I had a wonderful impromptu opportunity yesterday, to attend the Ann Arbor Folk Festival. What a wonderful event! Not only does is raise funds to support the non-profit music venue ,The Ark, it provided an evening of diverse and exceptional folk music. I was especially pleased to find out about the band Elephant Revival, as the peaceful music has a haunting historical sound to it, that is something new to me. Hear and example here. I’m hoping to go back to the Ark for their show in March.
I’ll cut to the chase and tell you my very favorite performance of the night was by the band Devotchka. Amazing stuff! I had become familiar with this band prior to attending the concert, due to good ol’ Pandora, which suggested Devotchka to me via my preference of Beruit. They use plenty of stringed and brass instruments, and have a foreign and bohemian sound, also described as a “lavishly theatrical circus band” delivering “made-for- Hollywood gypsy punk”. Below are a few examples for you to enjoy!
“We are providing you with a model and music.
bring your own beer or wine, ideas, and drawing tools.
Ben Cohen will be providing ambient symphonic
electronica using live effects, loops and samples….
to create a thoughtful space to think / draw / exist /
get together and draw, have creative dialogue, drink,
and collaborate. all media welcome…
pencil / collage / paint / writing…get wild
special just for you…the depo will be giving a 15 percent
discount on all purchases.
Another person wearing Vibrams! What are the odds the event camera happened to catch 2 Vibram wearers together?
Finish LINE!!
My experience running the Columbus Marathon was surreal and quite enjoyable! As I mentioned in my previous post, I chose to run the race this past Tuesday on a complete whim. I was feeling spontaneous and like I wanted to take a nutty risk, so I said “ Why not DO this? I am, I’m gonna do it”.
Now, I’m not completely unreasonable in my spontaneous leap to run 26.2 miles, because leading up to running the Glass City Marathon which was in April, I had completed six runs of 17 miles or longer before race day. So at least I have some sort of base built up. But I had not run much more than 8 miles a week (if that) ever since crossing the finish line that day. So this past Wednesday (taper week mind you) I went out and ran 10 miles to be my “long run”. Talk about doing everything WRONG! I felt good though! I felt like I could conquer the task at hand.
The night before the race I loaded up on some whole wheat Pasta from La Scola, and in the morning I showed up in my proper corral based on my estimated finish time. I wasn’t nervous, I felt funny because I hadn’t trained and was about to run 26.2 miles. It’s a very odd feeling! It’s like doing a back dive off the high dive for the first time. That’s what it reminded me of. The race started and I just started running. I didn’t have and ipod because a crook stole it from my car a few weeks ago, so I just took in my surroundings. It was awesome! There were people lining the street for the entire race! Cow bells, horns, signs like “Chuck Norris Never Ran a Marathon”, and “Your Feet Only Hurt Because You’re Kicking So Much Asphalt”. I saw a child on stilts with a sign that said “If you need someone to run with you for a half mile give me thumbs up” and I suppose one of the other people standing with him would join you in running for a little encouragement. It was just such a cool, supportive, friendly crowd! Complete strangers were calling out “Go Vibrams!“ or “Alright pigtails, lookn’ good”. It was awesome! I’m so happy I didn’t wear my headphones. I wasn’t plugged in to technology, so I experienced the marathon.
I put no pressure on myself since I wasn’t adequately trained. I just listened to my breathing and ran at a comfortable pace. The miles ticked off… mile 5…. mile 12…. mile 17… 20 (20 is half way there!! That’s my little mind trick I do on myself). I got to 23 and knew I had just a 5k race left. Mile 26! MILE 26!! And it was over! I never hit the wall this time since I wasn’t pushing it like last time. I finished in a 4:21.41 which is 15 minutes slower than last time, but I am so happy with it anyways. I didn’t walk once, and I did it! Oh and I had my period and really bad cramps, and I did it in Vibrams. I’m told I’m a badass, and today I kind of feel like one.
Proof that Vibrams cause no harm to my feet, once again! 26.2 miles of pavement and NO BLISTERS! For the story on Vibram Marathoning Click Here
I’m running the Columbus Marathon on Sunday, & I decided this Last Night.
After I ran the Glass City Marathon I was very enthusiastic about signing up to run yet another marathon, the Columbus Marathon to be exact. Over the summer the heat and a weird irregular heartbeat problem arose, so I never trained for it except for a 14 miler in July (which set off the irregular heartbeat problem, scaring me) and a few scattered 4 mile leisurely runs which I do simply to stay in shape.Then last night in conversation, I realized that not only is the marathon this coming Sunday, but that I have the day off, and it would be amusing to try to run it for fun. So with that a plan was made. I ran 10 miles today after work ( a new PR time by the way!), and I’m going to go do this thing and see how it goes. I might as well since I paid for it and can’t get my money back at this point. I certainly don’t recommend or take pride in my attempt here. Last time I ran a marathon I had run 6 runs of 17 miles or longer. This time, nothing to speak of. I am hoping for a good time and a memory if nothing else!
(old photo- nowadays I would never wear shoes,just Vibrams!)
I feel like last night I experienced what I will always consider the epic concert of my life: seeing Paul McCartney perform live in a sold out mega stadium. At 69 years of age Paul played 32 songs in a row (without drinking water we noticed!) pouring his heart into each one, never leaving the stage. He then came back for not one, but two encores of three songs each for a total of 38 songs in a concert duration of a little under three hours. Paul sounded exactly as he always has, and he looked full of vitality, trim, and spirited. When he sang my favorite song in the world, Maybe I’m Amazed, I got tears of joy in my eyes. When he played Jet, and Helter Skelter, and Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five, I was high on life rocking out in my seat! Live and Let Die came with a surprise fireworks show (see youtube video below for the fireworks)! When Paul was singing his famous “Hey Jude”, it sank in just how cool a moment it was to be listening to THE Paul McCartney, one of the last living Beatles, perform in what could very well be his last grand “ShaBang!“ of a tour. All in all, every song he sang was one I got excited about and I left the show realizing it was everything I had hoped and imagined, and more. He even wore the famous pointed toe heeled Beatle boots.
Even the weather was perfect. There had been a 40% chance of thunderstorms, and for less than a minute rain fell from the sky as we were waiting for Paul to come on stage. We saw plenty of lightening, the temperature dropped, we felt breeze, and saw stormy darkness in the clouds. Then about the time Paul was to come on, the clouds started parting and we were left with the perfect temperature, a colorful pink sunset, and breeze. Behind the stage, many miles back the storm continued providing a light display of lightening, as if it were part of the show! I couldn’t ask for better conditions. The storm actually cut us some slack from the heat!
•
1. Hello, Goodbye
(The Beatles song)
2. Junior’s Farm
(Paul McCartney & Wings song)
3. All My Loving
(The Beatles song)
4. Jet
(Wings song)
5. Drive My Car
(The Beatles song)
6. Sing the Changes
(The Fireman song)
7. Hitch Hike
(Marvin Gaye cover)
8. The Night Before
(The Beatles song)
9. Let Me Roll It
(Wings song)
10. Foxy Lady
(The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover)
11. Paperback Writer
(The Beatles song)
12. The Long and Winding Road
(The Beatles song)
13. Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five
(Wings song)
14. Let ‘Em In
(Wings song)
15. Maybe I’m Amazed
16. I’ve Just Seen a Face
(The Beatles song)
17. I Will
(The Beatles song)
18. Blackbird
(The Beatles song)
19. Here Today (John’s Eulogy)
20. Dance Tonight
21. Mrs Vandebilt
(Wings song)
22. Eleanor Rigby
(The Beatles song)
23. Something
(The Beatles song) (with ukulele intro)
24. Band on the Run
(Wings song)
25. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
(The Beatles song)
26. Back In The USSR
(The Beatles song)
27. I’ve Got a Feeling
(The Beatles song) (with heavy ending)
28. A Day in the Life
(The Beatles song)
29. Give Peace a Chance
(John Lennon cover)
30. Let It Be
(The Beatles song)
31. Live and Let Die
(Paul McCartney & Wings song)
32. Hey Jude
(The Beatles song)
33. Encore:
33. Lady Madonna
(The Beatles song)
34. Day Tripper
(The Beatles song)
35. Get Back
(The Beatles song)
36. Encore 2:
36. Yesterday
(The Beatles song)
37. Helter Skelter
(The Beatles song)
38. Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight / The End
(The Beatles song)
Here is the concert tee I bought and what I wore… a white with light pink roses, off the shoulder mini dress.
I am less than 48 hours away from seeing a Beatle! This is the ultimate concert for me, as far as “Music Legends I must See Before it’s Too Late”. He is top of the list for me!
“At 69, Mr. McCartney is not saying goodbye but touring stadiums and playing marathon concerts. Friday’s set ran two-and-a-half hours, with Mr. McCartney constantly onstage, and it had 35 songs, not counting a few additional excerpts.
His concerts now are a gentle reminder of his survival and vitality…
He perseveres, and entertains, by directly reconnecting to his songs across the decades and still having fun.“—THE NEW YORK TIMES
10.)The Girl and the Robot by Royksopp
9.) Headlights by Snow Patrol
8.) Wolf Like Me by TV on the Radio
7.) Fire Starter by Podigy
6.) Bulletproof by La Roux
5.)Happy Up Here by Royksopp
4.) White Knuckles by OK Go
3.) Shattered by The Trucks
2.) Uprising by Muse
1.) Courtship Dating by Crystal Castles
