Running to the Beat Within
Running to the Beat Within
How Music Fuels Our Runs and Shapes Our Stories
There’s something magical about pressing play before a run. The first few notes hit your ears, your stride syncs with the rhythm, and suddenly the world feels lighter. For endurance athletes, music isn’t just background noise. Musics is the heartbeat that carries us through long miles, hard intervals, and finish-line moments we’ll never forget.
That idea takes center stage in What’s In Your Earbuds?, the Run Tri Bike podcast where hosts Jason Bahamundi and Joe Hardin dive into how music moves athletes. Their latest episode, Spooky Songs and Songs You Love to Hate, features guest Steven Salefske. The conversation reminds us that music doesn’t just motivate, it connects, amuses, and unites us, even through our most “cringe-worthy” playlists.
The Soundtrack of Endurance
Every athlete has that song. You know, the one you claim to hate but can’t help singing along to halfway through a long run. Maybe it’s Train’s Hey, Soul Sister or Nickelback’s Photograph. Jason, Joe, and Steven crack open why these tracks get stuck in our heads and why we secretly rely on them when energy dips.
Music sets the pace for performance, but it also drives emotion. From the pounding bass of a tempo run to the mellow hum of recovery jogs, the right playlist can shift an athlete’s mindset from tired to determined, from “I can’t” to “let’s go.”
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Guilty Pleasures and Power Anthems
One of the episode’s highlights? Confession time. Jason admits his Lady Gaga obsession, Joe defends the honor of 90s boy bands, and Steven proudly champions his daily Celine Dion streak … 12 years strong.
It’s a reminder that endurance athletes aren’t defined by their race times or playlists. They’re fueled by joy, nostalgia, and the rhythm that reminds them why they run in the first place. Every song tells a story, even the embarrassing ones.
The Rhythm of Community
In the What’s In Your Earbuds? live chat, runners from around the world join in, adding their own “songs you love to hate” to a growing community playlist that spans over 40 hours. It’s proof that running, like music, connects us through shared laughter and shared struggles.
From jorts debates to misheard lyrics, the podcast captures the humor and humanity behind every beat. Because sometimes, the best runs aren’t about pace or distance. They are about the moments when a song makes you smile mid-stride.
Why It Matters
Music has the power to elevate performance, but more than that, it reminds us that endurance isn’t just physical, it’s emotional. The right song can carry you through heartbreak, burnout, or mile 98 of a 100-mile race.
So the next time you lace up, press play, and don’t overthink it. Whether your playlist is packed with pop hits, rock ballads, or guilty pleasures, remember: every run is better with the right song, even if you love to hate it.
🎧 Want more stories like this?
Listen to What’s In Your Earbuds? from Run Tri Mag … where music meets movement, and every athlete finds their rhythm.
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