Linwood Studios, Oklahoma City
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Finishing Is Everything
Linwood Studios, Oklahoma City
Friday, January 22, 2010
Run On Sentences - The Resolution Suite
In December, 2009 the Run On Sentences collection of instrumental rock added a piece called "New Year's Resolution 2010." A short work that follows the sounds of a runner at dawn. Headphones in / go outside / zip jacket / birds chirp / feet start / focus on the landmark ahead / run.
After a good friend heard "New Year's Resolution 2010" and suggested that it be longer, I knew that I had to continue it. Resolutions are something of an extended process in real life and don't wrap up in three tidy minutes. Giving it some thought, the first piece was intended to inspire a runner to head out the door - to make that simple and weighty decision. What should come next? A crash course in "resolution" helped me further.
On January 1 (Mitch Park, Edmond, OK) I ran in my first cross-country 5K race and used the first "Resolution" piece as part of my playlist. The course was tremendously challenging with the ice & snow drifts. Resolution 5K Run / what gets you out the door (Part 2). Clearly I was not at my best in terms of conditioning. Midway through as I was high-stepping in snow drifts, the scene changed to survival mode. I would truly be glad to finish. This was a humbling moment for me since I still had long distant memories of when I had once run half-marathon distances. So far away from that now. To get back to that distance will take much work and risk of injury if I do not heed what my body is saying.
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Thursday, January 21, 2010
The first shipment arrives at Shepherds Junior School
More photos are arriving and being assembled for a larger article. The article will cover the future plans for instruments, music, and opportunities for musicians and all to join and help Shepherds Junior succeed.
Cheers,
Jonathan
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Resolution 5K Run / what gets you out the door (Part 2)
9:00 a.m. in Mitch Park, Edmond, OK
A cross-country 5,000 meter race sponsored by the Edmond Track Club (see Kent Douglas @ 405-570-1216 or KentAndBrenda@gmail.com)
It was a Happy and Butt-Kicking New Year's Day for all who braved the cold and icy conditions to run. The course at Mitch Park was well prepared and marked by Kent and Brenda Douglas. Given the 22F temperature at the start, the course was hard frozen in most spots. Snow drifts in the open fields and tree covered sections made for a challenging run. No injuries were reported for any of the racers.
A huge note of thanks to Kent and Brenda Douglas for their dedication and hard work that made the event possible. It was very important to have a run on January 1. Is there a better way for runners to start a year? Also, I am thankful to have talked one-on-one with two die-hard runners that day. Marianne and Richard were there bright and early to take on the course. Marianne won the race (her first cross country event - brave lady!) and Richard finished second. I trailed behind them in true Clydesdale fashion.
Looking back on it, the most demanding parts were the drifts. Like a tough football practice workout - the tire drill. Knees up, way up! Crunching through a crust of snow and ice and negotiating frozen foot tracks was a challenge to say the least. Imagine 150+ meters of tires with snow on top.
Also, I was privileged to play the Run On Sentences collection on the p.a. system at the race. If you live north of Mitch Park and wondered just what the ruckus was, you now know. Please see the highlight reel below for a summary of the race & music. If you want more information about my music, see the links section of my blog. The Run On Sentences collection is ever-expanding and incorporating a wide range of tempos and styles.
Speaking of resolutions...Part 2
What gets you out the door to run?
I hear many things: to feel strong, for self-confidence, as a form of meditation, a healthy habit, an endorphin rush, to feel better about oneself, to take the next step in training for a big event... Simply stated, runners NEED to run.
On a personal note, the happier times of my adult life are linked with running. I am not an athlete by nature but running has made me active and healthier mentally. Running music now helps to propel me too. Please see my Twitter list called "Listen With Your Feet" list for some inspiration, including Lady Southpaw, Hellasound, and Bold Pace Music to name a few.
I am always glad to discuss running and music or the pursuit of both. Leave a comment here on the blog or contact me whichever way you like (email: LinwoodStudios@gmail.com, twitter: @LinwoodStudios).
Cheers to a Happy, Healthy New Year of Running & Music
Jonathan
Favorite Quotes
"Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle or it will starve. It doesn't matter whether you're a lion or a gazelle -- when the sun comes up, you'd better be running." Roger Bannister
"If music be the food of love, then play on." William Shakespeare (Twelth Night)
"Mathematics is music for the mind. Music is mathematics for the soul." (Stanley Jordan)
"Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness." Martin Luther King, Jr.
"Courage is the discovery that you may not win, and trying when you know you can lose." Tom Krause (contributed by Jules Blight)