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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Music recommended for marathons: cheer songs that give you the courage to run through (91–100)
The decisive battle is on Friday.DREAMS COME TRUE
From the very intro, DREAMS COME TRUE’s “Kessen wa Kinyōbi” ignites your fighting spirit.
It was DREAMS COME TRUE’s first million-selling single, and chances are everyone’s heard it at least once.
Even a single listen makes your body move naturally—its energy is incredible—so it’s a great pick to accompany a marathon.
When you hear Miwa Yoshida’s powerful vocals, don’t you feel strength welling up even in tough moments? Once you flip “hard” into “fun,” you’ll find you just can’t quit running marathons!
Rising SunEXILE
EXILE’s “Rising Sun,” with its satisfying four-on-the-floor “thump, thump, thump, thump” beat, feels great.
Released as a double A-side single to commemorate the 10th anniversary of EXILE’s debut, it features lyrics—along with the simultaneously included “Itsuka Kitto…”—that leave a strong impression by encouraging those who believe in their path and keep moving forward.
In particular, “Rising Sun” has a moderately fast tempo that’s perfect for marathons! For your cooldown after running to this track, I also recommend “Itsuka Kitto…,” so try listening to it together with “Rising Sun.”
Recommended music for marathons: Motivational songs that give you the courage to keep running (101–110)
Butter-FlyWada Kōji
This song is also well known as the opening theme of the anime Digimon Adventure.
Its straightforward band sound conveys a driving energy that gives listeners courage.
The powerful beat that resonates through your body seems perfect for a running rhythm.
The lyrics, which seem to express a resolve to shake off feelings of discouragement and move toward the future and one’s goals, are also striking.
It carries a reliability that feels like a strong hand pulling you forward, making it a track that seems to fill you with the power to take that one extra step.
BOW AND ARROWYonezu Kenshi
A passionate cheer song crafted by Kenshi Yonezu.
Its melody brims with a headlong rush, like the instant an arrow is loosed, and it vividly portrays protagonists who keep moving toward their dreams even after experiencing setbacks.
A piece that also captivated live audiences, it was written as the opening theme for the TV anime Medalist, which depicts the world of figure skating.
The lyrics, evoking the bonds of characters who support each other like a bow and arrow, and the dynamic sound together give listeners the courage to overcome the doubts and uncertainties everyone carries.
When your resolve to strive toward your goals starts to waver, listening to this song will surely give you the strength to take a new step forward.
Driver’s HighL’Arc〜en〜Ciel
It’s a song crafted to feel great when you listen while driving, with a refreshing, high-energy sense of speed as its main appeal.
The powerful band sound, which seems to support Hyde’s soaring vocals, is also striking—within the breezy, wind-cutting freshness, you can feel a force that sets the heart ablaze.
The lyrics are also drive-oriented, depicting the act of pushing past a machine’s limits and continuing to race on.
Since the theme is a car—a faster entity than a human—please be careful not to over-accelerate if you use it for marathon running.
OtonokeCreepy Nuts
This Creepy Nuts track, which captivates listeners across generations from children to adults, was written as the opening theme for the anime Dandadan.
Its driving, fast-paced beat and emotional hook leave a strong impression, while lyrics themed around the occult and the supernatural enhance the song’s atmosphere.
Released as a digital single in October 2024, it was later issued on CD as well.
The song is also included on Creepy Nuts’ fourth studio album, Legion.
It’s a track that stokes your fighting spirit when you listen to it before an important game or competition.
Highly recommended for anyone who believes in the power of music.
exceed; surpass; go beyond; cross (over)[Alexandros]
![exceed; surpass; go beyond; cross (over)[Alexandros]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5ntakgegH8/sddefault.jpg)
An energetic rock number that begins with a distorted guitar.
It’s a track released from [Alexandros]’s album “PROVOKE,” selected as the opening theme for the first cour of the TV anime “Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray.” The lyrics, themed around battling oneself and transcending one’s limits, align perfectly with the anime’s worldview, creating a powerful, inspiring message that stirs the listener’s heart.
It’s highly effective when you feel on the verge of breaking or need to psyche yourself up.