Good running music?: I know it’s a matter of... - Couch to 5K

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Good running music?

Preserved_Moose profile image
19 Replies

I know it’s a matter of taste but what music do you find is best to run to? I look at all these running compilations you can get and they don’t really appeal to me.

Today I ran to Guns n Roses, seemed to fit pretty well. I haven’t put together a playlist yet but I think it would help.

So what do you like to run to?

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Preserved_Moose profile image
Preserved_Moose
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19 Replies
GoodOmens96 profile image
GoodOmens96

Spotify have a variety of running playlists. You can always Crete your own by using suggested onus from them

UnfitNoMore profile image
UnfitNoMoreGraduate

I always tried to match the tempo of my music to the tempo of my feet. I tend to the heavy metal but I have eclectic tastes. For now my speed and thrash metal is on hold as my feet are going about 120bpm, so I have all the rest of my music to go with... 180bpm is my target. Sadly Spotify turned off their feature that built playlists for you based on your running rhythm... hopefully they or Apple will put it back out there.

jannerm profile image
jannermGraduate in reply to UnfitNoMore

Currently just running in silence - but if I ever make it to Parkrun distance I will be plugging into some Metal, most likely a bit of Metallica but temped to try some new bands just to see, feel like I need the cadence of metal, we shall see!

UnfitNoMore profile image
UnfitNoMoreGraduate in reply to jannerm

I walked my first parkrun... they’re more than happy to have you do C25K with them. I got told “well done” by the first guy to lap me and countless others. It’s a great experience, you don’t have to wait until you can run 5k, and it’s good to “run” with others sometimes.

I’m in a strange subset of metalheads... I actually liked St Anger!

Deborahchick46 profile image
Deborahchick46Graduate

I often listen to The greatest showman soundtrack or just search running soundtracks on whatever music app you use .

Tartancat profile image
TartancatGraduate

Usually rock and heavy metal, but I've got Spotify choosing my music at the moment - coming up with 80s pop today, some of which I hadn't heard since, well, the eighties, and it took my mind off my tired legs!

Ang33333 profile image
Ang33333Graduate

Spotify is great. Plenty of playlists you can use but I make my own. All my favourite tracks on shuffle. Heaven. 😁😁

Hi, on Spotify you can play around making lists and just see what works well for you. Slightly embarrassed to admit at the moment one of my absolute favs is Dead Ringer for Love by Meatloaf! It almost makes me laugh out loud when I hear it because I can remember the video - yes I am that old! Aside from that it tends to be pure nostalgia: Ska, Motown, Blondie anything with a faster beat works well for me and spurs me on. Good luck!

Preserved_Moose profile image
Preserved_Moose in reply to

I can see Blondie and Meatloaf working for me

mrrun profile image
mrrunGraduate

I only ever listen to the stuff that l always listen to, l don’t do such nonsense as ‘running music’, what on earth is that?! If l were forced to listen to anything that l don’t want to, l would deliberately and consciously run off the highest cliff, arms wide apart, head down position.

I never ever run to the beat. What if I’m tired and the song is fast? I simply let the music play and complement my running, never dictate it.

Preserved_Moose profile image
Preserved_Moose in reply to mrrun

What’s the point of commenting if you don’t like the discussion? Why go out of your way to criticise an idea that doesn’t affect you at all? Running music is whatever you want it to be if you listen to music while running. I like music and I like discussing it so thought it would be fun to share ideas and see what works for other people. No one is forcing anyone to listen to anything, no one ever said you have to run to the beat. Personally I find certain songs motivate and energise me more, I wanted to see how other people enjoyed music while running and what music they liked. I don’t know how anyone could have a problem with a discussion like that but what’s the point of complaining about something harmless that other people enjoy?

mrrun profile image
mrrunGraduate in reply to Preserved_Moose

Lol. I can tell that you got my post entirely wrong. Never mind. :)

Preserved_Moose profile image
Preserved_Moose in reply to mrrun

Which part?

AgingMetalHead profile image
AgingMetalHeadGraduate

Depends. I found longer songs helped initially when I got to the longer runs so I had some prog rock on for a few weeks. Songs lasted longer than the runs 😂.

Now I'm used to those kind of runs, so I'm back to whatever takes my fancy, but always rock / metal / prog / punk based. Last night (W8R1) was The Plague Within by Paradise Lost (I'm old school so I still listen to albums not playlists) but I'm not sure that's going to be everyone's cup of tea!!

Preserved_Moose profile image
Preserved_Moose in reply to AgingMetalHead

I prefer albums too, I’m too much of a completist! Rest day today so no running but listening to Iron Maiden on my way to walk, think this would be perfect so I’ll try this tomorrow

AgingMetalHead profile image
AgingMetalHeadGraduate in reply to Preserved_Moose

Nice! Well listen to Empire of the Clouds twice and you've covered 36 minutes!

cheekychipmunks profile image
cheekychipmunksGraduate

I’ve found the perfect track to match my stride pattern is Mirrors by Justin Timberlake! I’d like to find more like that, but my current playlist is simply some upbeat tunes that I like listening to anyway. I used to use a playlist which contained some ballads- hmmm, lovely but not conducive to running! 😀🏃‍♀️

happysouls profile image
happysoulsGraduate

I have ACDC "For those about to rock" as my warm up track. In my head it becomes "For those about to run we salute you" and then they do the canon firing at the end to salute me just as I set off! Really puts me in the mood. The tracks that follow are ones that make me feel really good and happy and each new one that starts seems to spur me on! (Iggy Pop, Kasabian, Cyprus Hill) I think after I've finished the couch to 5K I might have to consider new playlists but for now my favourites seem to really help me.

Jundal profile image
JundalGraduate

I tend to listen to a massive variety of music, from a playlist I made when I first started running. It has many things, from jamiroquai to Ian brown, train, daft punk, both ghallager brothers, (but seperately) the Hoosiers... Loads of stuff. I do find that some tracks dictate my footfall speed so simply skip them if I'm in a slow mood. It's all about enjoying what I'm listening to whilst I run, something that takes me away from the pounding feet, wobbling backside and the rasping of my breathing.

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