by Alexandra Mansilla
Inside Your Headphones: What People Listen To While Running Or Cycling
3 Jul 2024
Photo: Jack Atkinson
Headphones have become a staple for many runners and even some cyclists (not all, but quite a few). They are running or biking, each in their own world, listening to something. But what are they tuning into? We decided to peek inside the headphones of those who love to run or cycle to find out what music drives them forward.
Paula Ralph
“My music selection depends on what my training session demands. For example, during endurance training, when I am aiming for four to five hours on the bike, I prefer upbeat music like Swedish House Mafia or Daft Punk. Growing up, my taste leaned towards alternative, so sometimes I will listen to old school bands like Nirvana or Smashing Pumpkins. There is also some rock in the mix, like 'Money for Nothing' by Dire Straits.
However, if it is going to be a really tough session where I need to push extremely hard, I will throw some heavy metal in my headphones. Something like Pantera to really push the limits.
My musical tastes are quite broad, so they vary significantly. I have even been known to cycle while listening to jazz artist Toshiki Soejima.”
Salma Ismail
Fitness instructor, co-founder of OSSALMA, trainer of Nike Well Collective
"A playlist is a very personal thing, especially when you are listening solo. I believe everyone should be able to listen to any type of music or any genre they want during a workout if they are alone — there are no rules. This is very different from when I am preparing a playlist for my group classes.
Keep in mind, this can be very different from one person to another. Always make it personal to you, a track that only you can feel in the moment, something that can transport only YOU to another state of mind and help you forget any worries during your run or cycle, keeping you in the present moment."
Sofia Brontvein
Publisher of The Sandy Times
"Want the truth? Okay, when I am cycling, I usually listen to Miley Cyrus, Roxette, Madonna, and Fleetwood Mac. You know, just cycling along and belting out 'Wrecking Ball' or 'It Must Have Been Love' at the top of my lungs. That's my vibe.
It is absolutely not about the beat or the rhythm — it is all about the drive. Just riding and singing at full volume."
Alexandra Mansilla
Senior Editor at The Sandy Times
"I have a long history with both running and what plays in my headphones while I run. At first, I found running boring and thought podcasts might make it more interesting. I believed they could make the time fly by. But nope.
Then, I suddenly fell in love with running. I never went back to podcasts and started listening to music that made me feel like I was floating above the ground. Lately, it has been tracks like "Price Tag" by Jessie J & B.o.B, and "Made You Look" by Meghan Trainor. Sometimes, it is classics like Rick Astley, Marvin Gaye, or Aretha Franklin. And occasionally, I just throw on One Direction or Dvicio to zone out, not think about anything, and just escape into my own little world."
Sophie She
Creative Editor at The Sandy Times
"When I am on a recovery run or looking to sort of meditate, I usually use Endel. It is a very cool product where AI generates beats that align perfectly with your activity. Like, zero words and 100% meditative state.
If I am in a 'rock it, baby' mood, I tend to go for British, Aussie, or German musicians. There is something about their accents rhythmically blending with the music that helps maintain the pace I choose. Some examples include 'Pub Feed' or 'Heartstroke' by The Chats, 'Get Me' by Mr Traumatik, 'Brand New Day' by Bilk (super nice for the start) — and 'Wärs Ok?' by Paula Carolina. Tracks like 'Along Comes Mary' by Bloodhound Gang or 'Control' by Amyl and The Sniffers always give me the right beat. Yes, there is a lot of punk rock in my headphones. I listen to it like a teenager, and I love it.
Oh, and also, 'Damage' or 'Too Much Money' by Automatic are great for that tough, intense punch during the run. Then, there is the 'I love this world' mood, where tunes like 'Under Control' by Good Shoes, 'And The Beat Goes On' by The Whisperers, and 'Deceptecon' by Le Tigre fit perfectly. And, of course, Peggy Gou, with my favourite being 'Starry Night'."
Evren Ozka
The man who ran across seven Emirates
"When I first got into running, I experimented with listening to music, and it worked as a great distraction. But when you have been running for hours, your feet have blisters, you are dehydrated, and all you want to do is stop. No amount of music in your headphones is going to help you get through it. So, in my opinion, it’s best to condition your mind to be without it.
In a race (or a world record attempt), I focus all my mental energy on trying to stay in the moment, focus on my breathing, and think about my nutrition, hydration, and pace.
When I am going on more easy runs during my training, I just let my mind wonder and see what pops up! I’ve gotten some of my business ideas recently while out on runs."
Vladimir Shcheblykin
Head of Custom Veter.cc, New Balance athlete
"I listen to music less when I'm on my bike because it's not as safe especially when you're cycling on the streets. But if I'm on a quiet road with no traffic, I might put something on.
When I'm running, it's about 50-50 between music and podcasts. Podcasts are great for running because they don't have a specific tempo that can mess with your pace. If you're listening to fast music but need to run slowly, you might unintentionally speed up, which is not good. That's why Spotify has playlists with specific BPM to match your running cadence.
I like listening to podcasts during my runs because it's a good time to be alone with your thoughts and listen to something interesting, like stories or audiobooks.
Depending on my workout, I might choose different music. If it's an easy run, I'll go for something calm or fun, like Dua Lipa, who I love. For a more intense run, I'll pick something more aggressive. Music really lifts your mood and keeps you motivated.
Also, back in the day, we listened to metal and its subgenres — pretty heavy stuff. This was in the late 90s and early 2000s. Those genres are making a comeback now. Bands like Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, Korn, Deftones, and System of a Down are having a renaissance. A lot of young people are getting into this music again because it speaks to them. I've also been revisiting the music I loved in my youth, and it's amazing. Listening to it now feels fresh and exciting.
I’ve been really into Linkin Park lately, especially their Reanimation album, which is basically remixes of their first album's tracks, but it’s so cool on its own. I also love their Collision Course album with Jay-Z.
Spotify even made me a playlist with music from that era — Linkin Park, System of a Down, Slipknot, Deftones, and more. It’s super nostalgic, and I’m hearing this music in a whole new way. Plus, my understanding of English has improved so much since the early 2000s, so I really get the lyrics now."
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