Best Runnign Songs - Florence
Image: Time Out/Anthony Mooney/Shutterstock
Image: Time Out/Anthony Mooney/Shutterstock

The best running songs for long runs, motivation, recovery and sprints

Your ultimate guide to the best running songs, from classic motivational anthems to upbeat modern hits.

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Whether you’re a beginner looking to start a new fitness routine or a long-time runner pushing for a new personal best, music has the power to motivate you to reach your goals. This list of the best running songs can aid endurance on those more challenging running routes, pick up the pace during those moments when your body needs a consistent rhythm, and improve motivation when you’re aiming for a better run time or distance.

Which songs are the best to run to?

Below we’ve included tracks that span genres but all have that special formula to keep you running – even in those moments where going the extra mile seems impossible. We’ve included the BPM (beats per minute) for each of the running tracks, so you can create a playlist that keeps a consistent pace, or even plan moments where you know you would like those extra bursts of energy and motivation.

Which songs are best for long distances, recovery, uphill or sprints?

We’ve separated them out into the best songs for certain types of run, to help you plan for the route or level you are aiming for. For those who like long runs or are training for a marathon, we have steady rhythmic tracks to keep pace and sustain your energy. If you are looking at doing interval training or speed work, we have listed upbeat, high-tempo songs that match the intensity of faster intervals.

If you know your route includes hills and uneven terrain, then take a look at our recommended motivational, powerful running songs that help you push through inclines. For those of you either starting out or getting back into a routine, it’s important to start slow to avoid injury to your body. Our recovery run selection of songs include slower, more relaxed tracks to promote a comfortable pace.

How do I create the perfect playlist for running?

With songs by Britney Spears or Bruce Springsteen, to Doechii or David Bowie, there’s a broad range of tracks below to suit all tastes – but we suggest mixing genres and lyrical styles to keep your running playlist feeling vibrant, engaging and hitting the right notes to release those endorphins. Align it to your running route and optimise it for your mood and you will be set up with the perfect playlist.

Extra tips when listening to music while running: make sure you have in-ear headphones that feel secure and won't come loose. It's also important in busy, metropolitan areas to ensure the volume is at a reasonable level and that you are aware of your surroundings.

Jump to:

The best running songs for long runs • The best running songs for speed work/intervals • The best running songs for hill workouts • The best running songs for recovery runs

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The best running songs for long runs

‘Release Me’ by Agnes

Genre: Dance-Pop

BPM: 128

This song is in the top 20 on my Spotify Wrapped every year, and I tell people it’s because I run to it: I don’t, but it makes me feel like I could. There’s something about the vibrant, disco-infused backtrack, the punchy pace and the harmonies which soar into a ridiculously motivating crescendo which makes this a mega exercise song, whether you’re running, crunching, or lifting. Tackling a steep incline in your half marathon training? Stick this one on and you’ll fly to the top.

Liv Kelly
Liv Kelly
Writer, Time Out Travel

‘212’ by Azealia Banks

Genre: Dance/Electronic/Hip-Hop/Rap

BPM: 126

Banks' 2011 track has a good beat, for sure, but it's her rapping style that drives the song—and us while we're running to it. There's an undeniable attitude in the music, the artist and her practically lazy, swear-laced threats that makes us want to get up in someone's face and fight—even if in reality we're just pounding the pavement.

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‘Go’ by The Chemical Brothers

Genre: Dance/Electronic

BPM: 120

It’s very easy to find yourself hypnotised by the strumming bass guitar and deliciously 80s synths on this 2015 track by British electronic maestros The Chemical Brothers. The fact it featured on the popular video game Need For Speed says all you need to know about its ability to get your adrenaline amped up for a fast paced run. There’s even an apt “no time to rest, just do your best” refrain on the chorus for that additional motivational pick up. You’ll be leaving your previous personal best time in the dust.

Lewis Corner
Lewis Corner
Head of Website Content Strategy

‘Pump It Up’ by Elvis Costello

Genre: Pop/Rock

BPM: 139

Costello’s 1978 single may seem a bit subdued (especially given its refrain), but the beat is so perfect for a steady running pace that we could literally do miles with it on repeat. It's poppy enough to keep us light on our feet, and gets a bolstered chorus and set of chords just when we're getting lazy. It also happens to be about releasing sexual frustration, which running is great for (though admittedly not as great as, er, pumping it).

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‘Brutal’ by Olivia Rodrigo

Genre: Pop/Rock

BPM: 124

Wanna keep that Elvis Costello rhythm going but don’t want to listen to ‘Pump It Up’ on repeat? This interpolation by current pop queen heir apparent Olivia Rodrigo will do the trick. It’s basically the same song, reimagined with a fresh sheen of teenage angst. And lest you cry ripoff, Costello’s pretty cool with the homage, both giving Rodrigo the thumbs up and copping to his own history of cribbing from older songs and building upon them.

Andy Kryza
Andy Kryza
Contributor

‘Lust For Life’ by Iggy Pop

Genre: Rock/Punk-Rock

BPM: 104

The slam-bang drums on this Bowie-produced Iggy Pop classic provide the heartbeat of a particularly frantic pace, while the chugging guitar hook should keep you chugging along. It’s not surprising that ‘Lust for Life’ was used to score Trainspotting’s iconic montage of lowlives running from the law: With Iggy in your ear, there’s no stopping until those drums fall silent.

Andy Kryza
Andy Kryza
Contributor
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‘The Jean Genie’ by David Bowie

Genre: Alternative/Rock

BPM: 128

Bowie's 1972 single, the A-side to ‘Ziggy Stardust,’ has a chugging R&B riff and a steady beat that's perfect for a long-legged jog. One of the best parts of running is getting lost in your thoughts, the movement, the music—and we can't think of a more fun song to distract ourselves with. In Bowie's own words: let yourself go!

‘Drunk Girls’ by LCD Soundsystem

Genre: Dance-Punk

BPM: 144

Okay, we'll agree that running and dancing are two very distinct ways of moving our bodies. But this 2010 track—and most LCD songs in general—blur the lines and make your run feel like a party. It's easy to keep your feet moving for the fast-paced four minutes, but if you find yourself flagging, pretend those antagonistic panda furries from the music video are after you with spraypaint and eggs.

The best running songs for speed work/intervals

‘Everytime We Touch’ by Cascada

Genre: Dance-Pop

BPM: 142

As soon as the beat drops, this O.G. noughties hit will turn your gentle jog to a thirty-second all out sprint until it subsides again. Try to catch your breath here as it’s going to speed up again after just a few lines. Released by German eurodance trio Cascada in 2006, the song is actually a partial remix of the 1992 track by Maggie Reilly. Your heart is definitely going to beat fast, but no, you probably won’t want it to last.

Camille Bavera
Camille Bavera
Contributor, Time Out London

‘Dog Days Are Over’ by Florence + The Machine

Genre: Indie-Pop

BPM: 150

This 2008 track builds momentum effortlessly, just like a run on a good day. (And speaking of which, the chorus is literally urging you to run, fast.) Florence might annoy the crap out of you, and this song was definitely overplayed for multiple years, but it's nevertheless energetic and uplifting in a way that gives you wings, whether you're running or not.

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‘Ace of Spades’ by Motörhead

Genre: Rock

BPM: 140

When Lemmy fires up that rumbling bass intro—the aural equivalent of exhaust fumes bellowing out of a tailpipe—sitting still ceases to be an option. You've got to move, and while an obnoxious Harley hog might be the most appropriate mode of transportation, your feet will do just fine. So let Phil ‘Philthy Animal’ Taylor's hellhound gallop set the pace, and get off your arse.

‘Let’s Go On The Run’ by Chance the Rapper

Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap

BPM: 165

All of Chancey’s bravado belies the fact that the Chicago rapper is basically a human Labrador excited about everything, including going running. So he wrote the ideal running song. This is basically what would happen if your ultra-friendly track coach was also a world-class rapper.

Andy Kryza
Andy Kryza
Contributor
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‘Bad Moon Rising’ by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Genre: Rock/Folk

BPM: 179

Sometimes during a run, you're just trying to keep a steady pace and a smile on your face. Not every track has to be an angry sprint or a power anthem. CCR's 1969 single has both a steady beat and a laid-back vibe, making it the song you'll turn to when you're trying to remember why the hell you went running in the first place.

‘Paint It, Black’ by The Rolling Stones

Genre: Rock

BPM: 159

People run for exercise, for fun, for fresh air, sure, but sometimes we’re running something down—a bitterness or rage that needs to be expressed and exhausted. The Rolling Stones’ death-obsessed 1966 hit is ideal for that purpose: exercise as exorcism. The song may be most notable for Brian Jones’ groundbreaking sitar line, but drummer Charlie Watts—god rest his soul—gives it a relentless forward motion that bursts with fresh despair at each chorus. If you can’t outrun death, at least you can outpace it for a while.

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‘All My Life’ by Foo Fighters

Genre: Rock

BPM: 168

If you need a little motivation to get you from the point of warming up (i.e. walking fast and fiddling with your iPod) to actually pounding the track, cue up this fiery Foo’s number from 2002. Its starting-block intro rumbles with pent-up energy, before a starter-pistol explosion hurls you into your running zone. Even the most normally tranquil athletes will find themselves singing along to Grohl’s defiant refrain—‘Done! Done! On to the next one!’—and that’s a promise.

‘Wolf Like Me’ by TV On The Radio

Genre: Alternative/Indie

BPM: 176

This 2006 track—the band's most successful single in the U.S.—has a driving beat and propelling lyrics, making it easy to pick up your pace and focus in on the task at hand. Or foot, rather. The song is like a mini-workout in itself, with a slower and more subdued midsection to give your legs a break before picking back up and compelling you to fly through the very last second.

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‘Shoes for Running’ by Big Boi feat. Wavves & B.O.B.

Genre: R&B/Soul/Hip-Hop/Rap

BPM: 168

Indie darlings Wavves provide the weirdly haunting refrain – ‘The end is coming, I would race ya, But there's no running, it'll chase ya, death will hunt you down’ – on this propulsive offering from ATLien Big Boi. The song’s trancelike beat and Sir Lucious Leftfoot’s staccato delivery pair up beautifully for a hypnotic mid-run rhythm setter. Just make sure to keep an eye on your flank…

Andy Kryza
Andy Kryza
Contributor

Best running songs for hill workouts

‘Eye of the Tiger’ by Survivor

Genre: Classic Rock

BPM: 109

Here’s the thing about ‘Eye of the Tiger.’ If you get into running, you’ll probably think about signing up for a race. Maybe a Thanksgiving Turkey Trot or a neighborhood fun run to start, then a 5K or a 10K, or even a half or full marathon. This is where a runner’s intimate relationship with this song begins. It is basically impossible to run a race without hearing it, whether you’re going 3.1 miles or 26.2. We’re not here to claim this song as a modern musical masterpiece, but it’s going to motivate you to keep going whether you like it or not.

‘Work It’ (Soulwax Remix) by Marie Davidson

Genre: Dance/Electronic

BPM: 130

Got a punishing hill climb, tricky middle section or lung-busting sprint finish on the horizon? There’s only one song I whack on when I’m facing an especially challenging part of my run. With its relentless, thumping, almost tribal kick drum beat, this 130bpm banger from Canadian techno producer Marie Davidson is a great track to try and keep pace with when it’s time to really push yourself. And her snarling lyrics about relentless, sweaty work – “I don’t wanna see any fake-ass workers, I need real builders” – are like having an especially demanding personal trainer bellowing in your ear. It’s a thoroughly effective combination.

Rosie Hewitson
Rosie Hewitson
Things to Do Editor, London
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‘Run Like Hell’ by Pink Floyd

Genre: Alternative/Rock

BPM: 117

It’s not just the title that lands this pulsating, breathless and ultimately soaring cut from The Wall on this list. It’s the fact that the song is perfectly calibrated to a runner’s rhythm, with each thump of Roger Waters’ iconic bassline propelling the body forward. Tellingly, the album ends with a total collapse into delirium and madness following ‘Run Like Hell,’ making this one best played near the finish line.

Andy Kryza
Andy Kryza
Contributor

‘Work Bitch’ by Britney Spears

Genre: Pop

BPM: 128

In the arena of running songs with a motivational message, Britney’s got your back just like a guilt-inducing trainer with rippling abs would: by obnoxiously reminding you ‘no pain, no gain.’ Off 2013's Britney Jean, this single has glimmers of early Britney dance tracks plus an obvious EDM sheen. It's kind of an awful song (though by far the best on the album), but who cares? It’ll help you get those miles in, and remind you what you’re working toward: a hot body, a Bugatti… mostly that hot body. Now get to work, bitch.

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‘Lose Yourself’ by Eminem

Genre: Rap/Hip-Hop

BPM: 171

The first rap to win an Oscar for Best Song, this cut from 2002’s 8 Mile soundtrack is a blast of pure nervous aggression. Singing as B-Rabbit, his character in the movie, Eminem captures a rising rapper’s harsh back-and-forth of anxiety and ambition. (Thanks to a trick of the lyric, a big opportunity to ‘blow’ could also just be a chance to blow an opportunity.) Program the song for later in your run; it’s the ideal fuel to propel you beyond what you think your limits are.

‘Such Great Heights’ by The Postal Service

Genre: Alternative/Indie

BPM: 175

Is your pace lagging? Feeling a little drained? Perhaps there's a hill ahead. Don't worry—this much-loved 2003 hit from the Postal Service hits the sweet spot of running cadence. In layman’s terms: let your feet hit the pavement on the beat of this song and you’ll be out of your mid-run funk in no time.

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‘Born to Run’ by Bruce Springsteen

Genre: Rock

BPM: 146

Get into the headspace of Bruce's nameless protagonist: stuck in turnpike traffic with everyone else who's trying to flee the same depressing Jersey town, trying to sweet talk Wendy who's actually probably doing just fine thanks very much. It's about as frazzled and out-of-sorts as the Boss gets, a state of mind that mirrors how you're feeling right before the runner's high kicks in.

Best running songs for recovery runs

‘99 Problems’ by Jay-Z

Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap

BPM: 90

Some people run for fitness. Others run for fun (really). Regardless of what motivates you to lace up, most runners learn pretty quickly that knocking out some miles on foot is a great opportunity to work shit out in your head. Jay Z’s 2003 track just might give you some perspective on life’s obstacles (blisters, runner’s knee, the law in your rear view mirror—you know, the normal stuff). If nothing else, the beat and the hook make the blocks pass by quickly.

‘DENIAL IS A RIVER’ by Doechii

Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap

BPM: 93

Let’s be real for a second – sometimes running can be really boring, especially on days when your plan dictates you need to keep the pace slow. My trick? Whacking a bunch of story songs on a playlist. Generally, they’re a bit more downtempo (so my Garmin can’t shout at me for running above pace), and the narratives keep me entertained. 'DENIAL IS A RIVER' is a perfect example: in dialogue with a therapist alter ego, Doechii tells the story of her career over the last five or so years, her emotions spiking as she snarls ‘I ain’t a killer but don’t push me,’ before hyperventilating her way through some breathing exercises.

Olivia Simpson
Olivia Simpson
Translations Editor
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‘No Effort’ by Princess Nokia

Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap

BPM: 106

I am a huge believer in faking it til you make it when running. So, red-faced, wheezy and with many kilometres still to go between me and a nice soak in the bath, I’ll turn to ‘No Effort’ by Princess Nokia. The bouncy beat coupled with the braggadocious refrain “no effort”, which rings throughout the chorus, put some extra pep in my flagging step. By the time she raps “Going everywhere, I’m a track star runner,” I am almost convinced that I am not, in fact, about to die of exercise-induced cardiac arrest.

Olivia Simpson
Olivia Simpson
Translations Editor

‘Go!’ by Santigold feat. Karen O

Genre: Alternative/Indie/Dance/Electronic,

BPM: 99

This, friends, is your sprint song. Philly-based artist Santigold always gets our blood pumping, and in 2011 she collaborated with another, equally badass lady singer, Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Karen O, to create this beat-heavy anthem. It's got swagger, it's got drive, and it's perfect for busting out a quick half-mile (or for furiously running in place—whichever you're in the mood for).

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‘Lightning Bolt’ by Jake Bugg

Genre: Alternative/Indie

BPM: 116

Young Brit Jake Bugg looks like he could be your kid brother. Like he’s almost old enough to taste the glory of a post-run beer—but his first big hit is more associated with Gatorade. It appeared in an ad for the runner’s drink of choice a few years ago, and its driving beat and catchy, scrabbling guitar will easily push you along the road. Short and sweet at under two and a half minutes, it’s a great opportunity for you to pick up the pace a little.

‘Run Run Run’ by The Who

Genre: Alternative

BPM: 120

Just watching Keith Moon drum takes your breath away—it's impossible to imagine sustaining that level of gonzo energy for an entire song, let alone a gig. Slip this opening cut from the Who's 1966 sophomore album, A Quick One, into your running mix and hopefully some of that manic force transfers to your limbs. Bounding along to Moon's splashy racket keeps those knees high, those arms pumping… okay, yes, sometimes we air drum while jogging.

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‘Gasolina’ by Daddy Yankee

Genre: Reggaeton

BPM: 96

Here comes a blast from the past. This absolute banger by Daddy Yankee has been uniting generations on the dancefloor for two decades, and it ain’t just for the club either. Tie up those trainers, because the high-energy beat, pulsating tempo and infectious rhythm will have you speeding through your 5k in no time.

Aarna Raj
Aarna Raj
Contributor, Time Out London

‘Soul Makossa’ by Manu Dibango

Genre: Afrobeat/Soul/Disco

BPM: 115

The late, great Manu Dibango’s six-minute classic meets at the intersection of Afrobeat, disco and soul, with its pulsing rhythm proving the ultimate pace-setter, provided you can keep moving without stopping to groove to the earworm of a saxaphone line. And good luck with that: It’s repeated constantly throughout this certified jam. But hey, dancing is a form of cardio too.

Andy Kryza
Andy Kryza
Contributor
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‘Runnin'’ by Sinkane

Genre: Alternative/Indie/Dance/Electronic

BPM: 67

Sudanese percussionist and Yeasayer, Caribou collaborator Ahmed Gallab jumped out of the solo career starting blocks with this slice of confectionary Afrobeat. "Gotta keep on runnin', runnin'," he sings in a sweet falsetto over funky wah-wah and cassette tape warble. The secret to the best jogging music is that it's interchangeable with great dance music. Nothing Gallab has made in the years since this 2012 debut has matched its irresistibility—but nothing has to. He's earned a place on every running mix.

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