Top 7 music albums for running
Kurt from KULG here 👋, casual 35-yr old runner and lover of a good album that matches my vibes of the day. I usually run 8-12kms around town, and that’s the perfect amount of time to complete an album start to finish.
Aside from fitness, runs for me are also about a short escape from daily life. For the next hour or so, it’s just one foot in front of the other - no notifications, no meetings - time for gliding physically, and mentally. A good album pairs nicely to this, and so here you have it…
My top 7 go-to music albums for a run:
Mezzanine — Massive Attack (63 mins)
Mood: Dark, rhythmic
Teardrop is a famous track you’ve no doubt heard of, but even better is the full, complete album. An easy album to glide through your steps to as the methodic beats and soft backing vocals do their thing - slow and steady wins the race after all.
2. Dummy – Portishead (49 mins)
Mood: Gritty, Soulful
Mezzanine’s cousin some say, and why it’s paired with it on the list - no specific order by the way! Dummy has powerful lead vocals, that meander over some heavy topics if you’re paying attention. If you’re not, it’s a solid journey that ends with one of their most famous songs - Glory Box, the perfect way to complete an afternoon run.
3. Sweet Spot – Muutus (68 mins)
Mood: Meditative, uplifting
I came across this artist recently, and it’s perfect for a longer run where you’re feeling in the mood for a reset and to reflect. It’s purely instrumental, and the album takes you on a journey with what seems like one single track, yet is actually 5 that perfectly blend together.
No doubt after this listen and a run, you’ll be feeling mentally refreshed.
4. Tony Hawk’s PS2 Soundtrack (52 mins)
Mood: Nostalgic, thrashing
Almost as opposite as it gets to Muutus, THPS2 is 25 years old, so the tracks on this album brought out for the iconic game are at least that old.
When I’m in the mood for a bunch of familiar songs from my childhood to almost rage out at, this is the one.
Sometimes the mood of the day calls for a run with Rage Against the Machine in there.
5. OK Computer – Radiohead (53 mins)
Mood: Grey, hopeful
Musically it’s legendary of course, but give this album a whirl in the rain or a gale, trust me. Sometimes you need music to match the dispiriting weather and this would be the one for me.
There is a hope to this album even if at first it seems down, just like how you’ll feel at the end of your run when you could have just as easily stayed at home.
6. Dark Side of the Moon – Pink Floyd (43 mins)
Mood: Free, Continous
Do I even need to add anything about one of the most famous albums of all time? Not really. In the modern world of soundbites, reels and tik-toks, when else do you have the spare time to listen to this gem of an album in full?
On a nice long run of course, from start to finish as it was originally intended!
7. On the Sun – The Black Seeds (54 mins)
Mood: Summer, mellow
This is New Zealand music at its finest for me, if you’ve not heard of what I like to call NZeggae, then start here!
Best listened to on a sunny run, the pairing of slow, chilled beats and soft lyrics will have you uplifted and bouncing in your running stride.
Whether you're chasing distance, clarity, or just some time offline, the right music album for running can make all the difference in keeping you motivated to even get out the door.
On my runs, my wearable of choice is my Garmin Venu Sq 2 Music edition smartwatch (if you’re in the market for a running watch, this one’s lightweight and has an excellent Spotify integration, I’m a fan). Garmin watches also directly integrate with KULG for my running data to sync after every run, which is easier than eggs on toast.
There you have it, my personal top 7. I hope you found some gems for yourself in there!
