4 Weeks Out – Long Form Training Jam

This one now goes to 11, 11/8/11

4 weeks until 13.1 miles.

My go to training song for the first 7 weeks had been “Uberlin” by R.E.M. from their latest CD: Collapse Into Now.  While it was not a typical upbeat and rocking inspiration that I would choose but there are just some lyrics that hit the right spot.  Every time I hear:

i know, i know, i know what I am chasing
i know, i know, i know that this is changing me

It kicks me into another gear.  It is not just the lyrics per se, it is more about the way that Michael Stipe delivers them.  I feel truly blessed to have taken on this quest to run a half-marathon.

When I first looked at the training schedule Hal Higdon set up I was worried.  How was I going to do this?  I had some serious doubts as to whether I would be able to finish the event.  I am now at the point where I know I will finish it is a question as to how long it will take me.

The training has gone well.  This past week I ran 24 miles, with two long ones of 7 and 8 miles.  As much as I love “Uberlin” I cannot listen to it for an hour.  Even if I could I am afraid that if I did it would lose its power.

So I turned to Pearl Jam as I often did in the early to mid 90s. Their catalog is deeper than I gave it credit for .  My brother Jon has been begging me for years to investigate their albums post-No Code.  I always caught small clips of their latest tunes and stupidly dismissed them as “not the Pearl Jam I knew and loved.”

A few weeks ago my brother sent me some of those more recent CDs.  I continue to be blown away by the quality of their entire body of work as  I get acqauinted with the newer entries.  The blasting hard rock anthems have been all but replaced with mellow fare.  Even the rockers don’t have the angry edge of their earlier work as far as I can tell. They  have evolved.

So have I.

Who can blame them for not wanting to sit in one style to explore the changes in their life, outlook and expression of their creativity?

While I am still early on in my appreciation for the band’s more recent work, some of the songs did break into my Top Ten Favorite Pearl Jam songs, right now (with my favorite lyrics from each tune).  These songs, among many others by the band, have helped me get through many a mile this past week.  I know I will need them more going forward:

10 – “Not For You” from Vitalogy

All that’s sacred comes from youth
Dedication, naive and true
With no power, nothing to do
I still remember, why don’t you…don’t you…

9 – “Leash” from Vs.

Troubled souls unite, we got ourselves tonight, oh…
I am fuel, you are friends, we got the means to make amends
I am lost, I’m no guide, but I’m by your side
I am right by your side, yeah…

8 – “Even Flow” – Ten

Oh, dark grin he can’t help when he’s happy, looks insane ooh

7 – “I Am Mine” from Riot Act

I know I was born and I know that I’ll die
The in between is mine
I am mine

6 – “State of Love and Trust” from “Singles” Soundtrack

And I listen from both sides of a friend
Nothin’, I’ll do this one myself

5 – “Just Breathe” from Backspacer

Yes I understand that every life must end, aw huh…
As we sit alone, I know someday we must go, aw huh…
I’m a lucky man to count on both hands
The ones I love…

4 – “Once” from Ten

Ooh, once upon a time I could control myself, yeah…
Once upon a time I could lose myself, yeah, yeah, yeah…
Once, upon a time I could love myself, yeah…
Once upon a time I could love you, yeah, yeah, yeah…

3 – “Elderly Woman Sitting Behind a Counter in a Small Town” from Vs.

Memories like fingerprints are slowly raising
me, you wouldnt recall, for I’m not my former
It’s hard when you’re stuck upon the shelf
I changed by not changing at all, small town predicts my fate
Perhaps that’s what no one wants to see

2 – “Rearviewmirror” from Vs.

‘Posed to endure what I could not forgive…

1 – “Corduroy” from Vitalogy

I don’t want to take what you can give
I would rather starve than eat your bread.
I would rather run but I can’t walk
Guess I’ll lie alone just like before.

EDIT 11/8/11

New Number 1: “Amongst the Waves” from Backspacer.  Please shift all others down accordingly.

Cut to later, now you’re strong
You’ve bled yourself, the wounds are gone
It’s rare then where is nothing wrong
Survived and you’re amongst the fittest

Love ain’t love until you give it up

Riding high amongst the waves
I can feel like I
Have a soul that has been saved
I can see the light
Coming through the clouds in rays