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Runner's World Playlist: Running Classics

Boost your workout with the perfect running soundtrack from Runner's World

Posted: 21 December 2009

Want to find your perfect tempo and give your running a boost? Just dig out your MP3 player.

"Music is a legal drug," says Dr Costas Karageorghis, professor of psychology at Brunel University in London and musical consultant to the Run To The Beat Half-Marathon. "It reduces the perception of effort by blocking fatigue messages to the brain, and it can elevate positive mood."

Karageorghis has found that fast-tempo songs - exceeding 120 beats per minute (bpm) yield optimum performance at exercise intensities of 75 per cent of maximum heart rate
or higher (with slower music working better during recovery periods).

In addition, effective running songs seem to share common thematic traits. Simplicity is key - simple beats, chords and messages. Most also possess:

A strong rhythm
There seems to be a physical reaction to a pounding drumbeat or a big guitar riff.

Powerful themes
Featuring lyrics that inspire or inflame passions.

A feel-good vibe
For when you're flagging and in need of a mental boost. Sometimes-sneered-at pop songs become guilty pleasures that take on a new dimension when you really need a burst of joy or determination to carry you through those tough miles.

RUNNER'S WORLD Playlist no.1: Running Classics

We took all these factors into consideration when compiling the RUNNER'S WORLD Playlist no.1: Running Classics - a one-hour all-purpose mix to boost your mood and endurance during any medium-length run. It features classic uptempo tracks often heard over the PA at big races. In addition, the songs have been specially sequenced to guide you through your run, with tempos that match your changing levels of exertion (see diagram below).

Now available exclusively on iTunes at runnersworld.co.uk/playlists.

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Discuss this story

Riikka Hess

classics is a good title for this playlist- are there any.. more modern playlists that have been made?

Posted: 27/12/2009 16:15

Riikka Hess

classics is a good title for this playlist- are there any.. more modern playlists that have been made?

Posted: 27/12/2009 16:16

am_aye_runnin

It's nice that RW have made this playlist for us all, but the songs are a bit gentle for my taste.

You should hear my running playlists. They contain all different types of music (rock, dance, hard dance, rap, and more) but all the songs are guaranteed to produce a furious impulse to run faster. As everybody's musical tastes are different there isn't much point in me posting the playlists here, but they beat the RW version hands down (I think anyway) .

Posted: 30/12/2009 22:41

Ed D

What a horrible playlist!
Posted: 04/01/2010 14:06

darren chittock

best running play list so far great mix well done
Posted: 05/01/2010 13:44

Ehlne

I love the idea of picking the right speed (bpm) of tracks for the running training you're doing and creating a playlist to suit a particular training run. Today I was doing a slow 3m and was really struggling to run slow enough to Arctic Monkeys (the Garmin kept beeping at me to slow down!), so I switched to one I love but would never normally use for running - a Texan band called the Belleville Outfit (which iTunes labels 'new acoustic') - and after that it all went like clockwork!

I agree though I wouldn't buy the RW playlist - just too dated. For decent-paced running, my favourites are Arctic Monkeys, Maximo Park and yes, Black Eyed Peas (Elephunk) album. In fact 'Pump It' is probably the only song from the RW list I'd give the thumbs up to. My absolute favourite for putting a sprint on is Maximo Park's 'Our Velocity' - great for spurring you on to that last sprint finish.

Posted: 05/01/2010 22:30

Megaskud

I did the Run to the Beat half marathon last year and they had a great mix of songs for a similar compilation.

The best I found to run to was by a band called Swound, but I can't remember the name of the song. Something about being dangerous!

Posted: 06/01/2010 13:14

Fraser Balaam

That is a pretty ropey playlist. Music is the most important aspect of my runs. Completely agree with Our Velocity as a finisher, that song gave me the beans for a sprint finish in the Bristol half last year!
Posted: 06/01/2010 19:01

Shiva

Awful playlist, i'd want to throw myself under a bus by track 3.
Posted: 06/01/2010 19:04

Flat Footed

Well done for surviving that long Shiva, i jumped during the first track
Posted: 06/01/2010 19:07

Jim Connor 3

Shocking playlist! Did those artists pay for the product placement? Good, useful diagram above though. Of course, musical choices are so subjective. Here's mine in case my doppelganger is out there somewhere! The rest of you - seeing as I cast the first stone - prepare to attack!!!

Where is my mind                Pixies                                               Where The Streets Have No Name    U2                                                   Are You Gonna Be My Girl                   Jet
Pounding                                          Doves
Somebody Told Me                            The Killers                                         Police On My Back                             Lethal Bizzle                                          Last Train to Transcentral                    The KLF
Call On Me (Radio Edit)                      Eric Prydz
Non-Believer                                     La Rocca
Hoppípolla                                        Sigur Rós
Fine Day (James Holden Remix)         Kirsty Hawkshaw
Can't Stand Me Now                          The Libertines
Mr. Brightside                                   The Killers
Alive & Amplified        &n
Posted: 08/01/2010 20:38

Jim Connor 3

Oop, last post went a bit awry. let's try again..

Where is my mind - Pixies
Where The Streets Have No Name - U2
Are You Gonna Be My Girl - Jet
Pounding - Doves
Somebody Told Me - The Killers
Police On My Back - Lethal Bizzle
Last Train to Transcentral - The KLF
Call On Me (Radio Edit) - Eric Prydz
Non-Believer - La Rocca
Hoppípolla - Sigur Rós
Fine Day (James Holden Remix) - Kirsty Hawkshaw
Can't Stand Me Now - The Libertines
Mr. Brightside - The Killers
Alive & Amplified - The Mooney Suzuki
Fighter - Christina Aguilera
Get It Together - The Go! Team
ELO - Mr. Blue Sky

Posted: 08/01/2010 20:44

Jim Connor 3

And I forgot Pacific State by 808 State between Sigur Ros and Kirsty Hawkshaw: it's the trance section for when I need to blank out the pain...;-)
Posted: 08/01/2010 20:47

JugglingJunky

Top playlist JC3 - I've whacked it all in to spotify and checking it out now - thanks for sharing

Posted: 14/01/2010 22:26

Scotty Boy

Worst play list ever. Maybe its to keep your mind off of the running itself my getting so annoyed by the rubbish you are listening to. Its not a theme pub you are running in is it RW?

Posted: 15/01/2010 14:25

Scotty Boy

agreed JC3 that is a good playlist. Needs a little Oasis though

Posted: 15/01/2010 14:27

Greedo

M People

God help everyone

Posted: 17/01/2010 20:47

Tear Along Dotted Line

Powerade Pulse is a free programme that searches your i-tunes library and select tracks at a bpm that you suggest.

Great. I asked it for a 2 hour playlist that started at 120bpm that built to 160 then down again to 120.

Went for my run and realised halfway through it was set to shuffle!!!!!!!!!!

Jill

Posted: 17/01/2010 22:50

grandad6

It's all very well saying 'dig out your MP3 player'. ITunes is no good if you don't have an ipod. I love my Creative Zen and many other folks have MP3 players of another brand. Make the playlist available to all (even if the music is crap) or just say 'dig out your Ipod' instead and sod the rest of you
Posted: 23/01/2010 08:57

Angela Kennedy 3

this play list is also a bit too gentle. I tried out AudioFuel music for runners the other week, its way better, modern and so not classics from the past! i did a PB to Excelerator at 42mintues, so happy times for me and AudioFuel. www.audiofuel.co.uk . ANother good resource for those running in London Marathon is the Music for Motivation website, http://www.musicandmotivation.com

Posted: 23/01/2010 16:31

Chris Humphreys

Absolutely dire.

No songs at all from the Rocky Soundtrack? Insanity.

Posted: 23/01/2010 22:46

g mason

awful playlist. I downloaded 101 songs for running from i tunes, a few cheesy tracks but at £11.99 a complete bargain.
Posted: 27/01/2010 18:12

PapaLazarou

I also tried the Audiofuel tracks.

There was a little survey a couple of months back on RW that allowed you to download the whole backcatalogue of Audiofuel tracks, and feedback how useful they were.

I must say I find it impossible to keep to the beat, even on the fastest tracks the voiceover guy says 1-2-3-4 1-2-3-4 and it is far too slow for me. It seems it does not matter how fast I am running, my feet are always hitting the floor with the same frequency. All that changes is the stride length.

Have to say I am not an electronic music fan. Went straight back to by Greenday playlist and instantly back to the beat. Go figure

Finding a compromise at the mo. Prodigy albums taking me back to the early 90's and in most cases fast enough for my feet.

Posted: 30/01/2010 05:30

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