Best Running Music Playlist: Part 3 — Marathon mixes for 7.5 – 8.5 min pace (160 – 180 bpm)

This running music playlist has songs at 160 – 180 bpm (building from slower bpms at start, to faster as you continue). 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. All songs were carefully selected for running a marathon (but great as fitness music too!). The songs are either inspirational, about running, or just fun w/ a great beat.

For an explanation of why BPM is important, please see Hella Sound’s “Music and Athletic Performance”. If you’re wondering if music can really help when running or exercising…see what Physician.com has to say.

For a well done chart showing BPM by mile (and kilometer) pace, see Run2Rythym.

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 coming soon)

The itunes playlist below has ALMOST all the songs listed, there are a few that are not on itunes: The Beatles, Hella Sound, Jonathan Jones, and one Housemartins song.

There are 61 songs below with a total playtime of 3.5 hours. Enjoy…

Best Running Music Playlist– Jane’s Mix: 160 – 180 BPM (for runners w/ mile pace of 7.5 – 8.5 minutes)

To get this music, just click on playlist above and download either entire playlist or individual songs from itunes. Or see our Amazon store for the very best full albums by artists on playlists

Songs (w/ BPM):

1. Beautiful Day – U2 (136): Great start to a marathon…even if it’s raining, gotta believe it’s “a beautiful day…don’t let it get away”
2. Wake Up – The Arcade Fire (137): This song just builds into a great inspirational anthem…”with my lighnin’ bolts a glowin’, I can see where I am go-goin’”. It’s obviously got an “motivational” following as the NFL is now using a clip from this song for their ads, the NY Rangers used this song during the 2006-07 season as their pre-game intro and it was also featured in the movie trailer for Where the Wild Things Are.
3. Tick Tick Boom – The Hives (137): Having been used for Nike/Finish Line commercials, NFL Football games and for the movie Taken…this song has some strong inspirational lineage as well…
4. This Year – The Mountain Goats (140): Can easily substitute “marathon” for “year” in the chorus “I am going to make it thru this marathon if it kills me”.
5. Lloyd, I’m Ready To Be Heartbroken – Camera Obscura (145): This song is a response to Lloyd Cole & the Commotions “Are You Ready to be Heartbroken” (which is a great song by an awesome band…too bad it has slow bpm). Just a fun, upbeat song to keep you moving even if you “can’t see further than {your} own nose at this moment”
6. Hey Now Now – The Cloud Room (150): Gotta love Twitter…this song suggested to me by @linwoodstudios and hadn’t heard of this band. Great song w/ fun chorus and beat and named a “top ten single of the year” by Rolling Stone in 2006. If David Bowie, The Arcade Fire, and Spoon have all been to see The Cloud Room in concert, they must be doing something right. (Thanks Jonathan!)
7. The Way We Get By – Spoon (152): This Austin, TX band is one of my favorites for running music. This song was featured on The OC. “We go out in stormy weather…and that’s the way we get by”…just in case we have to offset “Beautiful Day”, you’re prepared either way.
8. I’m Confused – The Handsome Furs (154): Relatively new Canadian band w/ first album released in 2007. Enjoy the beat and empathetic lines like “I’m confused, I know, my love, I know it’s easy to do…there’s something to do, sometimes we get confused”
9. Take a Minute *explicit lyrics* – K’naan (156): K’naan seems to channel Bob Marley, mix in some hip-hop, and deliver poetry in the form of urgent protest music. On this song he’s more reflective, but poignant as ever: “And every time I felt the hurt…And I felt the givin’ gettin’ me up off the wall…I’m just gonna take a minute and let it ride…I’m just gonna take a minute and let it breeze”.
10. If Looks Could Kill – Camera Obscura (158): While “camera obscura” is Latin for “dark room”, the band is usually very sunny with lyrics that are always catchy, upbeat and very clever. This one just seems to be made a good run w/ “you got to go” and “maybe I can make it better”.
11. Reptile – The Church (158): One of my all-time favorite bands and this is from one of their best albums…Starfish. Key verse here is “Go now, you’ve been set free”…just forget that Steve Kilbey is talking about an ex-lover and comparing her to a reptile:)
12. Something is Squeezing My Skull – Morrissey (158): OK, this one is not exactly motivational, but it is fun. Morrissey is the king of despondent lyrics w/ an upbeat, playful song. Just stick w/ the “I’m doing very well” verse.
13. Joker and the Thief – Wolfmother (158): Wolfmother sounds like a combination of The Scorpions and Rush and just an enjoyable power song w/ lyrics like “he makes his way across the land” and the chorus of “we are not going home”…rock on!
14. Niagara Falls – Harlem Shakes (159): Just LOVE this song. Reminds me of Vampire Weekend with the clever beat and varied instruments (the piano is awesome). With our pun laden running “Wit-Tee” shirts (sold thru Remanents), we love the line “I don’t even get the t-shirt’s pun”.
15. Silver Trembling Hands – The Flaming Lips (160): From one of the most critically acclaimed new albums of 2009…enjoy “She forgets about the fear…when she’s high”
16. Young Turks – Rod Stewart (163): Never been a big Rod Stewart fan, but I had a comment on the blog that this was one of her “go to” running songs, and I have to agree it just works and the chorus is perfect to keep your legs pumping “Young hearts be free tonight, time is on your side…Don’t let them put you down, don’t let ‘em push you around…don’t let ‘em ever change your point of view”.  Thanks Jordan! (Follow Jordan on Twitter @exploravore)
17. Slight Figure of Speech – The Avett Brothers (165): Another of 2009’s most critically acclaimed new bands. Some of their music is “too country” for me (I can be pretty eclectic, but pure country just doesn’t do it for me…and can’t imagine it while running a marathon). But this song is less “country” and more rock w/ a up-tempo beat and the line “what if it’s hot on my trail, but that can’t catch me, no”
18. How to Turn Around a Bad Day – Hella Sound (165): Here’s a sample of the great running music you can find at Hella Sound. Their music is engineered to be at the bpm that you choose. Enjoy this mix of indie rock, funk, and jazz.  If you’re on Twitter, you really must follow @HellaSound as owner/founder John Frenette is hilarious (w/ good taste in music too!). Listen at HellaSound
19. Salute Your Solution – Raconteurs (165): It doesn’t matter if Jack White is with The White Strips, the Raconteurs, or the Dead Weather, he always delivers. Just keep running and picture Jack mocking the other runners with “I got what I got all despite you, and I get what I get just to spite you” and encouraging you to “Salute your Solution”.
20. I Wanna Be Sedated – The Ramones (165): I wasn’t sure about adding this one as I didn’t think it was inspirational, but Monica assured me it was. She explained that by this time of the race, all runners are thinking about Advil sedation. You can just hear the running empathy in Joey Ramone’s voice…
21. Trashcan – Delta Spirit (166): By this point in the race, I’m sure this line will resonate… “My heart is thumping I can feel it more with every beat”
22. Sleeping Aids and Razorblades – The Exploding Hearts (166): One of the best “power-pop” songs ever (see this Paste Magazine post on power-pop), this song will keep you moving w/ “I got new girls and I’m running around”
23. Daylight – Matt & Kim (166): A fun, up-tempo song w/ mindful running safety lyrics mixed in…”slip and slide on subway grates…these shoes are poor mans ice skates” and “i miss yellow lines in my roads” 
24. Come Together – Beatles (167): One of my favorite Beatles songs just happens to be one of the few with a fast beat. I’m sure you can find at least one runner that works w/ this first stanza: “Here come old flattop he come grooving up slowly, He got joo-joo eyeball he one holy roller, He got hair down to his knee…Got to be a joker he just do what he please” The Beatles: Abbey Road at Amazon
25. Jigsaw Falling Into Place – Radiohead (167): What an awesome band. This song just has a smooth, relaxing quality to it that lets you get “lost between the notes” and remember “you’ve got a light you can feel it on your back”.
26. Fruit Machine – The Ting Tings (167): A fun, energetic song w/ running lyrics like “You find it hard to stop now…You’re running like a steam train” and of course “Go! Go! Go! Go!”
27. Fadeaway – The BoDeans (168): Keep pushing, no fading… “Don’t Runaway…Midnight Hideaway…Don’t you – Fadeaway! ’til the Morning light”
28. Gamma Ray – Beck (169): Beck is encouraging you…”Come on little Gamma Ray, standing in a hurricane, your body’s bored, like a refugee from a house that’s burning, and the backwater’s calling your name” not sure what he’s talking about, but he could be talking about running:)
29. She Don’t Use Jelly – The Flaming Lips (169): This song might seem slow, but it’s easy to run on the half beats. Just listen to the lyrics on this one and enjoy the humorous distraction…
30. Dirty World – The Traveling Wilburys (169): Gotta love Bob Dylan on this one w/ my favorite line…”You don’t need no wax job, you’re smooth enough for me…If you need your oil changed I’ll do it for you free”. Enjoy Bob, George Harrison, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, and Jeff Lynne (from ELO) obviously having a good time as their alter egos. The Traveling Wilburys: Volume 1 at Amazon
31. The Rat – Walkmen (169): Just a great song. Use the memory of anyone doing you wrong as motivation to run harder… “Can’t you hear me, I’m bleeding on the wall? Can’t you see me, I’m pounding on your door?”
32. Hang onto Yourself – David Bowie (170): Love David Bowie, but hard to find one of his songs w/ a fast bpm. This is a less well known Bowie tune, but a good one from the Ziggy Stardust album and you gotta love the chorus “So come on, come on, we’ve really got a good thing going..Well come on, well come on, If you think we’re gonna make it, You better hang on to yourself”
33. Hey Man – Eels (170): “Now you’re really giving everything, and you’re really getting all you gave…Now you’re really living what…This life is all about”
34. What’s My Scene – Hoodoo Gurus (170): Sizing up the competition…”Like a talent scout, I’m always checking out new blood…Oh, I’d do good, if you tell me your game”
35. Mary Jane’s Last Dance – Tom Petty (170): “Well, I don’t know, but I’ve been told, you never slow down, you never grow old”
36. I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked – Ida Maria (171): You’ve heard that it can relieve stress to imagine your competitor or adversary naked…here’s your stress-reliever song.
37. Australia – The Shins (171): This is a deep song w/ a catchy beat that can distract you by trying to figure out the meaning of the song with lines like “So keep your wick in the air and your feet in the fetters, ‘Till the day you come in doing cartwheels” and “Dare to be one of us girl, faced with the android’s conundrum”. I think this is a guy trying to free a girl from a miserable life w/ a overbearing boyfriend…finally escaping out the window. What do you think?
38. Fire it up – Modest Mouse (172): Time to “Fire it up”…’nuf said.
39. Cousins – Vampire Weekend (172): From their new album, perhaps you’ve seen them perform on David Letterman or Conan. Enjoy “Me and my cousins,and you and your cousins…It’s a line that is always running”
40. Black and White Town – Doves (173): Your running mantra perhaps?: “Here comes the action…Here it comes at last…Lord give me a reaction…Lord give me a chance”
41. Paper Planes – M.I.A. (173): “Every stop I get to I’m clocking that game…Everyone’s a winner, we’re making our fame”
42. Ever Fallen In Love? – Buzzcocks (174): You might recognize this song from the Fine Young Cannibals cover, but I think the original is much better. Not much for running lyrics here, but definitely a lively power-pop song.
43. The Sound of Settling – Death Cab for Cutie (174): You can almost hear feet stomping in this song…plus, just love the baa bah…baa bah!
44. I’m the Man – Joe Jackson (174): Great song, great lyrics. Joe Jackson is one of Monica’s favorites. I think this line is fitting for a marathon “But I can sell you anything…Anything from a thin safety pin”…if you didn’t have one at the beginning of the race for your bib, wouldn’t you have paid for one?
45. Such Great Heights – The Postal Service (175): Can’t think of another song that has been covered so many times in such a short period of time. Doesn’t matter if it’s about running or not w/ writing like this… “I am thinking it’s a sign, that the freckles in our eyes are mirror images, and when we kiss they’re perfectly aligned…I have to speculate, that God himself did make us into corresponding shapes, like puzzle pieces from the clay”
46. I See Red – Split Enz (176): Another turn your anger into motivation song… “I’m fed up with crying…my despair is dying, turning into rage, day by day”
47. Wolf Like Me – TV on the Radio (177): “My mind has changed, my body’s frame but god I like it…my hearts aflame, my body’s strained but god I like it”
48. The Beast – Concrete Blonde (178): Another love gone wrong song…”There’s nowhere to run and there’s, nowhere to hide…Love knows you all too well”. But you can just focus on the title and be “The Beast”!
49. In the City – The Jam (179): “In the city there’s a thousand things I want to say to you”…by this time of the race, we can’t really repeat any of those things you want to say:) The Jam: In the City at Amazon
50. Turning Japanese – The Vapors (179): We’ll send a free Wit-Tee shirt to whoever is brave enough to sing out these lines during a race and send us a video…”No sex, no drugs, no wine, no women, no fun, no sin, no you, no wonder it’s dark…Everyone around me is a total stranger…Everyone avoids me like a psyched lone-ranger…Everyone” You know you want to!
51. Run On Sentences 1.1 – Jonathan Jones (180): I found Jonathan on twitter (@linwoodstudios). He not only has great taste in music, he makes impressive music himself! This is just a sample, but you can find more below. He composed this track especially for running and he keeps the beat steady at 180 bpm. Join Jonathan’s e-mail list and get this full song along w/ Vol 1.2 and 1.3 FREE (for a limited time) at: Jonathan Jones @ Reverbnation. You can also follow him at his Linwood Studios Blog
52. Engineering Masterpiece – Lady Southpaw (180): Another Twitter friend that I really hope to meet someday. Lady Southpaw (aka Erin) focuses on music for runners. She’s a great resource and fun to follow on twitter @lady_southpaw. She writes and records killer music and you might even find her at a race playing live as you run. Check out her website below for many excellent running songs.
    on Amazon // on Napster // on emusic
    Also, everything can be streamed from the Lady Southpaw reverbnation page with embedable widgets. Find out more about Lady Southpaw
53. Gold Guns Girls – Metric (180): “Remember when we were gambling to win…Everybody else said better luck next time…I don’t wanna bend like the bad girls bend” almost there, keep going “More and more, more and more” (it will be enough…soon)
54. Golden Phone – Micachu (180): Back to the competition, focus on this line…”Their legs are far too stiff and they can’t get near”–you’re pushing harder during the last few miles and will outlast them in end.
55. Lisztomania – Phoenix (180): You can believe the hype. It may be close to pop, but it’s very well done. Key line: “This is show time, this is show time, this is show time” Keep pushing!
56. Ladies of Cambridge – Vampire Weekend (180): VW just makes great running music…”Chestnut park on a saturday night…Mystical boys feelin alright…Raggedy wisdom falls from my hand, as the Ladies of Cambridge know who I am”
57. Me and the Farmer – Housemartins (182): Another all-time favorite band. Just an enjoyable, fast-paced song w/ great lyrics like “Me and farmer like brother, like sister, Getting on like hand and blister”…well, hopefully no blisters… The Housemartins–”Now that’s What I Call Quite Good” on Amazon (they are being way too humble…this is EXCELLENT!)
58. Friend or Foe – Adam & the Ants (184): Always good for a fun, up-tempo song, Adam Ant stands and delivers with “I want those who get to know me, to become admirers or my enemies”. Take a look around and size up the competition…”Friend or Foe”!
59. Strict Time – Elvis Costello (184): Listen to the King: “Toughen up, toughen up…Keep your lip buttoned up…Strict time”
60. Say Aha – Santigold (184): I hear Santigold is working with Devo on an upcoming album…that should be very interesting. In the meantime, let this motivate you toward the finish “It’s that time, I’m picking up my ass, up from off the fence…Gonna blow a hole in this parade, it’s self-defense…I’m a army, got a whole brigade in my two cents”
61. Happy Hour – Housemartins (185): Gotta end w/ a fun song and what could be more appropriate, it’s “Happy Hour”…you definitely deserve it!

There are a number of ways to get BPM for your music collection.  See this comprehensive post from mmartins.com on BPM detection software.

Want more music? See our previous three playlists and more songs listed by bpm…Bold Pace Music

Have any suggestions for our next playlist? Please comment and share…

Want to get updates of new songs before next full playlist is posted? Follow me @boldpacemusic on Twitter

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Tagged as: BPM, fitness music, Remanents, running music