by 
Whether you’re running outside or just hitting the treadmill, good music can often make the difference between a rave run and a blown goal. That’s why we’re putting together 90-minute playlists each month chock-full of songs with enough of a beat to keep you moving. For even more tunes, check out our list of the best running songs.
Whether you loved 2022 or couldn’t wait for it to end, it’s officially over. Strava clocked your total miles for the year, your run streaks are resetting, and it might be time for a new pair of running shoes (if you didn’t get a set for Christmas). Last year will forever be remembered as the year of The Slap™, the final days of Queen Elizabeth’s reign, the Marilyn Monroe dress, and the mystery of whether or not Harry Styles actually spit on Chris Pine. In the world of running, 2022 delivered a Kenyan sweep of the World Marathon Majors on the men’s side and a 4/2 split between the Kenyans and Ethopians on the women’s, and the post-COVID return of the Boston Marathon to its rightful spring slot. But that’s all behind us now!
We can’t be living in the past. Here is 2023—and we’ve got 365 brand new days coming for us. A whole year to try new running routes, buy new running gadgets, and obsess over new pre-race diet plans. The new year is full of opportunity, with plenty of 5Ks, 10Ks, marathons, and half marathons to sign up for. If you’re new to running, 2023 provides an opportunity to dive into the running world. If you’re an old pro, the new year gives you a chance to pause and refocus on the things you love best about the sport.
And while 2023 is a whole new year, not everything has to change! Runner’s World is here with you every step of the way. We’ll be following the pros, trying out new equipment, and of course delivering you a steady stream of running playlists. And since January provides us all with a fresh start, I thought what better way to begin the new year than with a playlist dedicated to all things new. This collection of hits is all about setting out on new journeys, turning over new leaves, and becoming the best version of yourself. So why not pop your headphones in and go for a run, the first of many in 2023!
Matthew Huff is a freelance writer and runner, and he is the author of MARATHONER: What to Expect When Training for and Running a Marathon, published by Rizzoli Publications. His writing has appeared in Runner's World and BuzzFeed among others, and he is the cohost of “P.S. You’re Wrong: A Pop Culture Podcast.” Originally from Michigan, he now lives and runs in New York City, where he is pursuing a career as an expert chicken tender taster.
