[Sports Day] A roundup of exhilarating, fast-paced tracks perfect for relay race BGM!
Speaking of relays, they’re the event that gets the crowd most excited at a sports day! The music that adds flair to the race is also one of the key elements.
I’m sure you, too, have a song that comes to mind as relay BGM.
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of tracks—from classic relay staples everyone’s heard to J-pop numbers perfect for a heated competition.
They’re all songs that will make you want to start running, so use them as a guide when choosing your playlist.
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[Sports Day] A roundup of exhilarating, fast-paced tracks perfect for relay race BGM! (1–10)
Csikos PostHermann Necke
This is a piece by Hermann Necke, a composer from the German Confederation.
The title “Csikos Post” can be loosely interpreted as “postal coach.” The music conveys a sense of busyness, as if the mail must be delivered in a hurry—to this town and that town alike.
Just listening to it makes you want to start running, making it a perfect BGM for a relay race.
lightly; nimbly; flutteringlyGReeeeN
It’s a GReeeeN cheer song filled with the feelings of runners! Released in November 2023 as the official theme song of the All-Japan University Ekiden.
It sings of facing challenges while overcoming loneliness and anxiety, set to a light yet powerful melody.
You can feel the strong will to spread one’s wings into the wide sky, even while carrying emotional scars.
It also holds a wish to become someone’s special person, which is truly moving.
Perfect for scenes where everyone works hard together at school sports days and athletic festivals.
It’s also great for relays where kids dash around full of energy.
Blue and SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE
A hugely popular coming-of-age anthem, “Ao to Natsu” is a single released by Mrs.
GREEN APPLE in 2018, written as the theme song for the film “Ao-Natsu: Kimi ni Koi Shita 30-Nichi” (Blue Summer: The 30 Days I Fell in Love with You).
This refreshing, fast-paced rock number inspires motivation—many listeners say it makes them feel ready to give their best.
Play it during a relay at a school sports day and both runners and spectators are sure to get fired up! If you’re looking to use J-pop as background music, this is a must.
[Sports Day] A roundup of exhilarating, fast-paced tracks perfect for relay race BGM! (11–20)
Start to shine and run forwardSambomasutā
An exhilarating up-tempo track with a driving melody and Sambomaster’s passionate message that lifts your spirits.
Released as a single in August 2018, it was chosen as the theme song for the drama Cheer☆Dan.
It’s an absolutely high-energy cheer anthem that’s almost too perfect for school sports days.
It pairs especially well with all-out sprinting events.
Play this energy-packed song, and it’s sure to make the sprints and even the exit scenes even more exciting.
Galop of the ClownsDmitri Kabalevsky
Speaking of relay races at school sports festivals, regardless of generation, it’s definitely this piece.
Among the works composed by the Russian composer Kabalevsky, it’s the second movement of his most famous suite.
The title “Gallop” refers to “full speed” in equestrian terms, and by extension came to mean a “brisk dance with a fast tempo.” It’s truly the perfect piece to hype up a relay.
Bling-Bang-Bang-BornCreepy Nuts
A high-energy hip-hop track with a driving melody that’s a huge hit at live shows! Chosen as the opening theme for Season 2 of the TV anime Mashle: MAGIC AND MUSCLES, this song captivates with lyrics brimming with self-expression and an infectious beat.
It gained widespread use on TikTok and earned international acclaim, even reaching No.
8 on the Billboard Global 200 for the week.
Play it during a relay at a school sports day, and its empowering words will surely push the runners forward.
Don’t you feel like if you run while listening to this song, you’ll stay positive and think, “Just a little more—I can do this,” even when it starts to get tough?
Runnerbakufū suranpu
It’s the signature song of Bakufu Slump, familiar to anyone around their forties or older, and arguably their most famous track.
As the title suggests, the word “run” appears frequently throughout the song, making it a perfect fit for the relay, the marquee event of a school sports day.
It’s a song that gets both the runners and the cheering crowd fired up together.