35 Songs About Running, from Born to Run to Running Up That Hill

What is the most famous song about running?

"Born to Run" by Bruce Springsteen is the most famous song about running, and "Running Up That Hill" by Kate Bush found a whole new audience through Stranger Things in 2022. For runners, "Chariots of Fire" by Vangelis is the classic race theme, and "Running on Empty" by Jackson Browne plays during Forrest Gump's run across America.

Classic rock songs about running

1. "Born to Run", Bruce Springsteen: escaping a small town at full speed.
2. "Running on Empty", Jackson Browne: life on the road.
3. "Runnin' Down a Dream", Tom Petty: chasing a goal down the highway.
4. "Run Through the Jungle", Creedence Clearwater Revival: a swampy classic.
5. "Runnin' with the Devil", Van Halen: the band's famous opener.
6. "Run to the Hills", Iron Maiden: a galloping metal anthem.
7. "Run Like Hell", Pink Floyd: from The Wall.
8. "Run to You", Bryan Adams: an 80s rock hit.
9. "Running on Faith", Eric Clapton: a slow song about trusting love.
10. "Keep On Running", The Spencer Davis Group: a 60s mod classic.

Pop and soul songs about running

11. "Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)", Kate Bush: about trading places to understand each other.
12. "Run", Snow Patrol: a slow-building ballad.
13. "I Ran (So Far Away)", A Flock of Seagulls: the new wave favorite.
14. "Run Away with Me", Carly Rae Jepsen: an invitation to escape together.
15. "Run Boy Run", Woodkid: dramatic drums that feel like a sprint.
16. "Runnin' (Lose It All)", Naughty Boy featuring Beyoncé and Arrow Benjamin: a soaring ballad.
17. "Running with the Night", Lionel Richie: a night out in the city.
18. "Run to Me", Bee Gees: a gentle 1972 ballad.
19. "Run, Baby, Run", Sheryl Crow: her debut single.
20. "Runaway Baby", Bruno Mars: a fast retro rocker.
21. "Runaway", Aurora: a song about wanting to run home.

Songs about running away

22. "Runaway", Del Shannon: a 1961 hit about a love who ran away.
23. "Runaway Train", Soul Asylum: its video showed real missing children.
24. "Running Scared", Roy Orbison: a dramatic early 60s ballad.
25. "Running Bear", Johnny Preston: a 1959 story song.
26. "Running Away", Bob Marley and the Wailers: about facing what you run from.
27. "Run", George Strait: a country ballad about getting back to someone.

Hip hop and electronic songs about running

28. "Runnin'", The Pharcyde: a laid-back 90s hip hop classic.
29. "Run (I'm a Natural Disaster)", Gnarls Barkley: a frantic, fun song.
30. "Run On", Moby: a gospel sample turned into a dance track.

Running songs for a race or workout

31. "Chariots of Fire", Vangelis: the theme from the 1981 film about Olympic runners.
32. "Gonna Fly Now", Bill Conti: the Rocky theme, made for running up steps.
33. "The Distance", Cake: about a racer who keeps going.
34. "Eye of the Tiger", Survivor: the ultimate training song.
35. "Run Rudolph Run", Chuck Berry: perfect for a holiday 5K.

Why are there so many songs about running?

Running works as a symbol for almost everything: chasing a dream, escaping a hard life, running toward someone you love or running from your own problems. It also has a beat built in, which is why so many of these songs have a driving rhythm.

Running songs from movies and TV

Some of the most famous running scenes come with a song attached. In Forrest Gump, Forrest runs back and forth across America to "Running on Empty", and Chariots of Fire opens with athletes running along a Scottish beach to the Vangelis theme. Rocky's training run up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art made "Gonna Fly Now" famous, and "Running Up That Hill" returned to the charts as Max's song in Stranger Things.

How to build a running playlist

Match the music to your pace: songs around 160 to 180 beats per minute suit a steady run, while slower ballads work for a warm-up or cool-down. Start with something calm, save the biggest anthems for the last mile, and finish with a song that feels like a victory lap. Download the playlist before you leave, so a weak signal on the trail never stops the music. For more energy, see our motivational songs.

Cheering on a race

For a marathon, half marathon or school cross-country meet, a playlist of songs about running is a fun way to cheer from the sidelines. "Born to Run", "Chariots of Fire" and "Gonna Fly Now" are crowd favorites at the finish line. Bring a sign with the runner's name and play their favorite song from a small speaker as they pass by: it can carry them through a tough mile.

A song for the runner in your life

For a friend training for their first marathon or a teammate finishing a big season, a personalized song can celebrate their miles, early mornings and finish-line moments with their name in the chorus. It makes a great gift for race day, a birthday or the end of the season.

How to create a personalized song

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: rock, pop, hip hop and more.
2. Add their name.
3. Share three moments from their running journey.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $24.99, or $29.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Give the runner in your life a song of their own: create a song and hear four previews for free.