I’m a child of the 80’s, so when I put on my headphones for a run, I turn to soaring anthems like those by Springsteen and U2 (probably my all-time favorite running song is “Where the Streets Have No Name”). But really what matters the beat and a song that takes me to a different place. What’s your favorite music to run to? — Terrell
Jessica by the Allman Brothers, Arc of a Diver by Steve Winwood, More, Simple or Weekapugh Groove by Phish are my go to songs, especially because they are all on the longer side, 6+ minutes.
I ran Big Sur and had a problem with my Spotify downloads, all I had available was the Housemartins only two albums. I listened to them over and over the entire race.. and it was awesome!
I love these posts as I am always looking for more songs to run with. Springsteen is always a favorite for me. A couple of my favorites have been One Way Out by the Allman Brothers - I listened to it on my first race. Another is Livin' on a Prayer by Bon Jovi and I time the refrain ("we're half-way there") for the mid-point of my half-marathons. And I like Ray Charles' Hit the Road, Jack and Carl Perkins' Boppin' the Blues. I think I could use some newer sounds.....
I hope to run my first marathon this coming year. I am late to running marathons (going on 65) and run sl-o-w, so any suggestions for motivating songs would be greatly appreciated.
I like my music hard, loud, and a little pissed off 😉 My go to for running is Five Finger Death Punch, Godsmack, Marylin Manson(by the way Beautiful People is a perfect 4 MPH cadence) and the like. It just gets me going!!!!
I usually listen to podcasts while running because music makes me speed up too much. It also keeps me thinking about something other than my run, which is good for me. However... when I'm racing I want that speed and so I have various pumped up playlists depending on my race distance: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/5k-power-mix/pl.a263c955c3a748f2893bcd9ed647c6ab
I'm a total dork, so I start every race with "Good Time" by Carly Rae Jepsen and Owl City.
I'm running a 14 mile race tomorrow and I had a BLAST building my playlist. I love having music to help me find my rhythm. This playlist is awfully eclectic with everything from New Kids on the Block to Snoop Dogg to Guns and Roses to Gavin Degraw. It's all about upbeat songs to keep me motivated. And one of the things I loved about training with this playlist is there are a few songs with great choruses to sprint to (the best are Shattered by O.A.R. and In the Meantime by Spacehog).
I love having music to listen to while I run because I feel like I am such a heavy breather and when I can hear myself breathing I get distracted much easier! My go to playlist right now has songs like: Sweet But Pyscho - Ava Max, Ophelia - Lumineers, Hustle - Pink, Run The World - Beyoncé, Happier - Marshmello & Bastille, ect. I always start out my races though with Black Betty - Ram Jam followed by Thunderstruck - ACDC!!
I run to all kinds of music . . . Sometimes it's the beat . . Sometimes it's the words that keep me going. By far my MOST FAVORITE song is "this land is your land" - any version!! Hearing those words as I run this beautiful country puts pep in my step, a happy tear in my eye and a smile on my face EVERY time!!
I do not always listen to music as I like to practice mindfulness and listen to what my body is saying about how it feels on that particular run. And listening to other thoughts as well as dodging raccoon and deer. (I literally almost stepped on a raccoon this morning who was scurrying across my path on my suburban street) But, when I do, I listen to Jewish praise and worship music. Only the upbeat songs. I have a playlist for each set of miles I might run.
However, every run starts off with Extreme Ways by Moby. It is the ending theme song to Bourne Ultimatum. It gets the blood flowing. There is another I like to end with which is called We Will Run. (P&W song) It is a good way to kick it in at the end.
To me, my efforts at being healthy are a way to worship G-d and so I like to set the tone for how I do that. Romans 12 says to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to G-d and that is why I consider it worship. I know it may not be everyone’s cup of tea but it helps me a lot.
I actually listen to books when I’m on training runs or just running. When I’m in a race I don’t listen to anything but occasionally then I listen to music!!
I would listen to music all the time. I love music with a passion! But recently I’ve started running without tunes and I prefer running that way now. Helps keep me more focused, plus, for me at least, less distractions. But when I did run with music my go to was either Rush, Foo Fighters, Biffy Clyro. And probably one of the best songs for running, Iron Maiden’s “The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner” 😂
I recently built a playlist with all upbeat sponges that contain the word run. But my favorite is Running on Empty by Jackson Browne. Makes me feel like Forest Gump running across the US. My wife thinks I’m nuts 🤪
I like a pretty wide variety, but a few of my favorites to run to are Florence and the Machine’s Dog Days are Over...she tells you to run fast over and over, The Distance by Cake, and The General by Dispatch.
Anything, Nothing depends on my mood. I love anthems rock, theatrical, gospel whatever. I also love listening to the universe especially on early morning runs it’s like witnessing the earth coming to life and in my head I sing morning has broken...
I run about 50/50with or without music. When I run early in the morning, I like to pay attention in case one of our local bear families decides to cross my path, or better yet the mountain lion! When I do listen to music it’s a mix but I do like listening to 80s new wave. One thing I’ll never listen to is James Taylor! My last half I somehow his repeat on his song “sweet baby Jane”....six repeats later I had to turn the damn thing off!
I never listen to music when I run. I do some decision making when I run, or just relax and clear my head. But if I had to choose a song it would be Devil Inside by INXS!
I like to calibrate the music, slow at the beginning, and building to the end. It helps with motivation. Remarkably, Viking metal fits the bill. Amon Amarth is a good place to start.
None when I'm out on the trails but I have an eclectic music selection for training. My favorite is Running Down a Dream and Learning to Fly by Tom Petty.
I listen to books when I run. Laugh when I get to a part that is a little racy. Not sure if my tempo picks up at that point in the novel though. Nothing very deep like War and Peace, nut sometimes my run is longer so that I can finish a section.
If I'm not on a leisurely-paced run listening to a podcast, I have to listen to techno or house music because the BPMs are so fast-paced it's impossible to run slowly! I also crack myself up by picturing my old 49-yr old self actually dancing to this music at a nightclub.
I was 8 when The Beatles first appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show. 55 years later, they're still my favorite band. I listen to a lot of their music when I run, along with classic rock, 60's & 70's pop, Motown and lots of other genres. I like to mix it up. Helps keep the runs interesting.
I love music on a long run. Intermittently! Especially if it is on race day. The energy of local bands, HS jazz bands, DJ's, etc. cheering you on is magical. I finally had to get over the embarrassment of needing hearing aids and now run with them. Fantastic. They allow me to feel the music, be aware of my surroundings, carry on a conversation with a friend on the trail, pause for a mile or three of silence, and take a phone call. I have a playlist that will let me run 40+ miles without ever hearing the same music twice (http://www.run4liferun4love.com/2018/10/chicago-playlist.html)--so it never gets old!
I hardly ever listen to music when I run but I love all sorts of music at races. At the San Antonio race last year they had numerous mariachi bands in addition to pop, rock and country bands and I loved them all.
i don't listen to music when i run, but i love hearing music at races when i run! my favs: runnin' up that hill (kate bush, an oldie but goodie), runnin' down a dream (petty) and break my stride (matthew wilder), which i once heard a steel drum do at a half marathon!
I always start with Fitz and the Tantrums....then I make the playlist that is the time I want to finish my race in, with the last song being the 10 minute version of Free Bird, once that starts I know whether or not I am going to make my time.
I may have to change a few of my playlists! I usually starts running to The Roots and during the run will switch to Peter gabriel and genesis so I finish, while singing to earth, wind, and fire close to the finish. Music with beats to motivate and get me through the run.
I love all kinds of music. When I'm running the bpm is most important to me. It helps me set and keep my pace. I use an app that leverages my Apple Music and curates running playlists based on bpm.
My training runs are without music and include chatting it up with my running partner, but on race day we listen to an eclectic collection we've compiled together over the past four years. You can check out our Sue'personic playlist on Spotify.
At the risk of sounding oh-so-pure, when I'm outdoors, my favorite soundtrack is a combo of rustling leaves, random animals and the sound of my feet and my breath. On a treadmill: Where is the Love (Black Eyed Peas); Float On (Modest Mouse); I Left My Wallet in El Segundo (A Tribe Called Quest; Thrift Shop (Macklemore)...that kind of thing. And sometimes the Beastie Boys. :)
Definitely a fan of 80s rock, but there are a couple of slow songs in there that have a special meaning and motivate me to run as well.
Honorable mentions:
runaway - bon jovi
Eye of the tiger - survivor
Kickstart my heart - mötley crüe
Bonnie Tyler - holding out for a hero - my playlist was on shuffle and started with this song on my first half marathon.. special memories.
Oddly enough...sexy and I know it by lmfao.... never thought I would say this song. But it actually kicked me out of a funk and initiated the idea of running my first half...lol..
Friday Open Thread: Your favorite running music
Jessica by the Allman Brothers, Arc of a Diver by Steve Winwood, More, Simple or Weekapugh Groove by Phish are my go to songs, especially because they are all on the longer side, 6+ minutes.
I ran Big Sur and had a problem with my Spotify downloads, all I had available was the Housemartins only two albums. I listened to them over and over the entire race.. and it was awesome!
I love these posts as I am always looking for more songs to run with. Springsteen is always a favorite for me. A couple of my favorites have been One Way Out by the Allman Brothers - I listened to it on my first race. Another is Livin' on a Prayer by Bon Jovi and I time the refrain ("we're half-way there") for the mid-point of my half-marathons. And I like Ray Charles' Hit the Road, Jack and Carl Perkins' Boppin' the Blues. I think I could use some newer sounds.....
I hope to run my first marathon this coming year. I am late to running marathons (going on 65) and run sl-o-w, so any suggestions for motivating songs would be greatly appreciated.
I prefer no music. I tried but I just can’t do it, annoys me for some reason.
I like my music hard, loud, and a little pissed off 😉 My go to for running is Five Finger Death Punch, Godsmack, Marylin Manson(by the way Beautiful People is a perfect 4 MPH cadence) and the like. It just gets me going!!!!
I usually listen to podcasts while running because music makes me speed up too much. It also keeps me thinking about something other than my run, which is good for me. However... when I'm racing I want that speed and so I have various pumped up playlists depending on my race distance: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/5k-power-mix/pl.a263c955c3a748f2893bcd9ed647c6ab
I'm a total dork, so I start every race with "Good Time" by Carly Rae Jepsen and Owl City.
AC/DC, Led Zepplin, Poison, Motely Crue, Disturbed, Evanessence, - basically really great music!
I'm running a 14 mile race tomorrow and I had a BLAST building my playlist. I love having music to help me find my rhythm. This playlist is awfully eclectic with everything from New Kids on the Block to Snoop Dogg to Guns and Roses to Gavin Degraw. It's all about upbeat songs to keep me motivated. And one of the things I loved about training with this playlist is there are a few songs with great choruses to sprint to (the best are Shattered by O.A.R. and In the Meantime by Spacehog).
I love having music to listen to while I run because I feel like I am such a heavy breather and when I can hear myself breathing I get distracted much easier! My go to playlist right now has songs like: Sweet But Pyscho - Ava Max, Ophelia - Lumineers, Hustle - Pink, Run The World - Beyoncé, Happier - Marshmello & Bastille, ect. I always start out my races though with Black Betty - Ram Jam followed by Thunderstruck - ACDC!!
I run to all kinds of music . . . Sometimes it's the beat . . Sometimes it's the words that keep me going. By far my MOST FAVORITE song is "this land is your land" - any version!! Hearing those words as I run this beautiful country puts pep in my step, a happy tear in my eye and a smile on my face EVERY time!!
I do not always listen to music as I like to practice mindfulness and listen to what my body is saying about how it feels on that particular run. And listening to other thoughts as well as dodging raccoon and deer. (I literally almost stepped on a raccoon this morning who was scurrying across my path on my suburban street) But, when I do, I listen to Jewish praise and worship music. Only the upbeat songs. I have a playlist for each set of miles I might run.
However, every run starts off with Extreme Ways by Moby. It is the ending theme song to Bourne Ultimatum. It gets the blood flowing. There is another I like to end with which is called We Will Run. (P&W song) It is a good way to kick it in at the end.
To me, my efforts at being healthy are a way to worship G-d and so I like to set the tone for how I do that. Romans 12 says to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to G-d and that is why I consider it worship. I know it may not be everyone’s cup of tea but it helps me a lot.
Lose Yourself, Eminem...obviously...In the Long Run, Eagles...also obviously
Van Halen, “Dreams”, is my favorite. Otherwise, anything upbeat with strong percussions.
I listen to anything from soul, classic rock to pop remixes and EDM to keep me going. I use Amazon Music playlists and they've been pretty good.
no music evah! just listening to the soundtrack of life! plus, it's safer, my POV
John Parr - St. Elmo's Fire; 3 Doors Down - Kryptonite
I actually listen to books when I’m on training runs or just running. When I’m in a race I don’t listen to anything but occasionally then I listen to music!!
I would listen to music all the time. I love music with a passion! But recently I’ve started running without tunes and I prefer running that way now. Helps keep me more focused, plus, for me at least, less distractions. But when I did run with music my go to was either Rush, Foo Fighters, Biffy Clyro. And probably one of the best songs for running, Iron Maiden’s “The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner” 😂
I have three children so time is always limited. I choose to listen to audio books for that multi tasking approach, run/ read ta da.
I’m loving Pink’s Just Like Fire right now! I just made a playlist based on building and then tapering bpm’s. I need to add more to make it long enough, but right now it’s good for about 4 miles! https://open.spotify.com/user/1225806242/playlist/4YlBXAkoSfirDGfMN7eU0Y?si=qyBJc_tiRTmJrVQ4-iULSA
Terry Reed or Bonnie Prince Billy. My brain needs something to chew on.
I recently built a playlist with all upbeat sponges that contain the word run. But my favorite is Running on Empty by Jackson Browne. Makes me feel like Forest Gump running across the US. My wife thinks I’m nuts 🤪
I like a pretty wide variety, but a few of my favorites to run to are Florence and the Machine’s Dog Days are Over...she tells you to run fast over and over, The Distance by Cake, and The General by Dispatch.
Anything, Nothing depends on my mood. I love anthems rock, theatrical, gospel whatever. I also love listening to the universe especially on early morning runs it’s like witnessing the earth coming to life and in my head I sing morning has broken...
I run about 50/50with or without music. When I run early in the morning, I like to pay attention in case one of our local bear families decides to cross my path, or better yet the mountain lion! When I do listen to music it’s a mix but I do like listening to 80s new wave. One thing I’ll never listen to is James Taylor! My last half I somehow his repeat on his song “sweet baby Jane”....six repeats later I had to turn the damn thing off!
1) The Core - Eric Clapton
2) Stranglehold -Ted Nugent
3) Rosalita - Springstein
4) Ready to Run - Dixie Chicks
5) Wanted Dead or Alive - Bon Jovi
I never listen to music when I run. I do some decision making when I run, or just relax and clear my head. But if I had to choose a song it would be Devil Inside by INXS!
I listen to movie soundtrack music. My current favorite is Avengers: Infinity War
“The Great Escape” by Woodkid
heavy metal
I like varieties of music from the 70s to present rock, alternative, salsa, punk, new wave and even Frank Sinatra for those long miles.
I like to calibrate the music, slow at the beginning, and building to the end. It helps with motivation. Remarkably, Viking metal fits the bill. Amon Amarth is a good place to start.
Billy Idol. “Dancing with myself”
None when I'm out on the trails but I have an eclectic music selection for training. My favorite is Running Down a Dream and Learning to Fly by Tom Petty.
I listen to books when I run. Laugh when I get to a part that is a little racy. Not sure if my tempo picks up at that point in the novel though. Nothing very deep like War and Peace, nut sometimes my run is longer so that I can finish a section.
If I'm not on a leisurely-paced run listening to a podcast, I have to listen to techno or house music because the BPMs are so fast-paced it's impossible to run slowly! I also crack myself up by picturing my old 49-yr old self actually dancing to this music at a nightclub.
I was 8 when The Beatles first appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show. 55 years later, they're still my favorite band. I listen to a lot of their music when I run, along with classic rock, 60's & 70's pop, Motown and lots of other genres. I like to mix it up. Helps keep the runs interesting.
I'm Your Captain/ Closer to my home. By Grand Funk Railroad. Works best on out and back course after turn around
I love music on a long run. Intermittently! Especially if it is on race day. The energy of local bands, HS jazz bands, DJ's, etc. cheering you on is magical. I finally had to get over the embarrassment of needing hearing aids and now run with them. Fantastic. They allow me to feel the music, be aware of my surroundings, carry on a conversation with a friend on the trail, pause for a mile or three of silence, and take a phone call. I have a playlist that will let me run 40+ miles without ever hearing the same music twice (http://www.run4liferun4love.com/2018/10/chicago-playlist.html)--so it never gets old!
I'm a little older so I listen to 70's rock once in a while. As most triathlons do not allow music, I do most of my training without it.
Anything by Queen or Bowie
I hardly ever listen to music when I run but I love all sorts of music at races. At the San Antonio race last year they had numerous mariachi bands in addition to pop, rock and country bands and I loved them all.
i don't listen to music when i run, but i love hearing music at races when i run! my favs: runnin' up that hill (kate bush, an oldie but goodie), runnin' down a dream (petty) and break my stride (matthew wilder), which i once heard a steel drum do at a half marathon!
I always start with Fitz and the Tantrums....then I make the playlist that is the time I want to finish my race in, with the last song being the 10 minute version of Free Bird, once that starts I know whether or not I am going to make my time.
I may have to change a few of my playlists! I usually starts running to The Roots and during the run will switch to Peter gabriel and genesis so I finish, while singing to earth, wind, and fire close to the finish. Music with beats to motivate and get me through the run.
Don’t forget Talking Heads, Burnin’ Down the House! I love all these suggestions, time to update!!
I love all kinds of music. When I'm running the bpm is most important to me. It helps me set and keep my pace. I use an app that leverages my Apple Music and curates running playlists based on bpm.
My training runs are without music and include chatting it up with my running partner, but on race day we listen to an eclectic collection we've compiled together over the past four years. You can check out our Sue'personic playlist on Spotify.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7ujHwBbU4dSLvRTlmerYj5
At the risk of sounding oh-so-pure, when I'm outdoors, my favorite soundtrack is a combo of rustling leaves, random animals and the sound of my feet and my breath. On a treadmill: Where is the Love (Black Eyed Peas); Float On (Modest Mouse); I Left My Wallet in El Segundo (A Tribe Called Quest; Thrift Shop (Macklemore)...that kind of thing. And sometimes the Beastie Boys. :)
Definitely a fan of 80s rock, but there are a couple of slow songs in there that have a special meaning and motivate me to run as well.
Honorable mentions:
runaway - bon jovi
Eye of the tiger - survivor
Kickstart my heart - mötley crüe
Bonnie Tyler - holding out for a hero - my playlist was on shuffle and started with this song on my first half marathon.. special memories.
Oddly enough...sexy and I know it by lmfao.... never thought I would say this song. But it actually kicked me out of a funk and initiated the idea of running my first half...lol..
I have to admit I almost always listen to Afro Jack when running. Such great energetic music.