Whether you’re running outside (solo!), or just hitting the treadmill, good music can often make the difference between a rave run and a blown goal. That’s why we’re putting together 90-minute playlists each month chock-full of songs with enough of a beat to keep you moving.


Finally, 2020 is over, and 2021 is offering us all a fresh start (although that still includes wearing a mask and following CDC guidelines on social distancing)! We’ve made it through a grueling year, and with 12 brand-new months on the horizon, it’s the perfect time to turn over a new leaf, set a new goal, and, might we suggest, try out a new running playlist?

While January is a time of new beginnings and hopeful starts, it can also be a cold, snowy, and dark month for runners. To combat those dreary, below-freezing mornings, we’ve put together a playlist full of songs to inspire and motivate. Refresh your music queue with these jams as you set out to tackle new challenges or press on in your current ones.

As you embark on your 2021 journey as a runner, we hope these songs encourage you to keep putting one foot in front of the other. So lace up your running shoes, throw on your jacket, grab your headphones, and let’s get running!

Want more health and fitness tips? Join Runner’s World+ today! 🏃🏃‍♀️

You can find all our older playlists in the archive.


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Headshot of Matthew Huff
Matthew Huff is a freelance writer and runner, and he is the author of MARATHONER: What to Expect When Training for and Running a Marathon, published by Rizzoli Publications. His writing has appeared in Runner's World and BuzzFeed among others, and he is the co-host of “P.S. You're Wrong: A Pop Culture Podcast.” Originally from Michigan, he now lives and runs in New York City, where he is pursuing a career as an expert chicken tender taster.