The Ultimate Marathon Playlist

Crafting the perfect marathon playlist for 26.2 miles is no easy feat!

I organize my playlist with slow music first. I want to start slower than my goal race pace, so I don’t want the music to pump me up. The songs I pick are slower to balance out the energy I will likely get from the crowds and from the excitement of running another marathon. By mile 5, I’m starting to pick up the pace. I want my playlist to do the same thing. By mile 10 I’m dialing in on race pace and don’t want to be fumbling with my iPod, skipping songs to find one I like.

The last 50 minutes of the race are songs are the most important. These are the songs I will be listening to during what typically ends up being the most painful part of a marathon. I listen to each song 3 or 4 times in a row. This makes a mile seem not as long because really I’ve only listened to one song. Remember that the last miles of a marathon are ALL about mind games. I pick about 7 or so songs that I like the most and that are really upbeat. Those are my “I’m not hitting the wall” songs. I turn up the sound in the last miles and just get lost in the music.

Some of the songs on my playlist have helped me through past marathons. I keep these songs on every marathon playlist to remind how happy I will feel once I cross the finish line. Don’t be afraid to add old favorites.

In no particular order here are some of my favorites. Enjoy!

1. Can’t Feel My Face – The Weekend
2. Hey Brother – Avicii
3. Bad Blood – Taylor Swift
4. Wave After Wave – Mr. Probz
5. John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16 – Keith Urban
6. Ghost Town – Adam Lambert
7. S & M – Rihanna
8. I Need A Dollar – Aloe Blacc
9. Die Young – Kesha
10. The Monster – Eminem featuring Rihanna
11. Fight Song – Rachel Platten
12. Beautiful Now – Zedd ft. Jon Bellion
13. I Don’t Like It, I Love It – Flo Rida featuring Robin Thicke
14. Wake Me Up – Aloe Blacc
15. Stitches – Shawn Mendes
16. I Knew You Were Trouble – Taylor Swift
17. Lean On – Major Lazer & DJ Snake
18. Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver
19. Should’ve Been Us – Tori Kelly
20. Timber – Pit Bull
21. Wake Me Up – Avicii
22. The Man – Aloe Blacc
23. Feel This Moment – Pit Bull featuring Christina Aguilera
24. Let Her Go – Passenger
25. Somebody That I Used To Know – Gotye featuring Kimbra
26. Begin Again – Taylor Swift
27. Where Are You Now – Skrillex and Diplo featuring Justin Bieber
28. Earned It – The Weekend
29. Am I Wrong – Nico & Vinz
30. Mmm Yeah – Austin Mahone featuring Pitbull
31. Really Don’t Care – Demi Lovato featuring Cher Lloyd
32. Someone Like You – Adele
33. Fireflies – Owl City
34. Glad You Came – The Wanted
35. Lights – Ellie Goulding
36. Break Your Heart – Taio Cruz
37. Cooler Than Me – Mike Posner
38. Whatcha Say – Jason Derulo
39. Don’t Stop The Music – Rihanna
40. Right Round – Flo Rida
41. Dynamite – Taio Cruz
42. Lose Yourself – Eminem
43. The Hanging Tree – Jennifer Lawrence
44. Life Your Life – T.I. featuring Rihanna
45. The Way I Are – Timbaland