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 cheer songs that give you the courage to run through (81–90)
Cowardly FlameDIRTY OLD MEN
DIRTY OLD MEN’s “Yowamushi no Honoo” captivates with its exhilarating band sound and powerful vocals.
It was chosen as the opening theme for the second cour of the hugely popular anime Yowamushi Pedal, which centers on road cycling.
It’s a perfect track for marathons too—one that makes you want to take that first step toward challenging your limits.
Listening to the high-speed, adrenaline-pumping chorus will boost your motivation and fire you up when you need just a little more, one more step forward!
My Past Life, Many Lifetimes AgoRADWIMPS
Zenzenzense by the rock band RADWIMPS features a sparkling, exhilarating sound that feels great.
It was written specifically as an insert song for the smash-hit animated film Your Name.
It’s a track that can make you feel refreshed no matter when you listen—early in the morning or late at night.
Like the lyrics about continuing to search for you, steadily adding step after step might be a lot like running a marathon.
If you listen to this song while you run, you might find your focus sharpening and be able to push a little harder and keep going!
BANDAGEAyumu Imazu
The powerful message of “Take action now” resonates deeply.
Dissatisfaction with myself and those around me who won’t face forward, a tangle of complex thoughts—this song vividly depicts the feelings of someone who kept putting bandages on their emotional wounds and ran from truly facing them.
Written in March 2024 as the ending theme for the MBS/TBS drama “If You Fall in Love, the Second Time Is Better,” the track reflects Ayumu Imazu’s own experiences and underscores the importance of shedding doubt and moving forward with courage.
It’s a song that gently nudges those who, even while burdened by hesitation and regret, want to take that first step.
Up-tempo and irresistibly rhythmic, it makes you tap along.
For DecadesLittle Glee Monster
An uplifting anthem that sings of the strength to face forward through setbacks and tears, and the will to keep walking together toward our dreams.
Little Glee Monster harnesses their signature harmonies to deliver a grand, powerful melody that stirs the listener’s heart.
Included on the album “Ambitious,” this track has been selected as the official J.League support song for 2025 and will be featured in stadiums and game broadcasts.
This warm fusion of sports and music will gently encourage everyone striving toward their goals.
InfernoMrs. GREEN APPLE
A track whose scorching sound bursts into listeners’ hearts with overwhelming force! Released by Mrs.
GREEN APPLE in July 2019, this song was chosen as the opening theme for the anime Fire Force.
Its fast-paced, exhilarating melody pairs perfectly with powerful lyrics, delivering uplifting energy to anyone who listens.
While it explores profound themes—life’s transience, the passage of time, and the meaning of living—it’s also marked by its positive message.
Give it a listen when you need a boost in motivation!
lilacMrs. GREEN APPLE
A work that delicately portrays the radiance and bitterness of youth, as well as the conflicts that come with growing up, was released by Mrs.
GREEN APPLE in April 2024.
Gently wrapping bittersweet memories and the dawn of new love, the song has been selected as the opening theme for the TV Tokyo anime “Oblivion Battery,” winning the hearts of listeners across generations.
It strikes a superb balance between a powerful melody riding on a brisk rhythm and lyrics that finely depict the inner heart.
Within Mrs.
GREEN APPLE’s characteristically bright, pop sound, the anxieties and hopes unique to youth—and the way we face ourselves—are skillfully interwoven, making it a motivating anthem for practice ahead of school sports days and athletic festivals.
At the 66th Japan Record Awards, it won the Grand Prize, marking the first-ever back-to-back victory by a band.
Music recommended for marathons: cheer songs that give you the courage to run through (91–100)
ultramarineYOASOBI
A signature work by YOASOBI that vividly expresses young people’s passion and pursuit of dreams through striking lyrics.
Released in September 2020, the song gained broad recognition after being featured in Bourbon’s “Alfort Mini Chocolate” commercial.
In 2021, it was also selected as the theme song for Nippon TV’s “Dance ONE Project ’21,” adding flair to high school students’ dance performances.
Evoking the image of blue light, the piece impressively portrays the challenges of self-expression and creativity, making it perfect for school sports-day entrance marches and dance performances.
It’s a song that lets everyone share in the unique sense of unity of a sports festival and the courage to take the first step toward their dreams.