Running, Rhythm, and Real Connection
Powerful Voices, Endless Miles: Music That Moves Us
For endurance athletes, music isn’t just background noise. Music is the rhythm that carries us forward, the soundtrack to our suffering, and the melody that reminds us why we lace up in the first place. Whether it’s a tempo run set to your favorite playlist or the emotional surge of a finish-line anthem, the right song can turn a long grind into something unforgettable.
That’s exactly what the latest episode of What’s In Your Earbuds?, hosted by Jason Bahamundi and Joe Hardin of Run Tri Bike, captures in its spirited, laugh-out-loud conversation with Meg Eckert, ultrarunner, music lover, and endurance powerhouse.
Fresh off completing 92 laps (that’s 383 miles!) at Big’s Backyard Ultra, Meg joined the show to talk about the power of music in endurance sports and how the songs that shape our lives can also carry us through our toughest miles.
From Ultra Miles to Ultra Playlists
Meg Eckert isn’t just a runner, she’s a storyteller with sneakers on. Her insight into how music influences performance goes beyond beats per minute. For Meg, music is emotion management on the move.
“Minimal skipping, maximum variety,” she laughs, describing her approach to curating running playlists. “It’s less about the perfect song and more about how it makes me feel in that moment.”
That philosophy is something every endurance athlete can relate to. Whether it’s a pre-race pump-up track or a mid-race reset song, music is our invisible pacer who keeps us honest, motivated, and emotionally connected mile after mile.
Mount Rushmore of Female Voices
During the episode, Jason, Joe, and Meg dive into one of the most fun debates in What’s In Your Earbuds? history: Who belongs on the Mount Rushmore of female vocalists?
From Adele and Stevie Nicks to Missy Elliott, Aretha Franklin, and Tina Turner, the conversation quickly becomes a passionate mix of admiration, nostalgia, and friendly disagreement.
What starts as a casual list-making exercise turns into a celebration of female artistry and resilience. Each name sparks laughter, audience banter, and impromptu singalongs from Jason and Joe, whose off-key harmonies might just need their own warning label.
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Fantasy Bands & Karaoke Confessions
The episode’s next twist? Building a fantasy “supergroup” of powerhouse female singers. Imagine Ariana Grande and Kelly Clarkson harmonizing on the track, or Queen Latifah spitting verses alongside Alicia Keys on keys.
As the audience chimes in with ideas, the vibe feels less like a podcast and more like a post-race celebration where everyone’s sweaty, laughing, and debating which playlist gets control of the speakers.
Meg admits she’s guilty of singing on the trail, sometimes mid-ultra, sometimes mid-airplane. Jason owns up to his guilty pleasures while Joe insists on defending Total Eclipse of the Heart as an “underrated power move.”
In short, it’s chaos but the best kind.
The Soundtrack of Endurance
Music gives runners something numbers can’t measure: memory. That one hill you crushed with Eminem’s “Till I Collapse” in your ears. The heartbreak mile made bearable by Florence Welch’s voice. The slow jog home accompanied by Mavis Staples or Aretha Franklin reminding you that you can keep going.
As Jason points out in the episode, “Endurance athletes build their soundtracks mile by mile. Every beat is a story.”
Everyday Athlete, Everyday Anthem
The conversation wraps up with laughter, community love, and a reminder that What’s In Your Earbuds? isn’t just about great playlists, it’s about the Everyday Athlete.
The show’s closing moments invite listeners to join the Everyday Athlete Clubhouse, where they can share their playlists, vote in future debates, and connect with a community that believes in one simple truth: No podiums required … just vibes, sweat, and shared passion.
So whether you’re running to Lady Gaga or cooling down to Tracy Chapman, remember: your soundtrack is your story.
Because in this community, we don’t just run—we jam, we laugh, and sometimes, we sing off-key all the way to the finish line.
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