While there’s very little magic in running—like most things, improvement comes with consistency and focus—there is something magical when the right song hits your ears during a run.

Whether it’s Macklemore reminding you that these are the good old days (so be where your feet are) or Eminem telling you to push yourself (and forget that your legs are burning) or Hall and Oats helping you make your dreams come true, great songs can make us speed up, reflect, smile, and sing along. (And the best running songs can do that all at once!)

Our gratitude for the motivation and entertainment that provides music ranges far and wide, much like this best running songs playlist. We asked Another Mother Runner coaches and staff for the songs that get them going on a run, and also asked for a little commentary on one entry. Check them out: You may find your new favorite running song or flash back to one from long ago; either way, we’re confident tuning in will give you a little pep in your step—and remind *you* are, in fact, the hotstepper.

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[Want to take a deeper dive on how music influences your workout? Listen to the Music + Running podcast; the featured guest is Charlie Harding, one of the hosts of Switched on Pop podcast.]

Good Vibrations: Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch

Getting Jiggy with It: Will Smith

Surrender: Cheap Trick: “My dad passed in December, but he is a huge Cheap Trick Fan. I grew up listening to them and have seen them in concert multiple times. This song always reminds me of rocking out with him at my wedding.” —Mandy Cherry, Become a Runner + 5K Coach

Gloria: The Lumineers

Hold Out Your Hand: Brandi Carlisle

Furr: Blitzen Trapper: “This song is just so bouncy and fun. And even though I just discovered it recently, the music somehow calls to mind all sorts of wonderful memories and emotions. Something about it wraps me in a warm bubble of happiness that makes running feel effortless.” —Michelle San Antonio, TK

The Champion: Carrie Underwood

First Kiss: Kid Rock

Shake That: Eminem: “If I listen to music when I run, it has to be a little aggressive and hard.  I love Kid Rock and Eminem’s music because I find it really is motivating and aggressive, both things I really like when I am running!” —Jennifer Harrison, Heart Rate Running + Triathlon Coach

Ooh Ahh: Grits: “I listened to this incessantly as I prepared to compete in my very first collegiate race – every time I listen to it now my heart skips a beat thinking back to how much fun it was to get up onto the [swimming] blocks and GO!” —Ellie Kempton, Nutrition Coach

Never give up: Sia

Ready: Hael

Jump on my Shoulders: AWOLNATION: “Spoken word near the end of the song: ‘It’s not supposed to be easy! That’s why it feels so f***ing good!’ This song knows where to find me and pull me through by giving me something to exclaim as I push through the hard — it met me on the mile 25 staircase down from an overpass at my 1st marathon, and then again at mile 23 of NYC marathon when I had to dig deeper than I ever have to hit a massive PR.” —Melissa Theberge, TLAM Club Administrator and BAMRbassador Manager

Runaway Baby: Bruno Mars

River Deep, Mountain High: Celine Dion

Titanium: David Guetta, Sia: “This was the song playing as I walked into the water for Ironman Texas in 2015. The song always bring me back to that moment where nerves shift into excitement and you feel nothing but possibility.” —Elizabeth Waterstraat, Heart Rate Running + Triathlon Coach

Running Up That Hill: Meg Myers

C’Mon: Tiesto vs Diplo

Here Comes the Hotstepper: Ini Kamoze: “I vividly remember the first time I heard this song: at an aid station on the side of a road in Hawaii when I was on a cycling tour of the Big Island. It revved me UP!” —SBS, AMR Co-Founder

Club Can’t Handle Me: Flo Rida, David Guetta

Can’t Hold Us: Macklemore & Ryan Dalton

Bawitdaba: Kid Rock: “This song gets my feet moving faster and faster as it progresses. The beat builds and brings you along for the ride. I can run my fastest sprints to this song.” —Christy Scott, Ultra Coach

Right Now: Van Halen

Kiwi: Harry Styles

Lose Yourself: Eminem

Stronger: Kanye

Bitter Sweet Symphony: The Verve: “Years ago I watched coverage of the Ironman World Championships, and one of the background songs was Bitter Sweet Symphony. It struck just the right chord for the broadcast, and after watching that episode, I was inspired to try an Ironman myself. It continues to motivate me to this day.” —Amanda Loudin, Traditional Running Program Coach

Glorious: Macklemore

Giants: Matt Nathanson: “This has a section that goes ‘We can wake up every morning, we can set ourselves on fire. We can do it all again. The world don’t speak for us. They lack the confidence. Yeah, we’re only hearts and bones and blood. Oh, but we are giants, giants’ It always makes me feel like I can keep going forever! My run does set myself on fire, even when I don’t want to run.” —Jennifer Steele, Become a Runner + 5K Coach

Super Bass: Nicki Minaj

Cut to the Feeling: Carly Rae Jepsen: “This is the happiest song in the universe and I put it on repeat when I hit my runner’s high. Makes me feel like I’m running on clouds of joy.” —Cathy Engstrom, Newsletter Editor

Could Have Been Me: The Struts.

Formation: Beyoncé.

&Run: Sir Sly

Empire State of Mind: Jay Z and Alicia Key: “This song transports me back to my college days when I’d take long walks to campus from my apartment in the crisp morning air and remember feeling a profound sense of independence, power, and purpose for the first time in my life. Anytime I hear that piano refrain in the background, I get a self-confidence boost that makes my gait just that much stronger.” —Hillary Fuji, Instagram Manager

River Run: Cereus Bright

Good Old Days: Macklemore

Big Parade: The Lumineers: “Give me a folksy song with a knee-slapping beat and good lyrics, and I’m all in.” —Dimity McDowell, AMR Co-Founder

America’s Sweetheart: Elle King

Brighter Than the Sun: Colbie Caillat

You Make My Dreams (Come True): Daryl Hall and John Oates: “The key to a good workout song is that you can completely lose yourself in music. The lyrics you know by heart, the beat keeps you moving, you just want to dance – it’s an instant adrenaline rush!” —Melissa Gilley, AMR Retreat Coordinator

Only Wanna Be With You: Hootie and the Blowfish

Get the BEST RUNNING SONGS on Spotify

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