Beyond the Fairway: Indie Music Star Michael Marcagi on Balancing Tour Life and Fitness

After breaking out with his soul-driven folk-rock sound and popular success with songs like “Fear to Begin,” rising singer-songwriter Michael Marcagi has become one of the most talked-about new artists. But while his career is growing rapidly, Marcagi is learning that life on the road requires the same discipline and endurance as any athlete.

For Marcagi, travel life looks a lot different these days than it did growing up in Ohio. Now based in Boulder, the Midwest native says the move has completely reshaped the way he approaches health, fitness, and recovery while balancing a demanding workout.

Between hiking, running, and spending a lot of time outdoors, the Colorado lifestyle has been a welcome adjustment.

“Being from the Midwest, where the winters are cold and gray, I’m outside almost every day,” Marcagi said. Muscles and Fitness. “It was really good.”

Before music became his full-time career, Marcagi was a competitive golfer in college, and although touring has reduced his time on the course, he still plays at a high level.

“My handicap probably went up a little bit,” he said with a laugh. “But maybe I’m still around, I’ll take it.”

However, that competitive background still shapes the way he prepares for games today.

‘Hard on the Body’ Tour

Marcagi says one of the biggest misconceptions about touring is how physically demanding it can be.

“Many people don’t talk about it, but being on a trip is hard on the body,” he explained. “Especially for me, I have to sing every night, you have to find ways to manage your voice, no matter what you eat or how much you sleep.”

Marcagi admits that it can be easy for artists to fall into unhealthy habits while traveling. Especially when your “workday” doesn’t really start until the afternoon and the adrenaline keeps you awake long after the show is over.

“It’s very easy to fall into the ‘2 am Uber Eats’ cycle,” he says. “Your whole schedule is ruined because your day starts later than most people’s.”

Instead, the artist has become more serious about creating a structure while on the road. That includes being selective about stage food requests, prioritizing real food over snacks, and trying not to let his sleep schedule get in the way while on tour.

“There are so many nights in a row that you can eat potato chips,” he jokes.

Physical fitness also extends to protecting his voice, something he says has become a priority over the past year and a half. Marcagi revealed that he no longer drinks while on tour and focuses on things that help him not change from show to show.

“I just try to eat normal food and take care of myself,” she says. “Once you start taking care of your voice like that, the anxiety of the show goes away.”

That preparation has helped him to be ready to play day and night, especially as his audience continues to grow.

“You realize that you will never end up on stage,” said Marcagi. “Mistakes happen, and sometimes those turn into memorable parts of the show.”

Full Exchange and a Healthy Community

Long before his career as an artist, Michael Marcagi competed on the golf course at the University of Cincinnati, where he played golf before pursuing music full-time.

Even now, with a rapidly expanding touring schedule, the game remains a big part of his life. The singer is looking forward to many upcoming rounds in his upcoming tour with Noah Kahan, Marcagi said that he has recently fallen in love with this show.

Marcagi says: “He was already texting me and said, ‘We need to play golf every day when we visit.’

Marcagi also spent time playing golf with Wesley Schultz of The Lumineers, describing the rounds as modest and easy, exactly the kind of environment he enjoys since golf is no longer tied to competition.

“He’s soft, and we always have a good time there,” Marcagi said.

When asked to build his dream golf foursome, Marcagi didn’t hesitate. Along with Kahan and Schultz, professional golfer Jason Day will round out the team.

“I’ve always wanted to play with Jason Day,” he said. “I have a feeling you’re going to have some good travel news.”

These days, golf represents something very different to Marcagi than it used to. What used to be a very individualistic game has become about communication, conversation, and community.

“I’m definitely very upset,” he says.

Why Running Was Important to His Mental Health

Although golf remains a passion, running has become a major part of Michael Marcagi’s well-being on the go, something he says is inspired by his girlfriend, Gabbi Jennings, who is a professional runner. What initially started as a way to stay busy quickly turned into an essential mental reset amid the hustle and bustle of travel life.

During a six-week European run earlier this year, Marcagi and his tour manager created a consistent morning routine that focused on getting out before the day was consumed by venues, buses, and performance preparations.

He says: “We would try to run three to five kilometers every day. “When you tour, you are on the bus, in the green room, or on stage. You’re not always in the most beautiful house in the world.”

For Marcagi, running has become less about training and more about creating balance. Touring often leaves musicians alone in the house for hours at a time, working irregular schedules while carrying the mental stress of performing at night. Morning runs have helped create a lifestyle that rarely feels predictable.

He admits that there was a time when the anxiety surrounding the game would consume his entire day.

“I used to spend the whole day thinking about this game,” he says. “The whole day felt like work because I was only focused on doing it later that night.”

Now, he looks at tourism differently.

“If I can go out for a run, eat lunch, and clear my head a little bit, I feel better mentally and physically,” explains Marcagi. “It helps me compartmentalize things instead of letting the system take over every thought throughout the day.”

This technique also helped him to control the emotional swings that come with performing in front of thousands of people day and night. Marcagi says the adrenaline spike before walking on stage is real, and the crash afterward can be just as intense.

He explains: “You leave the stage completely pumped up. “Your body can’t really process that adrenaline.”

Instead of staying upset after the shows, Marcagi and his team have developed little ways to decompress and get back to normal when the performance is over.

“After that, we’ll play video games, watch a movie, or do something to relax,” he said. “You have to find ways to bring yourself back to the world because you’re going to wake up and do it again the next day.”

That balance between movement, practice, and recovery has become one of the biggest reasons Marcagi feels more focused on travel now than ever before in his career.

“It gives me a better mental space,” she says. “I feel like I have more energy and I’m not thinking about one song all day.”

Red Rocks is still a dream

After performing in stadiums, including his hometown of the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals, Marcagi says one bucket list venue still stands above the rest: Red Rocks Amphitheater.

“Now that I’m living in Colorado, playing Red Rocks would be amazing,” he said. “That’s definitely a dream place.”

Until then, Marcagi continues to balance a life of travel with hiking, road trips, and outdoor recovery whenever possible. Places like Rocky Mountain National Park and Grand Teton National Park are always at the top of his list.

But beyond music, fitness, or travel, Marcagi says her inspiration always comes back to the fans who show up day and night.

“Tickets are expensive, people get bodyguards. People have work the next day,” he said. “I never take it for granted that people make the effort to come to the show.”

That mindset is what makes him behave well.

“I want people to leave feeling that it was worth their time.”