Do It Like Joan: Inspiration for the Marathon

NYC Marathon Course Section: Bay Ridge, Miles 2-4

After exiting the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, runners enter the first neighborhood in Brooklyn: Bay Ridge. Residents excitedly greet the runners with signs from the moment they enter it. This part of the route is the most distinct for the different bib colors because they each take a slightly different path due to the logistics of the bridge and connecting highway. The bibs come together for the first time at Bay Ridge Parkway (or 75th Street) and 4th Ave. (Coincidently very near to the site where most of Marathoners Rocking New York was written and recorded.) There are some hills in the beginning in order to exit the off ramps of the highway and the “ridge” itself is a very gradual uphill from the bay into the rest of Brooklyn.

Marathoners Rocking New York Song:

Track #3: Do It Like Joan

Time: 3:54

Tempo: 180 bpm

Treadmill Elevation: 1.0

NYC Marathon Course Section: Miles 2-4, Bay Ridge

In Marathoners Rocking New York, Sheena takes her inspiration from strong women like Joan Jett, Joan Benoit and Joan of Arc. In 1979 being a woman running a marathon for fun was itself a somewhat revolutionary act. The album was inspired by this period because late 1970’s New York was really bursting in music and culture. Punk, Disco, and Hip Hop were all born here during this time. Punk music, with its quick straightforward beat and driving guitars is great for running. Coincidentally, it was also when the 5-borough NYC Marathon began. Women were becoming more empowered to run with role models like Kathrine Switzer and Grete Waitz. However, the ratio of women to men was nothing compared to what it is today. There probably weren’t that many “punks” running the marathon, let alone female punks, but Sheena is an individual. She is unknowingly forging a path that millions will follow. Without the luxury of an iPhone, her music comes from within. In “Do It Like Joan,” Sheena sets her own pace. She tries not to blow out of the gate like some one looking to win (Grete or Joan Benoit), but trying to imitate their smoothness, grace, and will at a more reasonable speed.

Download “Do It Like Joan” on iTunes

>> NEXT SONG/SECTION: BROOKLYN TAKE IT EASY (MILES 4-6)

Do It Like Joan Lyrics:

VERSE

Engine’s revving, in high gear

everyone’s rolling, out of here

But I’m holding my place

I’m showing no fear

Nothing to waste, cuz the end is not near

CHORUS

Feels like I could explode

But I’ve got to take control

Cuz you gotta be cool to rock ‘n roll

If you want it real bad you gotta do it like Joan

(REPEAT TWICE)

VERSE 2

Run through fire, wield that axe

None of those guys, ever stood a chance

Hold it steady, that insane pace

You’re so ready, to win this race

CHORUS 2

BRIDGE

Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh yea yea yea yea

Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh whoo

CHORUS 3

VERSE 3

I can’t push it, I must save face

gonna hold onto, my steady pace

I may not win it, but I’ll show no fear

Fight my own fires, until the end is near

CHORUS

Instrumental Bridge with guitar solo

CHORUS

Marathoners Rocking New York is the rock’n’roll-fueled journey of a 70’s punk loving young woman named Sheena. She’s on the cusp of turning 30 with nothing to show for it. Her rock star dreams are not coming true. She succeeded at the downtown party lifestyle but not at keeping a band together. After stumbling on the New York City Marathon with friends, Sheena accepts a drunken dare to run it the following year. To her surprise, and everyone else’s she actually does the training (with a little help) and makes it to the start line on time.

Sheena runs the marathon without music, so Marathoners Rocking New York is the guitar-driven soundtrack going on in her mind as she navigates the course. The songs are influenced by the early punk movement in 1970’s New York with bands like the Ramones, Blondie, The Patti Smith Group, and Television. The album is in an excellent tempo for running playlists and a useful tool for marathon training that can be downloaded through iTunes.