5K EVERY DAY – Day #352

(Opening clip — “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” bark + beat drop)

Today — December 18th — is the birthday of DMX.
A voice that never whispered, but instead demanded movement.

(Clip — “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” hook)

DMX wasn’t about pretty motivational quotes.
He showed up loud — even when life wasn’t.

(Transition clip — “X Gon’ Give It To Ya” intro)

You don’t wait until you feel ready —
you move first…
and then the feeling follows.

That’s what today was for me.
No hype. No excuses.
Just – I ran.

(Video Slide of Day #352)

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“I don’t regret anything. I learn from everything.” – by DMX

Today would have been his 55th birthday

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5K EVERY DAY – Day #351

(Opener of “Für Elise” from Jon Batiste)

If Ludwig van Beethoven were still alive today,
he’d be celebrating his 255th birthday.

(Opener of “Symphony No. 5 Stomp” from Jon Batiste)

Unfortunately, he’s not.
But what is alive is the music.

That’s why albums like Beethoven Blues from Jon Batiste matter —
they don’t preserve classical music in glass…
they move it forward.

(More of “Symphony No. 5 Stomp” from Jon Batiste)

Batiste takes something written centuries ago
and reminds us that progress doesn’t come from copying the past —
it comes from showing up and reinterpreting it.

That’s what today was for me.
Day 351 of 5K Every Day — completed.

(Video Slide of Day #351)

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“I’m interested in the continuum — honoring the past while pushing forward.” – by Jon Batiste

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5K EVERY DAY – Day #350

(Opening clip — piano intro of “We Didn’t Start the Fire”)

On this date back in 1989, Billy Joel hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “We Didn’t Start the Fire.”

(Clip — rapid-fire opening verse)

It’s a song that doesn’t slow down.
Zero time to catch your breath.

Just history… chaos… pressure…
coming at you faster than you can process.

(Hook to the song)

That’s what life can feel like sometimes.
World spinning. Headlines stacking.
And you’re just trying to keep moving forward without falling behind.

So today, I didn’t try to stop the fire.
I just focused on what I could control.

I ran.

(Video Slide of Day #350)

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“Talent doesn’t last. Discipline does.“ – by Billy Joel

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5K EVERY DAY – Day #349

(Opening clip — the eerie synth intro of “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang”)

On this date back in 1992, Dr. Dre changed everything.

(Clip — “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang” hook)

He released The Chronic — his debut solo album.

Smooth beats.
Heavy bass.
And the world’s first real introduction to a guy named Snoop Doggy Dogg.

(Clip — Snoop verse)

The Chronic wasn’t just an album — it was a reset.
New sound. New era. New standard.

Dre didn’t rush it.
He built it — layer by layer.

That’s the reminder: consistency compounds.

That’s what I’m doing with 5K Every Day.
Day 349 — done.

(Video Slide of Day #349)

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“You can’t rush greatness.” — Dr. Dre

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5K EVERY DAY – Day #348

(Clip — “Coney Island”)

December 13th — was Taylor Swift’s birthday.
Yes… I knew that.

Unfortunately, my little girl was not impressed that I didn’t mention it.

(Clip — “The Alcott”)

To be fair — I did talk about Taylor’s favorite band…
The National.

(More “The Alcott” clip)

It always amuses me how music pieces everything together.
Different artists, different paths — but the same idea:
trust who you are and keep moving forward.

I did that today.
I ran.

(Video Slide of Day #348)

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“Just be yourself, there is no one better.” — Taylor Swift

Happy 36th!

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5K EVERY DAY – Day #347

(Opening clip — the sweeping live intro from “Runaway” or another Rome track)

On this date last year — December 13th, 2024 — The National released Rome, their live album recorded in Italy just a few months earlier.

(Clip — emotional live moment from “Runaway”)

And here’s where it gets interesting:
Spotify just told me Rome was my third most-played album of the entire year…
and “Runaway” was my fourth most-played song.

Apparently, I didn’t just love this album —
I basically moved in.

(Clip — crescendo of “Runaway”)

And Spotify has no idea how many extra spins came from this
(hold up the vinyl)

The National always hits me emotionally, but this live recording?
Something different happens when the band and the crowd are breathing in the same moment.

And honestly — that’s what today’s run felt like.
Imperfect… but real.

Day 347 — done.

(Video Slide of Day #347)

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“You don’t need to know where you’re going to keep moving forward.” — Matt Berninger

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5K EVERY DAY – Day #346

(Opening clip — smooth brass intro of “Jingle Bells” Sinatra version)

On this date back in 1915, a legend was born in Hoboken, New Jersey —
Francis Albert Sinatra.
The Chairman of the Board.

(Clip — “J-I-N-G-L-E Bells” vocal hit)

Sinatra could do it all but during the holidays, he somehow made Christmas feel cooler.

(Clip — “Mistletoe & Holly”)

“Mistletoe & Holly” and “J-I-N-G-L-E Bells” aren’t just songs —
they’re holiday mood-setters.

Sinatra never rushed the moment.
He owned it.

So today, I tried to do the same —
Play it cool, slow it down (not too much, it was still a run) and keep the streak alive.

Day 346 — I ran.

(Video Slide of Day #346)

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“The best revenge is massive success.” — Frank Sinatra

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5K EVERY DAY – Day #345

(Clip — Bad Brains “Banned in D.C.”)

On this date back in 1981, the final curtain dropped at Max’s Kansas City — the legendary New York club where Bowie, The Velvet Underground, and The New York Dolls all played early in their careers.

(Clip — Beastie Boys “Sabotage” bass buzz)

Bad Brains played the last-ever show at Max’s Kansas City

But here’s what makes it unforgettable:

The opening act was a group of teenagers from Brooklyn called…
The Beastie Boys.

(Clip — Beastie Boys “Sabotage” hook)

Just kids — opening for their heroes, in a tiny club, on a random Friday night.

And that’s the reminder:
Every giant career starts small.
Every streak starts with Day One.

Today, mine was Day 345 — and I ran.

(Video Slide of Day #345)

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“It’s not about being the best — it’s about being the most yourself.” — Mike D

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5K EVERY DAY – Day #344

(Opening clip — the explosive first hit of “Hypnotize”)

On this date back in 2005, System of a Down did something almost nobody pulls off anymore…
they dropped their second #1 album of the year.

(Clip — “Why don’t you ask the kids at Tiananmen Square…”)

Six months after Mezmerize hit #1,
Hypnotize debuted at #1 too.
Same year.
Same band.
Same unstoppable momentum.

(Clip — “I’m just sitting in my car and…”)

What I love most is that these weren’t “safe” albums.
They were different.
Political.
Aggressive.
And totally fearless.

They pushed forward even when the path wasn’t easy…
and momentum took care of the rest.

That was my mindset today.- I ran

(Video Slide of Day #344)

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“If you have a strong idea, don’t let the world dilute it.” — Serj Tankian

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5K EVERY DAY – Day #343

(Opening clip — the smooth intro of “Kill Bill”)

On this date back in 2022, SZA dropped SOS — the album that debuted at #1… and stayed there for weeks and then months. A full takeover.

(Clip — “I might kill my ex…”)

What made SOS really hit wasn’t just the hooks — it was the honesty.
SZA unpacked every messy feeling and turned it into something powerful.

(Clip — “I gave you more than you wanted…” from “Snooze”)

She proved that vulnerability works when you tell the truth.

That’s running every day, too:
show up, feel what you feel, take the next step anyway.

Day 343 — I ran.

(Video Slide of Day #343)

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
“I’m always working on becoming a better version of myself.” — SZA

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