingers were pretty much frozen to the bone for maybe 8 of the 13.1 miles. But in the end, such things just make finishing the race that much sweeter — the longer the distance, the more pain in your legs (and arms and back and neck), the more incredible it feels to run across that finish line. Would I do it again? Hell yeah I would do it again. But next time, I’ll wear better gloves.

Synthesizes an energy overload that allows you to pick up the pace and ride a new wave to the finish line without taking your breath away.

Even these obnoxious music snobs agree:

This song is a rush, with a beat that pushes, but there’s also a very floaty, dreamy quality to the tune. Good for long strides on a sunny day.

This song just flat out helps pick up the pace. The vocals surf a perfect ride on top of the music. Burns, Burns, Burns. That Ring of Fire.

Because of the voice, of course. That scratchy, husky, fierceness. And also, because the song makes you think of tractor chicken, and how great it would have been to be Ren in high school, getting your shoelace caught, facing certain death by tractor, only to have that mishap make you the God damn hero in front of the conflicted good girl/bad girl hottie. Footloose indeed! Wait a second! It just occurred to me that Ren was saved by NOT being “footloose” in that tractor scene… This is just a total eclipse of the heart.