As the fall semester sets in, active Liberty University students are stepping into campus facilities and fitness environments to find their rhythm and hit their athletic goals.
Many enjoy listening to music while they work out, and a few students have shared what they like to listen to while staying fit campus.
Caleb Madden
For freshman Caleb Madden, faith and music are fully intertwined. Music without God is simply empty expression. His taste for faith-based music changes based on the activity.
For gym reps, Madden’s go-to is Christian rap. The bass and high-energy melody of Christian rap help Madden to perform his best. For running, he leans toward worship, especially longer tracks, to keep him motivated.
One particular song that helps Madden push through a difficult run is “Runnin” by Elevation Worship (featuring Brandon Lake).
“That song is almost exactly six minutes long, and my goal would be to try to hit a mile before that song was over,” Madden said.
For students looking for a new artist to listen to, Madden suggests Forrest Frank.
“I think he covers the most different styles of music, anywhere from hardcore Christian rap to lo-fi, if you want something just more chill. I think he shows the best variety,” Madden said.
Noah Peck
Senior Noah Peck’s taste depends entirely on the activity. He chooses his track list on the fly rather than relying on a structured playlist. For lifting, he frequently chooses upbeat pop or rap. His mentality is simple: if it gets him pumped up, he plays it.
“Anything that’s more hype and exciting is generally what I like to listen to when I’m working out,” Peck said.
While the gym requires high-energy beats to maintain focus, running leaves room for a wider variety of moods.
“Even if it’s something sad, I think running is a little bit different than working out,” Peck said.
Jack Hughes
Junior Jack Hughes stands out among campus workout warriors with his distinct taste. He prefers classic, indie and hard rock to energize himself during his sets.
While not overly picky for basic workouts, he leans toward hard rock for heavy weightlifting. The strong bass and dramatic riffs help him execute his best reps.
“I’d say the music selection is generally the same, except if I was doing weightlifting or a harder exercise — then I do more hard beat music. I look up deep bass or harder rock,” Hughes said.
Schoonmaker is a POV reporter for The Liberty Champion.