Recommended music for marathons: uplifting songs that give you the courage to power through
Do you listen to music when you run marathons or go jogging?
In fact, listening to music while running comes with big benefits!
The biggest advantage is that matching your stride to the tempo can act like a pacemaker and help you keep a steady pace.
Plus, listening to your favorite tracks or motivational songs can boost your morale, helping some people make it all the way to the finish.
In this article, we’ll introduce songs with comfortable running tempos and uplifting anthems that boost motivation!
You’re sure to get that extra push to hang in there a little longer.
Just be sure to stay aware of your surroundings—and bring these tunes along as your companions for marathons and jogs!
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Recommended music for marathons: motivational songs (71–80) that give you the courage to run through
DREAMERIkuta Rira
A gemlike ballad that powerfully conveys passion for dreams and a deep love of music.
Standing at life’s crossroads, its lyrics gently support young people chasing their precious dreams, celebrating the beauty of staying true to oneself.
Sung by Rira Ikuta, the song was released in March 2025 alongside the album Hyakka Ryouran and drew wide attention as an insert song in the drama Paripi Komei.
Because she has devoted herself to music since childhood, her true-to-life expressiveness lends words that move the heart.
As a finale track for school sports days and festivals, it’s sure to become a cherished song that colors a page of youth.
Fantasista4
This is a track used as the theme song for the 2002 FIFA World Cup by Dragon Ash.
Its powerful, lively sound evokes the image of a stadium crowd in full excitement.
The light, word-packed vocals are also captivating, and it feels as though they teach you to let go of unnecessary tension and move toward your goal.
It’s a song with momentum yet a breezy atmosphere, and listening to it makes you feel like you can relax and take your next step forward.
REVIVERMY FIRST STORY
A powerful rock number packed with messages of rebirth and self-affirmation! Included on MY FIRST STORY’s album “ALL LEAD TRACKS,” released in July 2017, it was chosen as the theme song for Part 3 of the smartphone RPG “Hortensia Saga: Aoi no Kishidan.” With its driving melodies and grand sound, it expresses the courage to face adversity and the resolve to rise again.
Even if you’re reborn, your convictions remain unchanged—this song embodies the determination to live true to yourself.
It’s a track you’ll want to listen to when you hit a wall, when you feel like you’re losing yourself, or when you need to rally your spirit.
The BeginningONE OK ROCK
This song delivers a deeply moving experience, with powerhouse vocals and a band sound so compelling it gives you goosebumps.
It captures the determination of those taking a new step forward and carries a message that pushes you from behind, radiating a power that resonates more with every listen.
Released in August 2012, it was chosen as the theme song for the film Rurouni Kenshin, and through its synergy with the movie, it captured the hearts of a wide audience, reaching No.
5 on the Oricon charts.
Perfect as BGM for time trials or relay events, this track offers a refreshing sense of speed and the courage to take on challenges—be sure to experience it.
Rocky Themebirukonti
A sports anthem that resonates with a powerful brass section and full orchestral sound, portraying humanity’s boundless potential and passion.
Known as a quintessential masterpiece at the intersection of film and music, it stages a grand narrative themed around hard work, growth, and a leap toward one’s dreams.
Composed by Bill Conti for the film Rocky, released in February 1977, it reached No.
1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in July of the same year and ranked 58th on AFI’s 100 Years of Film Scores.
Beyond exit scenes, it’s a highly effective track for moments when you want to encourage people who are giving their all—such as school events, sports day practice, and lineup formations.
Extraordinary day&TEAM
This song was written as the theme for TBS’s 2025 Beppu Oita Mainichi Marathon.
With its rhythmic tempo and light, breezy melody, it gives listeners the urge to start running.
The lyrics emphasize the importance of bonds with friends and believing in yourself, encouraging not only marathon runners but anyone facing daily challenges.
In 2024, &TEAM released four works as part of their Spring-Summer-Autumn-Winter series, and their second album, Yukiakari, topped various charts.
This track is also recommended for those working hard toward exams, careers, or their dreams.
Zankyo SankaAimer
A work whose grand worldview woven by visuals and music is its chief allure.
The powerful message embedded in the lyrics—“overcoming past pain and moving forward into the future”—is beautifully harmonized with the dark, sweeping melody.
Aimer’s distinctive vocals resound with deep emotion and stir the heart.
It was released digitally in advance in December 2021, followed by a CD single in January 2022.
Chosen as the opening theme for the anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Entertainment District Arc, it drew major attention, including taking two crowns on Billboard Japan from its digital release.
Perfect for when you need the courage to walk toward your ideals or to fire yourself up.
Listening to this piece while training will surely give you the strength to push past your limits.