What’s in their air pods Part 1

Well hello. It’s been a while since I’ve written anything in column form. But I think it’s time to get back to it.

What do you listen to during a workout? Does music motivate you?

For me personally, I cannot run without music. I listen to podcasts sometimes on walks. But if I’m out for a jog or running on the treadmill at Anytime Fitness, you can bet I’m listening to my playlist.

But what do area track and field athletes listen to before they compete?

The answers certainly vary. And here are a few of them in the first part of what I hope is a three-part series.

Two of the better distance runners in the area come from Baxter. And they couldn’t be more different when it comes to music.

Sophomore Max Handorf loves Can’t Stop by Red Hot Chili Peppers. He’s also a big fan of classic rock.

And based on the answers I’ve received from athletes so far, Handorf’s musical taste aligns with what you’d find on my playlist.

His teammate, senior Matt Richardson, is not a big music person at all.

PCM senior Tad Wilson, Baxter senior Carter Smith and Newton senior Christian Ergenbright said they don’t really listen to music before competing either.

“Hank Williams Jr. is my guy though,” Smith said. “If I did listen to music beforehand, that’s my go-to guy.”

The most popular artist so far is Drake. That’s what Newton senior Reilly Trease, Lynnville-Sully junior Tatum Huyser and PCM senior Adrien Robbins listen to before their sprinting events.

Huyser has another form of sound she listens to though.

“I listen to rain sounds,” Huyser said. “I’m a stressed person, and it calms me down. It depends on the meet though. If I’m too pumped up, I’ll listen to something to calm me down. If I feel too tired, I’ll listen to something that fires me up.”

Both Trease and Robbins have a long list of artists they like to listen to before they compete.

“At the start of my warm-up, I like to listen to some 2000s R&B like Chris Brown, Usher and Ashanti,” Robbins said. “Five or 10 minutes before my race, I listen to a lot of rap like Drake, T-Pain, Lil Baby and Polo G.”

Trease prefers rap music but switches to jazz right before his race.

“Thirty minutes before, I will listen to R&B or rap to keep me upbeat,” Trease said. “Then, about five minutes before I will turn it way down and go to classical jazz to calm the nerves.”

To no one’s surprise, rap is the most popular kind of music for teenage males.

Newton junior Nick Thomason mentioned BAK Jay as one of his artists but also likes random country music. His teammate, junior Ali Yahia, listens to Lil Tecca before he competes.

PCM senior Riley Graber prefers rapper Rod Wave and freshman teammate Lewis Daye said he starts off with Chris Brown and T-Pain before ending with Kendrick Lamar.

Another PCM athlete, senior Jake Winters, listens to old school One Direction and Lewis Capaldi.

“It has to be upbeat,” Winters said. “It can’t be sad either, otherwise I’m not in the right headspace.”

Newton junior Caden Klein was unable to listen to his music on the bus before the Drake Relays because his air pods were not charged. But he’s into Christian rap and worship music.

“I don’t need music, but I like to listen to Christian rap and worship music to set the right tone, to know who I’m running for and what my purpose is,” Klein said.

Worship music also is popular among the Newton girls track and field team.

Check back next week to read what those Cardinals play in their air pods.

Contact Troy Hyde at thyde@shawmedia.com