TheFinalSprint.com - Track & Field, Marathons, Racing News, Training Advice, Elite Athlete Blogs, Interviews, Podcasts, Videos and More! - TheFinalSprint.com is the Premier Destination for Track & Field, Marathon, Cross Country, Olympic and Road Racing Enthusiasts.

In memory of Adam Jacobs, support the Challenged Athletes Foundation

In memory of Adam Jacobs, founder of The Final Sprint, please donate so that someone with dreams as big as Adam can reach their goals too.

Sara Hall: Music
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #9)

Posted May 16th, 2008 at 3:00 PM by Sara Hall

Section: News & Results, Motivation, Music, Track & Field, Olympics, Elite Athlete Blogs, Sara Hall

Welcome to the official blog of U.S. middle-distance runner Sara Hall. Sara’s list of running accolades include being a former NCAA All- American at Stanford, the 2006 USA 5K road champion, and the 2006 champion at the Continental Fifth Avenue Mile. Check back every other Friday for her latest entry at http://sarahall.thefinalsprint.com/

I often joke that I was born in the wrong body when it comes to music. For someone who loves music so much and whose brain is so musically-oriented, I can not carry a tune for the life of me! I have an incredible capacity for song lyrics, from childhood on, that I’ve heard more than a few times. I wish there was a TV show that was “Name that Disney Tune” because I would clean up!

Although music impacts me greatly, my own musical career didn’t last long. I tried taking up piano for two years while in junior high, but soccer, basketball and track took over, and I never could find time to practice. When I forgot my song in the middle of a piano recital, my parents and I decided it was time to call it quits. Besides that, though I have ambitions of learning the guitar one day, my music-making consists of singing in the car (poor Ryan!).

Yesterday I was watching August Rush, a movie about an orphan who is sensitive to the “music” of everyday life, from wind chimes to cars honking to street sweepers. He believes music is a form of communication, and it will one day lead him to his birth parents. Robin Williams plays an eccentric musician who takes the orphan under his wings. He asks August what music is, and states, “Music is God’s reminder that there’s something else besides us in this universe.” It’s something I’ve thought about before but never heard stated.

I’ve always noticed the spiritual nature of music, how it communicates to a deeper part of me than just my senses. In fact, I’ve learned to be careful what I subject myself to because it can influence my mood for better or worse. If I’m in a happy mood, bubbly music will send me bouncing around, but if I’m in a funk, listening to something melancholy is the last thing that I need. Music truly does communicate to us beyond the words in the lyrics. In August Rush, they describe this communication as “harmonic connections between all living beings”.

The part of the song I love the most is the climax. Ryan always laughs at me because I am constantly fast-forwarding the song to the climax because I’m too impatient for it to build from the beginning. I think this is why I like watching movie previews- they pack all the excitement into one climactic two-minute clip (I recently discovered that you can watch movie trailers on iTunes! Which is great because Ryan and I are always late to the theatre and miss them). I think it’s also why I love the 1500- it is intense from the gun, no settling, no waiting for the race to begin at 1k to go. I love the part of the race when “the music crescendos” and you are full out, limbs flailing, no turning back.

Listening to music on my iPod shuffle while running revolutionizes the experience for me. Especially during tempo runs, I love to put on some techno, lock my stride onto the beat, and roll along. However, I don’t let myself use it too often because I want to practice mental toughness and the skills of self-talk that I know I’ll require when I’m in a race without my headphones. But occasionally when I’m all alone out at the track or lacking motivation for some reason, a strategically-selected playlist can give me that little extra excitement I need.

Another reason I love to run with music on easy runs is to worship God by listening to praise music. For some reason, singing the same words in my heart while running is a different experience then when standing still. Since I strive for my running to be an act of worship, it’s good to have the constant reminder streaming through my headphones.

I’m always curious what’s on other people’s ipods as their jogging along or riding the subway next to me. What makes them choose those particular songs? What about the song resonates with them, is it a subliminal communication that speaks to their spirit, or just because it’s catchy? I thought I’d include some songs that have been on my “inspiration” playlist recently, and would love to hear some of your favorite inspiring tunes!

1. “Awakened” - Ian McIntosh

2. “Kenkraft 400 (Sport Chant Stadium Remix)” - Zombie Nation - (This song gives me chills! When I hear it, I imagine what it would be like to walk through the tunnel into the Olympic Stadium!)

3. “Chaiyya Chaiyya” - Dil Se (Ryan played this nonstop on his first buildup to London, and it brings back good memories of pounding it out on Green Church Rd.)

4. Amazing Awaits - one of the Olympic themes (mp3 on www.amazingawaits.org)

5. “Holy Roar” - Hillsong (At the climax of this song, it sounds like a stadium full of people praising God. It’s the closest thing to what I imagine Heaven will sound like)

6. “From the Inside Out” - Hillsong United - A song I’ve listened to before almost every workout this year

7. “Clocks” - Coldplay - I recently made the climax of this my ringtone!

8. “Fearless” - DC Talk

9. “Glory” - Selah

10. “Million Voices” Wyclef Jean featuring African Children’s Choir- I love the sweet voices of the African Children’s choir, and running to this makes me excited for the projects creating change in Africa through Team World Vision

- Sara

Check back on Friday, May 30, 2008 for Sara’s latest entry at: http://sarahall.thefinalsprint.com/

To comment on this entry and to send feedback & questions to Sara, please click here.

Donate to Ryan & Sara Hall’s “More Precious Than Gold” Campaign and Support the Humanitarian Efforts of World Vision:

Coachjim Newsom said:

Sara….
You and Ryan are an inspiration to Christians around the world. I was looking at Ryan’s video on GodTube and he was talking about balancing his spiritual and athletic life. I know that’s a challenge for elite athletes and I commend both of you for it.

Jim Newsom
Fort Worth Running Company
May 16th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
James said:

Haha no way some songs up there are songs our XC team use to pump ourselfs up. Zombie Nation is the biggest one. I also listen to Hillsong before races and workouts too. wellllllllll good luck with the 15 this year.
May 16th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Wendy said:

Sara, you are such an inspiration. I listen to Hillsong United a lot before racing and workouts (I agree—when the entire audience sings, I am reminded of Heaven, a perfect fellowship laying themselves down for the Lord).
It’s really cool that an amazing runner like yourself listens to the same music that I do. Keep on fighting the good fight!
May 17th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Mike said:

I also would like to say thanks to both you and Ryan for being such a positive inspiration. It is so refreshing to see a Christian couple who happen to be elite athletes so on-fire for Christ - you are both wonderful role models to those who look up to you. Thanks for putting God first!

Also, thanks for the additional motivation…I recently joined Team World Vision as an opportunity to fundraise for my 2008 NYC Marathon race this fall, and I hope to find others who will join me. God bless!
May 19th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Mike said:

I also would like to say thanks to both you and Ryan for being such a positive inspiration. It is so refreshing to see a Christian couple who happen to be elite athletes so on-fire for Christ - you are both wonderful role models to those who look up to you. Thanks for putting God first!

Also, thanks for the additional motivation…I recently joined Team World Vision as an opportunity to fundraise for my 2008 NYC Marathon race this fall, and I hope to find others who will join me. God bless!

Mike

BTW - I love long runs to Hillsong United’s ‘Look To You’ CD…
May 19th, 2008 at 10:56 am
Kevin Simons said:

Sara,

You and Ryan sound like a couple of really cool people. If you are not a fan of the band Sigur Ros, I might suggest checking them out. I’m not a runner, or Christian, but if you want some really incredible powerful songs, check out the album, “Takk.”
Good songs are “Glosoli,” “Saeglopur,” or “Gong.” Also, they have an untitled album with a bunch of awesome untitled songs on it. Untitled 1,4, and 8 are really incredible. Warning: this music can make you extremely emotional…but in a really good, really amazing way. In fact for me, it’s very spiritual (in a way that few other things are). Anyway, Sigur Ros sounds great on headphones. Good luck to both of you with winning some medals in Beijing. My cousin was a gymnast in Atlanta in ‘96. He had an incredible career up to the Olympics, but I don’t thing there’s anything else to compare, is there?
June 11th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Mary said:

I have been reading your blog it is awesome! So inspiring to know that a professional athlete has ups and downs too! I am running the Chicago marathon with team world vision and am so excited. I am a mom of four awesome kids and have a wonderful husband who is running with me. We live in Michigan. I love your music and I have really loved to run to One Girl Revolution by Superchick and Alive by POD. I also love Misty Edwards. Thanks for your blog!
Mary
September 8th, 2008 at 8:10 pm