149 Best Running Songs: What to Listen to on Your Next Run

Looking for a good playlist you can use while you run? We’ve got a list of the best running songs to choose from!

Sports psychologist Costas Karageorghis agrees that music brings a positive influence to your exercise regime. Compelling tunes and motivational lyrics help in shaping your attitude towards running and working out.

In this article, we give you a list of the best running songs that you can include in your playlist the next time you run. These songs can give you the groove you need to uplift your spirit while trying to reach the finish line.

We’ve divided our list into the types of music people usually listen to. You may have listened to a few of these songs already, but perhaps you didn’t realize how motivating they can be when you run.

Rock Music Running Playlist

Rock music originated in the United States in the early 1950s. It developed into a wide range of different styles as the years went by, but it technically drew inspiration from the genres of country and rhythm and blues.

This type of music is lively, vibrant, and invigorating. It makes you feel strong and full of energy. What better way to enjoy running with music than to listen to something that can hype you up?!

Let the good times roll with our list of rock hits!

1. “High Hopes” – Panic! At the Disco
2. “Under Pressure” – Queen & David Bowie
3. “Thunder” – Imagine Dragons
4. “Sweet Emotion” – Aerosmith
5. “Feel It Still” – Portugal. The Man
6. “Just Like Fire” – Pink
7. “Immortals” – Fall Out Boy
8. “Pour Some Sugar on Me” – Def Leppard
9. “Kings and Queens” – 30 Seconds to Mars
10. “It’s My Life” – Bon Jovi
11. “On Top of the World” – Greek Fire
12. “I’m Gonna Be” – The Proclaimers
13. “I Don’t Wanna Be In Love” – Good Charlotte
14. “I Will Wait” – Mumford & Sons
15. “Say It, Just Say It” – the Mowgli’s
16. “Seven Nation Army” – White Stripes
17. “Everybody Talks” – Neon Trees
18. “Mr. Blue Sky” – Electric Light Orchestra
19. “Love Drunk” – Boys Like Girls
20. “Marchin’ On” – One Republic
21. “Unstoppable” – Foxy Shazam
22. “Don’t Stop Believin’” – Journey
23. “Paint it, Black” – The Rolling Stones
24. “Livin’ on a Prayer” – Bon Jovi
25. “Hurts So Good” – John Mellencamp
26. “New Divide” – Linkin Park
27. “Every 1’s a Winner” – Hot Chocolate
28. “Shake It” – Metro Station
29. “Carry on Wayward Son” – Kansas
30. “Break on Through (To the Other Side)” – The Doors

Rap & Hip Hop Running Playlist

Rap and hip hop is a genre of popular music that flared up in the United States during the 1970s. Usually, it is composed of beats and bass lines that give the songs a chant-like rhythm. Hip hop is commonly confused with rap music, but the truth is, rap is simply a subculture of hip hop.

If you are a gym maniac, you know that rap and hip hop music brings out the best in those arm and leg muscles. Those bass beats and rhythms can boost your performance while lifting, and it’s no different in running. This type of music can build up your desire to cross the finish line.

Follow the beat and feel the heat with these rap and hip hop songs:

31. “I Like It” – Cardi B
32. “All I do is Win” – DJ Khaled
33. “Nice for What” – Drake
34. “Lose Yourself” – Eminem
35. “Stronger” – Kanye West
36. “Better Now” – Post Malone
37. “I’m Goin’ In” – Drake, Lil Wayne, and Jeezy
38. “Sicko Mode” – Travis Scott ft. Drake
39. “Truffle Butter” – Nicki Minaj, Drake, and Lil Wayne
40. “This is America” – Childish Gambino
41. “Jumpman” – Future and Drake
42. “Opps” – Yugen Blakrok and Vince Staples
43. “Push It” – Rick Ross
44. “The Light Is Coming” – Ariana Grande feat. Nicki Minaj
45. “Pump It” – Black Eyed Peas
46. “X” – ScHoolboy Q, 2 Chainz, and Saudi
47. “Can’t Hold Us” – Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
48. “In My Feelings” – Drake
49. “Close Your Eyes” – Run the Jewels
50. “Django Jane” – Janelle Monaé
51. “Break Ya Neck” – Busta Rhymes
52. “Club Can’t Handle Me” – Flo Rida
53. “Lift Me Up” – Vince Staples
54. “Not Afraid” – Eminem
55. “Humble” – Kendrick Lamar
56. “Swish” – Tyga
57. “Run This Town” – Jay Z & Rihanna
58. “Chun-Li” – Nicki Minaj
59. “Hall of Fame” – The Script
60. “Work Remix” – A$AP Ferg

Dance/Electronic Running Playlist

More commonly known as EDM or electronic dance music, this genre has a broad scope, and includes techno, pop, trance, dubstep, and a lot more. It developed alongside the emergence of nightclubs, festivals, and raves.

Just like rock and hip hop, dance music sets your mood and gets you hyped up to run. Even the name itself—dance—literally makes you want to shake those hips and twist those arms.

If you want some sizzling music to bring out your dancing skills while you run, here are some good songs to listen to:

61. “Dynamite” – Taio Cruz
62. “My Life Would Suck Without You” – Kelly Clarkson
63. “Young Folks” – Peter Bjorn and John
64. “Where Have You Been” – Rihanna
65. “Pon de Replay” – Rihanna
66. “Fight Song” – Rachel Platten
67. “Right Back Where We Started From” – Maxine Nightingale
68. “Can’t Stop the Feelin’” – Justin Timberlake
69. “Sugar” – Maroon 5
70. “Party Rock Anthem” – LMFAO
71. “Poker Face” – Lady Gaga
72. “Party in the USA” – Miley Cyrus
73. “Believe” – Cher
74. “I Lived” – One Republic
75. “Whenever, Wherever” – Shakira
76. “When Love Takes Over” – David Guetta ft. Kelly Rowland
77. “Bulletproof” – La Roux
78. “On the Floor” – Jennifer Lopez
79. “Shake It Off” – Taylor Swift
80. “What the Heck” – Avril Lavigne
81. “Edge of Glory” – Lady Gaga
82. “Bad Romance” – Lady Gaga
83. “I Think We’re Alone Now” – Tiffany
84. “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” – Kelly Clarkson
85. “Jai Ho” – A. R. Rahman & Pussycat Dolls
86. “Roar” – Katy Perry
87. “Girlfriend” – Avril Lavigne
88. “Raise Your Glass” – Pink
89. “So What” – Pink
90. “Raging Fire” – Phillip Phillips
91. “Wake Me Up” – Avicii

Alternative Music Running Playlist

Alternative music is a kind of independent (indie) music that developed during the 1970s, but only became widely known during the 1980s. It is a mixture of punk, pop-rock, new wave, and underground music, from artists who prefer to stay out of the mainstream.

Although it is branded as “non-mainstream,” there is an emerging population of music lovers who prefer this calmer, deeper type of rock music. If you are one of them, you might enjoy listening to the songs below:

92. “Alaska” – Maggie Rogers
93. “Blur” by Song 2
94. “Electric Love” – BØRNS
95. “Supermassive Black Hole” – Muse
96. “Pumped Up Kicks” – Foster the People
97. “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger” – Daft Punk
98. “Fell in Love with a Girl” – The White Stripes
99. “Dog Days Are Over” – Florence + The Machine
100. “Everybody Talks” – The Neon Trees
101. “Anna” – Will Butler
102. “My Body” – Young the Giant
103. “Say You Don’t Want It” – One Night Only
104. “Safe and Sound” – Capital Cities
105. “I Won’t Let You Down” – OK Go
106. “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark” – Fall Out Boy
107. “On Hold” – The xx
108. “Shut Up and Dance” – Walk the Moon
109. “Cherry” – Rina Sawayama
110. “Shake It Out” – Florence and the Machine
111. “Girls” – 1975
112. “Welcome to Your Life” – Grouplove
113. “Best Day of My Life” – American Authors
114. “My Silver Lining” – First Aid Kit
115. “Float On” – Modest Mouse
116. “Up Around the Bend” – Credence Clearwater Revival
117. “Come Out and Play” – The Offspring
118. “LA Devotee” – Panic! At the Disco
119. “Animal” – Miike Snow
120. “Feel Good Inc.” – Gorillaz

Classical Running Playlist

Tired of modern-day music, but still looking for an invigorating playlist? We’ve got you covered with our list of classical songs from Mozart, Gershwin, Rimsky, and the gang!

Classical music had its roots in Western culture way before any of the above mentioned genres existed. It literally came from the Classical period (1750 to 1820), so if you are a fan of history and the classics, the list below is the one to check out.

121. “Dance of the Elves” – David Popper
122. “Mars, the Bringer of War” – Gustav Holst
123. “Coronation Ode, Op. 44: VI. Finale Land of Hope and Glory” – Edward Elgar
124. “Summer” from The Four Seasons – Antonio Vivaldi
125. “Hungarian Dance No. 5 in G minor” – Johannes Brahms
126. “The Nutcracker: March” – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
127. “Sabre Dance” – Aram Khachaturian
128. “Minute Waltz” – Frédéric Chopin
129. “Beethoven Symphony No. 7, IV. Allegro con brio” – Ludwig van Beethoven
130. “Candide: Overture” – Leonard Bernstein
131. “Music for the Royal Fireworks” – George Frideric Handel
132. “Ruslan and Lyudmila Overture” – Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka
133. “Short Ride in a Fast Machine” – John Adams
134. “In the Hall of the Mountain King” – Edvard Grieg
135. “Festival Overture” – Dmitri Shostakovich
136. “Radetzky Marsch” – Johann Strauss Sr.
137. “Conga del Fuego” – Arturo Márquez
138. “Carmina Burana: I. O Fortuna” – Carl Orff
139. “Walkürenritt” – Richard Wagner
140. “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, First Movement” – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
141. “The Four Seasons, Op. 8, Concerto No. 2 in G Minor” – Antonio Vivaldi
142. “Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor” – Sergei Rachmaninoff
143. “Symphony No. 5 in C Minor” – Ludwig van Beethoven
144. “William Tell Overture: Finale” – Gioachino Rossini
145. “Rhapsody in Blue” – George Gershwin
146. “The Flight of the Bumblebee” – Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
147. “Requiem in D Minor” – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
148. “Swan Lake” – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
149. “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” – Paul Dukas

Conclusion

Science and psychology have shown that music can positively impact your running workout if you integrate it into your routine. It works as an external stimulus that diverts your attention from discomfort, fatigue, sweat, and heat.

Moreover, whether you are running a marathon, a 5km race, or simply to lose weight and stay fit, songs and their words can inspire you to achieve your goal.

Do you know one or many of the songs provided above? How do they help you in perfecting your running regimen? We’d love to hear your story. Feel free to share your comments in the field below.

Organize your playlist and plug those headphones in the next time you run. Get your groove on and keep moving with the songs we provide above.