If you’re looking for good running music, you won’t be disappointed. This running music playlist has songs at 130 – 150 bpm (building from slower bpms at start, to faster as you continue). This would translate into running a 10 – 11.5 minute mile pace. If you like alternative/indie rock and power-pop, but also like a few different styles of music to keep things interesting…you’ll love this mix. Actually, if you like pop and/or rock, but have an open mind to new songs, you’ll like this mix. Most are not overly obscure, artsy, or experimental…just songs that may not have received the radio play they deserved. These songs were carefully selected for running a marathon (but will work well for just running training or exercising). The pace (BPM) starts off slower in first few songs, then builds up to a faster cadence.
If you have a song that you love to use when running or working out, please share (either comment below our thru twitter @boldpacemusic)! If it is 140 – 180 bpm and meets our song “standards” below, we’ll add it to our next running or workout playlist and link back to your site with a big
thank you :)
All songs below meet our standard of being either about fitness/running, inspirational, or at least fun with a great beat (we don’t add songs with potentially uninspiring lyrics…ie. “19th Nervous Breakdown”, “Loser”, “Blister in the Sun” — all great songs, but not exactly motivational for running or fitness). For over 35+ hrs more of running and workout music, go to home page at Bold Pace Music.
Wondering if music can really improve your performance? We give links to several studies and discuss in more detail at our Bold Pace Music home page.
Marathon Mantras CD Tin Notecard Set (6 cards, 2 of each style for $15 at remanents.com)
Looking for a perfect gift for a runner? Take some music below and slip it in with a running CD tin notecard set from Remanents. These cards, gifts, and tees have been sold at Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Anthropologie, Nordstroms, Henri Bendel, Fortnum and Mason (London) and many other fine stores, however, you’ll find the largest selection at www.remanents.com. See more running cards and tees along with beautiful Couture Fabric Holiday cards and Halloween cards too.
Got an iphone or use an ipod? Check out this app and software that analyzes your itunes for BPMs and then lets you choose songs at that BPM from your iphone or ipod…see Cadence (need Mac w/ OS 10.4 or higher for ipod; PC version also available)
The itunes playlist below has ALMOST all the songs listed, there are a few that are not on itunes: The Monroes, Flash & the Pan, AC/DC, Bram Tchaikovsky, and Madness.
There are 73 songs below with a total playtime of 4.4 hours. Enjoy…
Marathon Mix: 130 – 150 BPM (for runners w/ mile pace of 10 – 11.5 minutes)
Click here to download songs from 
itunes
Click below to play samples and/or download songs from amazon:
To get this music, just click on either itunes or amazon playlist above and download either entire the playlist or individual songs. Or see our Amazon store for the very best full albums by artists on the playlists.
- Chariots of Fire – Vangelis (68): Just thought I’d put this one at the beginning to help get pysched up for the start. Seems like a perfect song while you’re waiting in the coral for the race to start.
- We Used to Wait – Arcade Fire (122): You just HAVE to see this
video“event” before your run. You type in a current address or an address where you grew up and suddenly you’re a runner in a hood running through your neighborhood. It’s really groundbreaking stuff…see bold pace music for more info and instructions to view, or go to The Wilderness Downtown site to see what all the hype is about–it’s worth it. - We are the People – Empire of the Sun (125): This Australian band went platinum w/ their debut album in Australia and this song was nominated for “Song of the Year” by the APRA. It’s an epic song that starts out the race on the right foot w/ a good beat and lyrics like “A force running in every boy and girl, all rejoicing in the world, take me now–we can try”. Well done pop.
- I Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas (129): “Let’s do it, let’s do it, …” Trying not to be music snobs here, and BEP do pop well with a great beat…you just gotta do it.
- Gimme Hope Joanna – Eddy Grant (130): With the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, this anti-apartheid anthem just seems like a perfect song at the beginning of a marathon. The song was banned by the South American government when it was originally released.
- Sweet Disposition – The Temper Trap (130): This song might sound familiar from movie “(500) Days of Summer” or perhaps from Greek, One Tree Hill, or UK drama Skins. In any case, it’s a should put you in the right disposition…”We won’t stop until it’s over…won’t stop to surrender”
- Dream City – Free Energy (131): Always good to have a few handclaps, na-na-nas, and unbridled enthusiasm at the start of a race and the Philly band Free Energy delivers… “Hey, we’re coming out…cruising across the town”.
- Bad Things – Jace Everett (131): If you watch True Blood, you’ll know this song. Even if you don’t, it’s still a badass vibe that will get your competitive juice flowing.
- Drivers Seat – Sniff and the Tears (132): Released in 1978, this song went to #15 in the US, #1 in the Netherlands, and #43 in the UK. If you saw Boogie Nights, you may recall this song. Enjoy these lyrics: “Pick up your feet, got to move to the trick of the beat”…a good reminder for the songs to come.
- She’s Not There – The Zombies (132): “Let me tell you about the way she looked”…from the 1968 “Odessey and Oracle” album that is now considered one of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time according to Rolling Stone (it was ranked 80). Let this song bring you back in time…
- Surrender – Cheap Trick (133): Another “best” song as this one was on Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” ranked at #465. It may not have exactly running lyrics, but you can just “Surrender” to the magnificence of the marathon.
- Marseilles – Angel City (135): Seems to me that “thinking ’bout the south of France” is not a bad visual diversion. Keep running and thinking about “drinking champagne, playing it cool…”
- She’s Got You High – Mumm-Ra (135): Another song from “(500) Days of Summer” and another nice diversion as you enjoy a romantic song with “I figured love would shine through…open your mind, believe it’s going to come…” PS. (500) Days of Summer is a great soundtrack
- This Tornado Loves You – Neko Case (135): Listed on many indie blogs as the “Favorite Song of 2009″ this gem includes good focus lines like “Run out to meet me, come into the light”and “Your rails have always outrun mine”.
- Lights Out – Santigold (135): “Lights out…where’s there to run, watch everybody come undone” and “Darling, don’t got to worry, you’re locked in tight”.
- Life During Wartime – Talking Heads (135): This could be your running mantra: “This ain’t no party, this ain’t no disco, this ain’t no fooling around…no time for dancing, or lovey dovey, I ain’t got time for that now”.
- Giving up the Gun – Vampire Weekend (135): An appropriate follow-up to “Life During Wartime”… Key line here is “I see you shine in your way…go on, go on, go on”.
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