We all love running. But sometimes—especially when you’re knee deep in marathon training—you might need a little extra motivation to lace ’em up and get out the door.
To boost your energy, the Runner’s World staff curated a list of the best running songs. The tracks on this list range across genres—from hip-hop to rock to pop to show tunes—so every runner out there can find the perfect procrastination-buster (and maybe even discover a new favorite).
So, next time you hit the trail, track, road, grass, sidewalk, or treadmill, open up your streaming service of choice, press play on the Runner’s World best running songs mix, and turn up your headphones—this is going to be fun.
30 Best Running Songs
1.“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. 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.
—Chris Hatler, Service & News Editor
2. “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. Time to get your game face on.
— Jess Movold, Runner’s World + Coach
3. “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 to sync your steps and the smooth Miguel’s smooth vocals blended with Kygo’s lively mix offers a calming, upbeat energy that makes the miles feel breezy.
— Mallory Creveling, Deputy Editor, Health & Fitness
4. “Temperature” – Sean Paul
I like songs with a strong beat so I can match my steps to the meter. This song has some timing skips and changes that keep me engaged. I often have to reset my steps to keep on the downbeat, and I like that challenge as I’m moving.
— Donna Raskin, Senior Health & Fitness Editor
5. “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 breakdown the genesis of this banger on the Song Exploder podcast in 2016, I knew it would be a mainstay on any running playlist I owned—“I just wanted to make the song that would play during the trailer of this fictional movie in my mind,” Grimes told the show. 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
6. “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 Pineapple Express. Extra credit: 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.
— Theo Kahler, Membership Editor
7. “Wake Up” – Arcade Fire
When I’m feeling nostalgic, “Wake Up” is one of the best running songs. 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 get my pace up.
— David White, SEO Manager
8. “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’”), but it works. You can just tap away that first mile easily.
— Jennifer Acker, Health & Fitness Editor
9. “Wild for the Night” – A$AP Rocky
Sometimes, you just need a good turn up song.
— Jess Movold, Runner’s World+ Coach
10. “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 ear-worm’s pulsing beat.
—Amanda Furrer, Test Editor
11. “Let It Happen” - Tame Impala
Some of the best running songs have a consistent uptempo beat with a drop that makes it all worth it. 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 jamming out to this one.
—Dan Beck, Deputy Editor
12. “Without You” – Avicii feat. Sandro Cavazza
This song is pure magic because it fits any run. On days when my feet seem to move almost effortlessly, I let the upbeat melody with its unstoppable energy help me 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 I’m also “going Bonnie and Clyde without you.” For any run in between, it’s just a great track. Must have!
— Pavlína Černá, Newsletters Editor
13. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” – Nirvana
Doesn’t this song make you want to do hills? As an 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’s known for. It turns off your mind and lets you focus on killing hills.
— Jennifer Acker, Health & Fitness Editor
14. “Believe” – Mumford & Sons
On those runs where I’m feeling serious and in my feelings, I need Mumford & Sons. They know how to do it!
— Jess Movold, Runner’s World+ Coach
15. “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—or belt out the lyrics, rap Luda’s verse, or add a little pep in your step that helps you hit those splits.
—Mallory Creveling, Deputy Editor, Health & Fitness
16. “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 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.
—Monique LeBrun, Associate Health & Fitness Editor
17. “Raise You Up” – Billy Porter/Kinky Boots soundtrack
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 walker/runner with lots of tempo variations during my workouts, and I like to sing along with my music. This song is perfect for any mood and any pace.
– Donna Raskin, Senior Health & Fitness Editor
18. “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 their 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 double-take glances from others on the trail).
— Chris Hatler, Service & News Editor
19. “B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad)” – Outkast
Do you need a song four-minutes long that will not.let.up until the very end? “B.O.B.” gets you going from the jump at more than 150 beats per minute. While there are many great hits from Outkast’s archive like “Hey Ya!” and “So Fresh, So Clean,” many music publications like Pitchfork thought this was Outkast’s greatest song. Pair it with a harder tempo section, or use it to get through that final 800 repeat, and we don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
—Brian Dalek, Director of Content Operations
20. “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. It’s the kind of song perfect for the last half mile of your neighborhood run to celebrate, well, coming home!
— Dan Beck, Deputy Editor
21. “The House That Heaven Built” – Japandroids
Sure, the Canadian dudes-rock duo Japandroids probably didn’t intend for their generational anthem to end up on a running playlist, but I’ve used this powerful, sweat-soaked, pound-your-chest-and-pump-your-fist barnburner to provide a last-mile 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 Membership Content
22. “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, an okay film directed by Ryan Gosling. The composer, Johnny Jewel, also scored Drive, 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.
— Amanda Furrer, Test Editor
23. “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
24. “Sometimes” – Goth Babe
This isn’t a song that’s gonna 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 late 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, Membership Editor
25. “Sinnerman” – Nina Simone
There is no one I love more than Nina Simone; her emotional and political journey inspires me. The ten-minute version of this song keeps me moving and reminds me that I am stronger than I believe.
— Donna Raskin, Senior Health & Fitness Editor
26. “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
27. “Dance Yrself Clean” – LCD Soundsystem
Here’s a nine-minute epic from the dance/electronic/rock juggernauts LCD Soundsystem. This song has an incredible beat to fuel your run. While it starts slow (and quiet) it’s not long before snares, synths, and James Murphy’s vocals ramp up the energy to 11. “Dance Yrself Clean” plays with your expectations throughout, changing things up from minute-to-minute in the best way possible.
— David White, SEO Manager
28. “MURDER DEATH KILL” – HEALTH
My Spotify Discover Weekly taps into what I really need when I’m out for a run. Amidst retrowave and synthpop tunes, I have a few songs that are less dreamy, more, let’s say, discordant. If you want an amped, honest-to-goodness melodramatic experience during your next workout, I recommend listening to the album Disco4 :: Part II. By far, “MURDER DEATH KILL” is my favorite song on this album. You can’t really make out the lyrics (except the expletives), but any song that begins with “hit the pavement running/still the same s---, loving it… escape at night, the runner’s high” is worth an all-out lap on the track, in my humble opinion.
— Amanda Furrer, Test Editor
29. “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 I’ve ever run. I’m sure the powerful, pumping beat didn’t hurt my chances either—hence why I think it’s one of the best running songs out there.
— Chris Hatler, Service & News Editor
30. “Ghost” – Justin Bieber
From his first album, My World, to his latest, Justice, Bieber just keeps dropping hits worthy of a pump-you-up running playlist. This is my favorite song from his latest release, thanks to its dance-pop vibes that add instant energy to my stride.
— Mallory Creveling, Deputy Editor, Health & Fitness
Craving more running songs? Well, you’re in luck. We release a new playlist every month for Runner’s World+ Members. Check them out here!
