Whilst running at the start of this week and listening to a random Muse album, I hit upon an idea that resonated with me - why don't I run for the whole album? Shake things up a bit. Force me to run past 5km. And as I was completing the last couple of songs, another - why don't I keep doing this? Why don't I run another full Muse album tomorrow.
Wait - why don't I run for each and every Muse album - in chronological order?
And so the idea was borne - simply run for the duration of each album over the course of their back catalogue; record weight stats at the beginning and end of each completed discography and measure my progress that way.
Specifically, the rules of 'Running Time' are:
1) You must start with the first (studio) album of a given band
2) You must run for the full duration of each album
3) No skipping of songs allowed whatsoever
4) You must run all albums in sequential order, from first to last
5) You must measure and record your stats at the first album and then again at the last album
5) Rinse and repeat.
In a bid to get this blog up to date, here's my progress so far:
Album 1: Absolution
Okay - this is not their first album. Cheat! I have broken my rules already! Doesn't count though, because I hadn't come up with the idea yet when I first started running to this, see?
Nevertheless, a great album, and one I'm keenly familiar with. Released in 2003 and the year I went to Uni, I can still recall 'Time is Running Out' thumping through the speakers in our halls of residence common-room as we were all getting ready for a wild night out at the Delph (the uni's original on-site bar and club) - god, what a time to be alive! Genuinely some of the fondest memories I have were in that first year of uni.
Anyway, post-run, weight, BMI and body fat stats recorded (sorry - they will remain redacted for the moment until I have lost enough to be able to publish them!).
Running time: 59 Minutes
Distance: 7.3km
Calories: 583
Runners' rating (/5) RRRR
Album 2: Showbiz (actual first album)
I've never listened to this album at all before, although obviously I'd heard Muscle Museum several times before. After listening to it for my second run, I was beginning to wish that someone had actually invented one of those Men in Black memory wipes for your ears. No other way to put it: it was shite. Weirdly like a poor-man's Placebo, but with none of their allure. It genuinely put me off my run in places, to the point that I was actually shouting obscenities at the treadmill speakers just to make me feel better.
Muscle Museum and Sober were good but the rest was forgettable dirge.
Running time: 54 mins
Distance: 6.8km
Calories: 534 calories
Runner's rating: r (lower case deliberately as it only deserves half an 'R' at best!)
Album 3: Origin of Symmetry
Again, aside from the well known tracks on here (Plug in Baby and Feeling Good), I'd never actually listened to the full album before. On the back of their previous effort, my expectations were lower than Walter White's morals at this point, but thankfully these were very swiftly forgotten... Origin is a great album! The first track (New Born) was instantly energising and as the tracks continued, I realised that not only was I enjoying the album, I was enjoying the run... it was easy. Exactly what the whole of this idea was about in the first place! I would say that the first half is better than the second, which is patchy, and again (in a 'no shit, Sherlock' revelation), Matt Bellamy is a tad SHOUTY at times.
Nevertheless, a revelation and an album I would happily re listen to multiple times.
Fun fact: This was released in July 2001. I was 17, about to start college, and the Twin Towers attack was just a couple of months away. What a lifetime ago now.
Running time: 55 mins
Distance: 7km
Calories: 555 calories
Runner's rating: RRR
Right, on to Blackholes and Revelations (skipping Absolution as I've already covered that) for the next run. See you then.
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