Has anyone else noticed its hard to find a good workout playlist online? You would think that it would be super easy to do a Google search and find the perfectly motivating upbeat playlist for you. Somehow, despite the infinite powers of the internet, this is not the case. Time and time again I am disappointed by what I find (or fail to find) online. I've searched high and low for a great running playlist, and would even settle for something fairly decent if I could find it. Nothing I've found has really worked for me.
Now here’s the thing about music. It can definitely be a performance enhancer when it comes to running. Music motivates. Music is there with you on a long run, when you’re all by yourself and thinking about slowing down. The beat doesn't quit. However, music will only do so much, and only if it the right music for you.
Picking the right music can be difficult, because what works for me might not do it for you. That seems to be the problem with finding a good playlist online. My perfect playlist will always contain songs that simply do not motivate other people. According to Costas Karageorghis, a sports psychologist at Britain’s Brunel University, there are four factors that contribute to a song’s motivational qualities:
Rhythm response – bpm and ties to heart rate/running cadence
Musicality – melody/harmony
Cultural Impact – personal musical background/preferences
Association – ties to memories/feelings
The first two relate to the music’s structure, and the second two factors relate to how we interpret music as individuals. Now, if you've ever taken a spin class, Zumba class, or other organized fitness class you’ll notice that the mixes used tend to overdo the musical aspects in order to compensate for the fact that every athlete has a different preference and association to the music. You can’t please everyone, so it makes sense to pump up the beat and the volume so the music can motivate the whole class.
Now, all of this being said, I’m prepared to share my current “long run” and “5K race” playlists. They aren't perfect and will not work for everyone. My musical taste is not really represented through these playlists either, so don’t judge. Some of the songs on here I actually don’t even like unless I’m running. At some point, the anger that builds up from hearing that overplayed song from the radio can translate quite well into a workout motivator.
I’m listing the songs, but I’m also including a link to my Spotify playlists for easier access to listen and since I update the tracks from time to time. I've had to add more songs as my long runs get longer. Running out of music for the last mile of a 10 miler is never a good thing.
5K Running Playlist:
Total time 28:50 (enough music for a 5K if you run at a 9:15 min/mile pace or faster)
Gangnam Style – Psy
Troublemaker – Olly Murs, Flo Rida
Stronger – Kanye West
Runnin’ Down A Dream – Tom Petty
Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen
#thatPOWER – will.i.am, Justin Bieber
Can’t Hold Us (feat Ray Dalton) – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Long Run Playlist:
Total time: 2:11:07
Incredible, this length will be perfect for my goal half marathon pace/time. Goal is 10 minutes per mile!
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