Music and Traditions


Music has always been an essential part of my life, but it really holds significance when it comes to running. Whether I’m getting through a though training session or getting ready for a cross-country meet, my playlist is as important as my warm-up routine.  For me, it is not just background noise; it gets me in the right mindset and brings back memories of some of my best races. 

One song I always play when I run is “La Ultima” by Quevedo. I am sure that not everyone will know him, but he has always been part of my pre-race rituals. There is something in its rhythm that keeps me locked in. It builds up in a way that feels like a race, pushing harder as the song picks up energy. It helps me focus more than anything else. 

Then there is “Fergalicious” by Fergie, an absolute must on my pre-race playlist. I first heard this song after I moved to the States, thanks to one of my teammates (thank you Peyton) and instantly became part of my routine. It has this high- energy beat and fun lyrics that just hype me and makes me feel like I can run faster and push harder. Honestly, it’s impossible not to feel plenty of energy when this song is playing. One of my favorite pre-race memories involves blasting “Fergalicious” in the team van before a meet. My teammates and me were nervous, but as soon as the song came on, we started laughing and forgot the nerves we had. By the time we arrived at the course, I wasn’t thinking about the pressure anymore. That’s the magic of this song for me: it turned nerves into confidence since the beginning and makes every race feel better. 

Some songs do more than just get my hyped, they remind me when I run. “Cuando sube la marea” by Amaral (probably no one here knows what I’m talking about) is one of those. Two years ago, at nationals, I had one of the best races of my life, and this song was playing before I stepped onto the starting line. Ever since that day, I need to play it before every race. It is like a lucky charm, bringing me back to that feeling of confidence. 

For me, music it is not just something to listen to, it is part of my running journey. It keeps me focused and connects me to the races that mean the most. 






Comments

  1. Abigail RMarch 7, 2025 at 1:52 PM

    Hey Sara! I took a listen to your first song, and totally understand why it is part of your pre-race album! It has a nice Rythm and perfect tempo for running. Fergalicious is a really a fun song to play, it would always get played at the skating rinks I'd go to in middle school; I'm glad you have been finding new music that you like from the states! I'm sure there's ALOT that you haven't listened to yet but will love. Cuando Sube La Marea is sooooo good; my mom would listen to that song all the time in the car on road trips and it's such a beautiful song

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  2. Allison NepomucenoMarch 7, 2025 at 6:25 PM

    Hi Sara! I really connect with what you said about Fergalicious since me and my teammates would listen to that song together on the bus going to games too! It really did the same thing for us like it does for your team since its super fun and makes everyone laugh and forget what they were worried about. The song is definitely a confidence booster for me too!

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  3. SofiaMarch 8, 2025 at 5:32 PM

    Holaaa, Quevedo is one of my favorite singers. One of the songs I like to listen to whenever I'm with my friends or at parties is "Punto G" or "BZRP Music Sessions." To be honest, the song you first mentioned, I had never heard about it, but I also liked it! I understand the power that one song can have when you are about to compete. "Fergalicious" is an interesting song, but I feel drawn to the beat and the energy that it brings. As for the last one, I had never heard of it, but the lyrics is beautiful!

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  4. Sofiya GoboraMarch 8, 2025 at 5:58 PM

    Omg Fergalicious! That used to be my theme song but I would say "Sofalicious". I liked your reasoning for listening to “La Ultima” by Quevedo. I hadn't heard it before but that would definitely get me hyped. I also like to like to Spanish music before a race.

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