“I like Nothingtown by The Offspring because it’s upbeat and loud and always gets me ready to run fast,” senior cross country captain Emma Colavito said. For Colavito, fast-paced music helps her get into the right headspace to run her best. Even before the race begins, she is able to prepare by controlling her pre-race stress. “I think music helps distract me from my nerves before running,” Colavito said, “and listening to a song keeps me from getting too freaked out about the race.”

Other cross country runners seem to have a similar music taste to get ready for races. “Viva la Vida is definitely my favorite pre-race song because it’s very upbeat,” senior cross country captain Lauren Gotting said. She says that, even during races, she likes to sing the song in her head to pass the time and keep a positive mindset. “I also find it keeps my pace somewhat consistent because the song’s tempo matches my cadence,” Gotting said. 

Athletes who participate in team sports also tend to listen to upbeat music to get energy before games. “My favorite pre-game hype song that we play before any RM game is Black and Yellow by Wiz Khalifa,” freshman soccer player Leanne Conklin said , “so when it is played, everyone on the team gets super hype and we are ready for the game.” Music is a large motivator for Conklin, further leading her to play her best during the game. 

“I don’t have one specific hype song, but I remember once I listened to God’s Plan by Drake and it really got me into the mood,” sophomore volleyball player Saesha Dhote said. She also adds that being superstitious about her games is very important to her. “I always take a nap, only drink water, chew gum, wear the same hairstyle, things like that. It just really makes me feel ready for my game,” Dhote said. At the end of the day, RM’s incredibly hard-working athletes have their own sources of motivation, but as we’ve heard from our student-athletes, it’s undeniable that good beats help. Whether it be for focus or motivation, peak-performance needs boosting, and this can easily be found in a good song! “Pre-game music plays a key role in my performance on the field,” Conklin said.