YOUR Favorite Running Songs
Earlier this week I posted MY list of great running songs and asked you to submit your favorite songs to run to. And did you ever! I’ve compiled your submissions into the Ultimate No Meat Athlete Reader Running Playlist! Everybody loves a good revamp of their workout playlist to keep it fresh, so here you’ll find a road-tested, runner-approved list to do just that. There’s a huge variety of styles here, from old school punk to reggaeton to electronic-rock to teen pop, and quite literally everything in between (with the notable exception of country, for which I thank you).
Here you go, runner/rockers!
Reader-Favorite Running Songs
- “Police on My Back” by the Clash
- “Remember the Name” by Fort Mino
- “Idioteque” by Radiohead
- “The Whole World” by Outkast
- “Starry Eyed Surprise” by Paul Oakenfold
- “Lose Yourself” by Eminem
- “December African Rain” by Johnny Cleg
- “Play Your Part (Pt. 1)” by Girl Talk
- “Hysteria” by Muse
- “Start Me Up” by The Rolling Stone
- “I Gotta Feeling” by Black Eyed Pea
- “Talk Amongst Yourselves” by Grand National
- “Run” by Gnarls Barkle
- “A-Punk” by Vampire Weeken
- “The View from the Afternoon” by Arctic Monkey
- “Knights of Cydonia” by Mus
- “Champagne for My Real Friends, Real Pain for My Sham Friends” by Fall Out Bo
- “Burn Down the Mission” by Elton Joh
- “The First Single (Cause a Scene)” by the Forma
- “Go Girl” by Pitbul
- “Heart of a Champion” by Nell
- “Can’t Stop” by Red Hot Chili Pepper
- “Keep the Car Running” by Arcade Fire
- “I’m Running” by Mistress Barbara
- “Shipping Up To Boston” by Dropkick Murphy
- “Troublemaker” by Weeze
- “Crazy Train” by Ozzy Osbourn
- “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvan
- “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journe
- “Fat Bottomed Girls” by Quee
- “Can’t Take That Plane” by John Mayer Trio
- “Fuel” by Metallica
- “Chariots of Fire” by Synthesizer Syndicat
- Theme Song from Rock
- “Somebody Told Me” by the Killer
- “Party In The USA” by Miley Cyru
- “Suavemente” by Elvis Cresp
- “The New Workout Plan” by Kanye Wes
It’s funny; as I listened to these songs I noticed that they pretty much fell into two camps: the pump-you-up, feel-your-heart-beat-faster songs that are great for pounding out hill repeats, and the repetitive, sometimes slower but get-into-the-zone-where-you-forget-you’re-running songs that work so well on those 10+ milers.
But who’s the winner, you ask? Who is the proud new owner of a No Meat Athlete t-shirt? Well, I listened to every single song (for those who submitted bands, I just chose their most popular song, based on iTunes rankings). There are lots that I want to run with, but there’s only one winner. And that winner, the song I’m to get out there and pound the pavement with as soon as I’m finished writing this, is…
…yet undetermined. But all the asterisked songs above are my finalists, and I’m taking them out for a tempo run right now. And by the time I get back, I think the winner will be obvious. To me anyway. You’ll have to wait until tomorrow. 🙂
Want more? Â Check out me in my wannabe rockstar days!
