pick me up

As the days get shorter and the weather worsens, I find myself returning to the rollers more and more. I also find myself returning to the same music. The albums that have proved themselves as great training music.

Today’s choice: Dinosaur Jr’s Beyond. Released in 2007, it was their first album in ten years. Moreover, the first in almost 20 years featuring the original 3 piece line up. Any concerns that this may just be a sellout comeback gig are dispensed in the first 30 second guitar solo of the first track. Indeed the first 3 songs hardly let you stop to catch your breath.

What is it about this band and this album that is so good to ride to? The long fast almost out of control guitar solos are the speed, the power drumming and bass are the cadence and heart, and the lazy slurred out vocals are the breathing… I don’t know but it works!

Yesterday I did a hard work out. Today I was planning to build up to 150 HR and keep it there. My staple winter training. But the songs push me and push me till I find myself doing the final track at 170 HR. Ride the dinosaur!

Thursday’s training: rollers – ride to the music – Dinosaur Jr’s Beyond

1. "Almost Ready" – 50 kmph - 3:08
2. "Crumble" – 54 kmph - 4:04
3. Pick Me Up - 56 kmph - 6:32
4. "Back to Your Heart" 58 kmph / 150 HR – 4:31
5. "This Is All I Came to Do" – 155 HR - 5:21
6. "Been There All the Time" – 160 HR - 3:40
7. "It's Me" – 160 HR - 5:14
8. "We're Not Alone" – 165 HR - 4:35
9. "Lightning Bulb" - 165 HR - 3:45
10. "What If I Knew..." – 170 HR - 4:01
11. "I Got Lost" – warm down - 4:37

Total: 40 mins (148 / 172 HR, 56 kmph)