Whether you’re starting to run for the first time, of the best hill training workouts for runners marathon training or simply bored of hearing the sound of your own running footsteps, you might need the help of some banging tunes to get you out the door.
Thankfully, you’ve arrived at the right place. Here, we’ve curated a list of the best running songs to boost your energy and enthusiasm, especially at those times when you need to run further or faster. This playlist is stocked with 35 songs across a range of genres – from pop, to hip-hop, to rock – to ensure that every runner can find some favourites to put on repeat.
So, next time you hit the roads, the trails, the track or the treadmill, Five-minute activities that bring maximum results Runner’s World mix, turn up your headphones starting to run for the first time.
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35 best running songs
1. ‘Eye of the Tiger’ – Survivor
Do I need a reason for this one? This is usually what I play on the morning of a marathon. It’s time to get your game face on.
Jess Movold, Runner’s World + Coach
2. ‘Legend Has It’ – Run the Jewels
This swaggy rap cut features emcees Killer Mike and El-P on a braggadocious journey through their successes. I’ve done many tempo runs to this track and, I have to say, the duo’s confidence is infectious – those tempos were some of the best that I’ve ever run. I’m sure that the powerful, pumping beat didn’t hurt my chances, either – hence why I think that it’s one of the best running songs out there.
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3. ‘The Final Count Down’ – Europe
Another song that doesn’t need an explanation, it’s an oldie but goodie. This type of classic will make you appreciate getting to the end of your run or motivate you to get there.
The best running songs to help you rack up the miles
4. ‘Into the Unknown’ – Panic! At The Disco
This may seem like an odd choice, but believe me, this is the perfect running song. From the start, the beat will match your footsteps and every time Brandon Urie sings those title words, ‘into the unknown’, with added verses from Lil Wayne, 50 Cent, Yo Gotti and Kanye West for an extra shot of motivation ‘woo’ Being a fat runner.
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5. ‘Little Black Submarines’ – The Black Keys
If you’re a deep thought type of runner who likes their music to be moody, add ‘Little Black Submarines’ (LBS) to your playlist. LBS starts with the calm, melodic sounds of an acoustic guitar, then unexpectedly – but somehow perfectly – progresses into the satisfyingly loud twangs of an electric guitar that make you want to run at a quick tempo. It gets you in your own space and is perfect for a track workout.
Jennifer Acker, Health and Fitness Editor
6. ‘Sunday Candy’ – Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment
I like to use this song as a chance to take a breather. Although it’s more of a jogging song, it still offers up good vibes that are perfect for any runner.
You’ll thank me later
7. ‘Seven Nation Army’ – The White Stripes
Every good running playlist eases you in before shocking you with pure energy. ‘Seven Nation Army’ does just that. Percussionist Meg White’s thumping bass drum brings your stride to life, while frontman Jack White’s whispering vocals in the first verse guide you through those first stiff steps. Then, all of a sudden, a booming chorus explodes from the quiet to remind you that it’s time to get moving.
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8. ‘Calm Down’ – Rema
This is another banger that, as Rema says in the song’s intro, will help you to slow things down a bit. Don’t run too slowly, though, as you might find yourself stopping for a dance break.
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9. ‘Anklebiters’ – Paramore
This song has a good beat and it’s edgy. It helps make me to feel powerful when I’m out on the run.
You’ll thank me later
10. ‘X’ – Kendrick Lamar Ft. Schoolboy Q, 2 Chainz and Saudi
Are you on 10 yet? If not, this song will definitely push you to get there. Although the beat isn’t super fast, this collaboration of rappers will definitely motivate you to finish your run feeling strong.
The best running songs to help you rack up the miles
11. ‘Safaera’ – Bad Bunny
I like to reserve ‘Safaera’ for the very end of a run. Although it’s five minutes long, this song sounds like a new one every couple minutes, so it keeps you interested and energised during those last few moments of a run when you might feel like you want to give up. Also, it’s a truly fun song.
Savannah Jacobson, Senior Features Editor
12. ‘Remind Me to Forget’ – Kygo and Miguel
I’ve had this song on every long run, half marathon and marathon playlist since its release back in 2017 – and it never fails to pump me up. The background beat provides the perfect rhythm with which to sync your steps and the combination of Miguel’s smooth vocals and Kygo’s lively mix offers a calming, upbeat energy that makes the miles feel breezy.
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13. ‘Temperature’ – Sean Paul
I like songs with a strong beat so that I can match my steps to the metre. Since this song has some timing skips and changes, I’m kept engaged and often have to reset my steps to keep on the downbeat. I like that challenge as I’m moving.
Donna Raskin, Senior Health and Fitness Editor
14. ‘Kill v. Maim’ – Grimes
A good running song stays on your playlist for a few years before it eventually starts to get the inevitable ‘skip’ to the next song. A great running song goes onto your playlist the moment you first discover it – and you have it ready whenever you need it for some motivation. That’s my story with ‘Kill v. Maim’. After hearing the artist discuss the genesis of this banger on the Song Exploder podcast in 2016, I knew that it would be a mainstay on any running playlist of mine – ‘I just wanted to make the song that would play during the trailer of this fictional movie in my mind,’ said Grimes. The song truly does transport your mind to somewhere magical, like you’re entering a video game or film and it’s your sole duty to keep running.
Brian Dalek, Director of Content Operations
15. ‘Paper Planes’ – M.I.A.
It’s impossible to not feel cool while listening to ‘Paper Planes’, which is why it’s one of the best running songs. The bouncy beat throughout the song – a sample of The Clash’s ‘Straight to Hell’ – is guaranteed to put a spring in your step. You might’ve even heard it on the soundtrack of 2008’s Slumdog Millionaire, or in Pineapple Express. Check out the remix on YouTube with added verses from Lil Wayne, 50 Cent, Yo Gotti and Kanye West for an extra shot of motivation.
Pavlína Černá, Senior Newsletters Editor
16. ‘Wake Up’ – Arcade Fire
When I’m feeling nostalgic, ‘Wake Up’ is one of the best running songs to play. I’m generally a slow starter on my runs, so songs that build and gather momentum are perfect for kicking things off. This classic from Arcade Fire builds with slow, melancholic chords before finishing in a crescendo of voices and sounds. The shift in tempo in the final minute of the song never fails to boost my pace.
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17. ‘Survivin’’ – Bastille
I love starting workouts with this quintessentially British poppy song. The gentle rhythmic drum beats, soothing saxophone and cool, calming voice from lead vocalist Dan Smith are great. The lyrics and chorus are simple – ‘I’m survivin’’ – at the end will have you pumping your fist for a job well done.
Jennifer Acker, Health and Fitness Editor
18. ‘Wild for the Night’ – A$AP Rocky
Sometimes, you just need a good song to turn up.
Jess Movold, Runner’s World+ Coach
19. ‘Phantom Heart’ – Leathers
I don’t know what it is about this song, but I’ve been stuck on it all year. Even though it was released in 2021, it feels nostalgic and it’s just good to listen to. It has an 80’s undertone and dance club overtone. Shannon Hemmett has an ethereal voice that I sing along with when I’m driving – alone – in my car. On a run, you might see the slightest head bob, jaunt in my step or shoulder roll, because I’m caught up in this earworm’s pulsing beat.
Jess Movold, Runner’s World+ Coach
20. ‘Let It Happen’ – Tame Impala
Some of the best running songs have a consistent uptempo beat with a drop that makes it all worthwhile. Get sucked in by Tame Impala’s psychedelia before a beat shift around the midway point – a well-earned payoff. Clocking in at just south of eight minutes in length, you can take a nice chunk out of your run by jamming to this one.
Dan Beck, Deputy Editor, News
21. ‘Without You’ – Avicii feat. Sandro Cavazza
David White, SEO Manager any run. On days when my feet seem to move almost effortlessly, I let the upbeat melody with its unstoppable energy help me to find my euphoric groove and just go. On the opposite end of the scale, when all I want is to get the run over with, I focus on the lyrics and shout (internally, because these struggle runs also take my breath away) alongside Avicii that I’m not only ‘gonna tear this city down’, but also ‘going Bonnie and Clyde without you’. For any run in between, it’s just a great track. A must have!
Pavlína Černá, Senior Newsletters Editor
22. ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ – Nirvana
Doesn’t this song make you want of the best wireless headphones for runners? As a Xennial, this was my go-to before any race in high school or college. It’s 90’s alternative, grunge and punk rock all in one, but with that stylistic hyper-enraged blend of lyrics and beat that Nirvana is known for. It turns off your mind and lets you focus on killing hills.
Jennifer Acker, Health and Fitness Editor
23. ‘Believe’ – Mumford & Sons
On those runs when I’m feeling serious and in my feelings, I need Mumford & Sons. This band knows how to do it!
Jess Movold, Runner’s World+ Coach
24. ‘Baby’ – Justin Bieber feat. Ludacris
Step back a decade to 2010, when the Biebs first hit your earbuds and brought an insanely catchy beat that leaves you dancing and singing along to his prepubescent voice. It’s impossible to hit play and not smile, belt out the lyrics, rap Luda’s verse or add a little pep to your step that helps you to hit those splits.
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25. ‘Feeling Myself’ – Nicki Minaj feat. Beyoncé
This powerful collaboration between Nicki Minaj and Beyoncé is all about self love and empowerment, which is why it’s the perfect song to run to. I almost guarantee that this dynamic duo will motivate you to run stronger and prouder while listening. No matter the distance you’re running, it will make a great addition to your playlist.
The best running songs to help you rack up the miles
26. ‘Raise You Up’ – Billy Porter
This song, like many of those on my playlist, is spiritually uplifting, which helps as much as the backbeat to keep me moving. I’m a run/walker and do lots of tempo variations during my workouts – and I like to sing along to my music. This song is perfect for any mood and any pace.
Donna Raskin, Senior Health and Fitness Editor
27. ‘Bulls on Parade’ – Rage Against the Machine
This ’90s classic is a staple of my personal running playlist and is necessary for any rock fan. Like a spin instructor turned up to 11, vocalist Zach De La Rocha spits fire to heat me up. Not to be outdone by the frontman, drummer Brad Wilk and bassist Tim Commerford thunder rhythm into my tired legs during my final miles. Tom Morello’s guitar solo also has me bopping my head mid-stride (which earns a couple of double-takes from others on the trails).
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28. ‘B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad)’ – Outkast
‘B.O.B.’ gets you going from the offset at more than 150 beats per minute. While there are many great hits from Outkast’s archive, such as ‘Hey Ya!’ and ‘So Fresh, So Clean’, many music publications like Pitchfork thought that this was Outkast’s greatest song. Pair it with a harder tempo section – or use it to get through that final 800m – repeat and we don’t think that you’ll be disappointed.
Brian Dalek, Director of Content Operations
29. ‘Home’ – Caribou
On ‘Home’, Dan Snaith, better known under the moniker Caribou, samples the 1971 Gloria Barnes track of the same name and turns it into a song ready for the dance floor – or in this case, the running trails. It combines a classic soul hook with a steady beat and thumping drums. Play it near the end of a run around your local area to celebrate the fact that you’re, well, coming home!
Dan Beck, Deputy Editor, News
30. ‘The House That Heaven Built’ – Japandroids
The Canadian rock duo Japandroids probably didn’t intend for their generational anthem to end up on a running playlist. However, I’ve used this powerful, sweat-soaked, pound-your-chest-and-pump-your-fist barnburner to provide a final push so often over the last decade that its inclusion here is a no-brainer. Catch me shouting that classic chorus – ‘And if they try to slow you down, tell them all to go to hell!’ – as I approach every finish line.
Andrew Daniels, Director of News
31. ‘Yes (Symmetry Remix)’ – Chromatics
Listening to anything from the Chromatics makes you feel like you’re in a movie. This song is literally taken from Lost River, which is an average film directed by Ryan Gosling. The composer, Johnny Jewel, also scored Drive, which is a better film that Gosling starred in. Riverdale fans may have heard ‘Yes’ play during an earlier season when Jughead hopped onto his motorcycle. My point is, if you want your run to be cinematic, play this.
Jess Movold, Runner’s World+ Coach
32. ‘Holding Out for a Hero’ – Bonnie Tyler
When I joined my first run group in New York City, there was a girl on my team who swore by this song, calling it her ‘power’ song. Something about her obsession with this song carried over to me. Every time I hear it, I get fired up. A few years ago, I ran into her during the New York City Marathon (literally) and we both sang this song together for a few steps. Play it when you’re climbing a hill. You’ll thank me later!
Jess Movold, Runner’s World+ Coach
33. ‘Sometimes’ – Goth Babe
This isn’t a song that’s going to make you want to run through a brick wall. In fact, quite the opposite. The warm synths of ‘Sometimes’ radiate positive energy, putting a calming smile on your face when you need it in the later stages of a long run. Save it for the spot in your playlist when you need a break from all-gas-no-brakes songs, but still want to keep your momentum.
Theo Kahler, News Editor
34. ‘Sinnerman’ – Nina Simone
There is nobody I love more than Nina Simone – her emotional and political journey inspires me. The 10-minute version of this song keeps me moving and reminds me that I am stronger than I believe.
Donna Raskin, Senior Health and Fitness Editor
35. ‘Champion’ – Kanye West
This song makes me feel good – and it’s a fun one to sing when you pass someone.
Jess Movold, Runner’s World+ Coach
