There is nothing I love more than popping in my headphones and hitting the road to combine my love of music with my love of running. I often get lost in the music when I am out for a run. I appreciate the beat that pushes me to go a little faster and the lyrics that suddenly all seem to be about running. Maybe I have one-track running mind when I'm out on the road but I use those lyrics to motivate me to keep going, to run faster or to finish strong.
I know all these songs are not intended to be about running but I change the context for my own purpose, to push me through my long run or across the finish line a little bit faster. If you're an alternative rock music fan like I am, I think you'll enjoy my songs about running (even if they're not really about running).
SONGS FOR THE BEGINNING OF YOUR RUN TO MOTIVATE YOU TO GET STARTED
Cake: The Distance. “He’s going the distance. He’s going for speed. She’s all alone. In her time of need. Because he’s racing and pacing and plotting the course. He’s fighting and biting and riding on his horse, He’s going the distance.”
Foster the People: Pumped up Kicks “All the other kids with the pumped up kicks, You better run, better run."
Florence + the Machine: Dog Days Are Over “So you better run. Run fast for your mother, run fast for your father. Run for your children, your sisters and brothers.”
The Downtown Fiction: I just wanna run " I just wanna run (run run run) I just wanna run (run run run)"
SONGS FOR THE MIDDLE OF YOUR RUN TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO STAY STEADY
The Kills: U.R.A. Fever “You are a fever, You are a fever, You ain't born typical…..Left right, left right, keep it up son”
The Dead Weather: Jawbreaker "I run so far away from you. Don't matter where I've been. Run around the world from you. And here you are again."
Meices: Ready Steady Go "Ready steady, go. Ready steady, ready steady, ready steady, ready steady
Ready steady, ready steady, ready steady, go."
Raconteurs: Steady as She Goes "Steady as she goes (steady as she goes). Steady as she goes (steady as she goes).
SONGS FOR THE END OF YOUR RUN TO FINISH STRONG
Young the Giant: My Body. “My Body tells me no, but I won’t quit cause I want more, cause I want more."
White Stripes: Stop Breaking Down "Everytime I'm walkin', down the streets, some pretty mama she starts breakin' down. Stop breakin' down, yes stop breakin' down."
Awolnation: Burn it Down "Burn it down, baby, burn it burn it down." (I change the lyrics in my head to "run it home, baby, run it run it home" and is the perfect uptempo song for a strong finish.)
What do you think? Did I miss any running songs about running? What song is your favorite on your running playlist. Let me know in the comments or on twitter.
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