This Momentum-Driven Playlist Will Help You Lock In—and Won’t Let You Slow Down

Whether you’re running outside or hitting the treadmill, good music can often make the difference between a solid run and a blown goal. That’s why we’re putting together playlists each month chock-full of songs with enough of a beat to keep you moving. For even more tunes, check out our list of the best running songs.

If you want to be a better runner, you’ve got to vary your workouts. Running three miles at a conversational pace a couple of times a week won’t help you set new PRs or finish a marathon. Mixing in long runs, tempo training, and recovery days is crucial.

And as you’re trying to maintain a faster tempo during your runs, a good playlist can help you keep pace. We built out a steady-state playlist that runs longer than 90 minutes and has upbeat songs that range from 120 to 140 beats per minute (bpm). Tack on miles without slowing down.

Matthew Huff

Matthew Huff is a freelance writer and runner, and he is the author of MARATHONER: What to Expect When Training for and Running a Marathon, published by Rizzoli Publications. His writing has appeared in Runner's World and BuzzFeed among others, and he is the co-host of “P.S. You're Wrong: A Pop Culture Podcast.” Originally from Michigan, he now lives and runs in New York City, where he is pursuing a career as an expert chicken tender taster.