# Good songs to run to **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 24, 2011, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-songs-to-run-to/575897 "2011-03-24T22:15:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2011, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-songs-to-run-to/575897/1 "2011-03-24T22:15:28Z")
Just started a running regimen; so far everything’s going well My main issue is that it’s pretty damn boring, especially on a treadmill - I need something to distract and entertain me. I JFGI resulting in a million suggestions of Lady Gaga and instantly forgettable hip-hop garbage, so Google no help there. What I want is something with a good pace that isn’t shit, something that can drive you to ignore the pain. Something that runs with you, if you like. Something you can dive straight into. By way of example, stuff like this I find is perfect for running; [Pure Morning by Placebo](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbHkwrGgsoA), great loud, thumping and bounding track. Easily my favourite track to put on when running. [The Trooper](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTaD9cd8hvw) or [Run to the Hills](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDd-GXkMrJs) by Iron Maiden. I prefer The Trooper, just because I think it gets going a bit quicker, and every second of mental fortitude is valuable. Soundtracks are good too. [Tanker Incident](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgWCvcGr8PE&playnext=1&list=PL9885979E5784D0BA) from MGS2 is pretty repetitive, but still engaging enough to want to make you press on. And since I’m obsessed, the ME2 soundtrack is pretty damn good - particularly with its epic [Suicide Mission](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTsD2FjmLsw) and [The End Run](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCk4RiKH9H0)…oh, and [The Normandy Attacked](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3_1gwzbV84&feature=related)…[Reborn](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXCM0lZxh4U&feature=related). My tiny little mind needs lots of distraction when running to avoid thinking ‘feck this, let’s walk for a bit’ - any recommendations? ---
**Author:** ![dawson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@dawson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dawson)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2011, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-songs-to-run-to/575897/2 "2011-03-24T23:06:38Z")
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/t0pq0b6UqrY/hqdefault.jpg "Two Step- Dave Matthews Band") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0pq0b6UqrY) Two Step by Dave Matthews Band has a great building intro that just keeps the tempo going throughout. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-songs-to-run-to/575897/3 "2011-03-25T00:21:37Z")
[This Too Shall Pass](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qybUFnY7Y8w) by OK Go has a good tempo (and a sweet video!) Actually, so does their song [Here It Goes Again](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaRfxjcpYvM) - it’s the treadmill song! ---
**Author:** ![Crawlspace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Crawlspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crawlspace)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-songs-to-run-to/575897/4 "2011-03-25T01:21:49Z")
My all time favorite song to workout to is [The Moil](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM1QDX6UhrU) by **Galactic**. Ignore the unrelated video. Just about everything I’ve heard from **The Go! Team** can be used in a workout mix. To start look at **Thunder, Lightning, Strike** , it’s an album where all of the songs are pretty much based on 80’s GI Joe commercial style music. For example: [Junior Kickstart](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMtLBXlMZ-s), [Huddle Formation](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0eso4ARXzk), [Panther Dash](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds26yl8siD0) I’m also a pretty big fan of **Lettuce**. Songs like [Blast Off](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMkbx17XeYg), or [Making My Way Back Home](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4MxvUSqOGw&feature=related) have a pretty seductive tempo. If you liked Lettuce, give Breakestra a look. It’s not as consistently up tempo, but The Live Mix Part 2 can suck you in and make you forget anything. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-songs-to-run-to/575897/5 "2011-03-25T11:46:49Z")
_Run Like Hell_ by Floyd. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-songs-to-run-to/575897/6 "2011-03-25T12:02:16Z")
\*Bodies \*by Drowning Pool ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-songs-to-run-to/575897/7 "2011-03-25T12:12:57Z")
We did this same thing recently, possibly in the Game Room. People run to wildly varied musical tastes, so my Classic Rock suggestions might not mesh with your ears. I have lots of CCR, Beatles, Stones, plus a variety of faster paced blues, a wee bit of punk, and some oddballs from the 80’s. ---
**Author:** ![Curious3d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Curious3d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Curious3d)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-songs-to-run-to/575897/8 "2011-03-25T12:23:15Z")
It may be too repetetive/house for you but it’s nice for early in the workout. [Furious Angels](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtAmFKaThNE) I also like a working out angry. Plenty of cussing in this one. [Limp Bizkit](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_9zpAWFFKQ) ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-songs-to-run-to/575897/9 "2011-03-25T12:41:07Z")
[Go with the flow](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcHKOC64KnE): QOTSA [Taste](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ag-u3Yuq8xo): Ride [The real me](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pohhMx9EdNc): The Who They may make you run slightly _too_ fast though. ---
**Author:** ![Chicken\_Fingers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Chicken\_Fingers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicken_Fingers)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-songs-to-run-to/575897/10 "2011-03-25T12:59:17Z")
[Third Uncle:](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yai4bier1oM) Brian Eno. ---
**Author:** ![willthekittensurvive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/91b2a8/32.png) [@willthekittensurvive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/willthekittensurvive)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-songs-to-run-to/575897/11 "2011-03-25T14:31:06Z")
I found that Paul Simons Graceland was a great running companion, ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-songs-to-run-to/575897/12 "2011-03-25T14:58:11Z")
Here’s the recent thread - [Help Me Make a Playlist for Upcoming Marathon! - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=594875) ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-songs-to-run-to/575897/13 "2011-03-25T15:06:38Z")
I recently downloaded a Ministry of Sound album called Running Trax. It’s not the type of music I would listen to generally, but I find it good for running to as it has a strong beat. It’s mainly dancey type remixes of a mixture of songs. ---
**Author:** ![Satchmo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/satchmo/32/4223_2.png) [@Satchmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satchmo)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-songs-to-run-to/575897/14 "2011-03-25T15:16:38Z")
You can’t go far wrong with the classics: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JgoPl35n_AY/hqdefault.jpg ""Linus and Lucy"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgoPl35n_AY) “Linus and Lucy” from the Vince Guaraldi Trio. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-songs-to-run-to/575897/15 "2011-03-25T21:08:44Z")
Ha, nice. Thanks for the suggestions fellas (and the link **Telemark** , I did do a search but got either “Fatal Error: Blah blah blah some numbers” or 3 unrelated results). ---
**Author:** ![Curious3d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Curious3d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Curious3d)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-songs-to-run-to/575897/16 "2011-03-25T21:17:08Z")
Not everyone is a fella. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2011, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-songs-to-run-to/575897/17 "2011-03-25T23:09:52Z")
The ‘Run Lola Run’ soundtrack. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-songs-to-run-to/575897/18 "2011-03-26T05:33:52Z")
[Vangelis’ _L’Enfant_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kRS4pkrBqE). (I can never resist an [obscure reference](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chariots_of_Fire#Music). 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-songs-to-run-to/575897/19 "2011-03-26T07:22:24Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > _Run Like Hell_ by Floyd. > > 🙂 I’ll see your _Run Like Hell_ and raise you a _Born To Run_ by Bruce Springsteen. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/47e85d/32.png) [@3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3_20_59_or_bust)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2011, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-songs-to-run-to/575897/20 "2011-03-27T23:56:06Z")
I put a new “Best Running Songs” song up every month on my blog. Check it out [here](http://thetwors.blogspot.com/search/label/Best%20Running%20Songs) if you’d like.