THE 50(ISH) GREATEST ALBUMS OF ALL TIME
Taking A Break From Running Up That Hill
Album #22 : Kate Bush — Hounds of Love
I learned two things about Kate Bush very early on. One, this album is not called Running Up That Hill, as I had originally thought. Two, at the height of her fame Bush took a 35-year break from touring. Because of that first point, I was all ready to write about running. And, honestly, if you thought the fact that it is now a humungous non-sequitur would stop me talking about running then, mate, you don’t me at all.
However, linked to the second point, I feel like I have been taking a (admittedly slightly shorter) break from pounding the pavements recently. Partly it is because of the weather being awful and the lack of organised events means there is an absence of motivation but also I feel I haven’t stopped running about for two months solid — just around my flat, after my four month old puppy. (A… hound I…love. Oh wait).
Anyway, more about running. I’ll start by saying I am not a good runner. I run a reasonable amount and I am not a bad runner, but I am not by any stretch a good runner. So, why bother? A bit like Kate Bush, what’s the point in putting out records if you’re not going to play them for people? For me, I’m not getting any quicker or really much fitter, so what’s the point? The point is that there often isn’t one — I’m just running to run. There are plenty of other ways get fit that don’t involve hours of knee crunching, pavement stomping, nipple chaffing solitude. But running offers something more than just fitness — I have never been for a run and felt worse mentally than I did at the start. It is a head clearer, a decision-making tool.
There is a sense of achievement you get when finishing a run that I haven’t found anywhere else. It isn’t like winning a football match, a team effort, or like some scholastic achievement, a purely mental effort; it is a combination of the two. It is the pride of knowing you have put mind over matter and kept going, kept going, kept going. Like the ‘conceptual suite’ that forms the second half of Hounds of Love (about a woman drifting in the sea at night) it is about solitude and perseverance.
The first proper ‘run’ I went on, I was sick. I was about 16 I think, and my mum had convinced my dad and me to sign up to the Manchester 10K. We went for a three-mile jog, and I chucked up at the end of it. In 2019 I ran my fourth marathon. If I can do it, anyone can.
One of the things that got me through the first one was the sheer terror of it — I think when people say they could “never do a marathon” what they mean is ‘the idea of doing that terrifies me’. And with good reason. The legend goes that the first ever marathon was run by a messenger — he ran from the battle of Marathon to Athens, heralding the Greek’s victory in battle. And what happens when he gets to his destination? Is he showered with praise and medals? Does he get a nice cold pint for his troubles? No. He dies. Sounds great! Where do I sign up!?
Fortunately, sport science has moved on a bit since then and most people accept that taking part in a bloody and brutal battle is not the best training. For me, at the start of training the most I could run was 3 miles — I had no running watch, no tracking equipment and no idea. Now, I can go out on a run with no less than three devices capable of recording.
Back then, though, it was just about going out and running, then a couple of days later I would run a bit further, and a bit further after that. Eventually I got into the best shape of my life. Over the last few weeks I have enjoyed going back to basics , just going out when I can and just enjoying it.
In fact, often some of my favourite runs are those a week or two after a race. Once I have had time to recover and head back out, still reasonably fit from having prepared for the race, with no watch or time targets to hit. Just heading out and enjoying the peacefulness that comes with just running for the sake of it — I’ve done that after each of my four marathons, and I’ve enjoyed it immensely every time.
Did I mention, by the way, that I’ve run four marathons?
Oh, and yeah the album’s quite good.
Thanks for reading — over the course of 2021, I’ll be reviewing 50(ish) of the greatest albums ever recorded. You can see the list here:
There is also a playlist featuring the best song from each album here.
