When music hits you, you feel no pain
Some running luminaries' favorite albums from 2024, and some thoughts on the benefits of listening to music and podcasts while running.
I love music, but I don’t listen to music while I run. I’m in the minority there. At least 75% of runners run with music or podcasts flowing into their ears, but in my former life as a music journalist, my runs were the only hour of the day that I wasn’t listening to music.
There are many reasons to listen to music and podcasts while running. Music can be used to maintain a metronomic cadence, for instance, and can distract a runner from those moments when running truly sucks, of course, but did you know that you can also train your brain to do two things at once? Consider the benefits of using that cognitive space that you achieve while running to learn about Greek mythology while traversing a technical trail at the same time. That’s valuable work. Efficient!
On my earbud-free runs, I’ve slowly honed my moving meditation practice where I absorb and appreciate my surroundings. These are precious moments of being present. Sure, the sound of water is soothing, but the eight lanes of traffic next to whichever river I’m trying to run along adds white noise far more effectively. When I’m on city streets, there’s also the benefit of being able to hear cars emerging from driveways — the bleary-eyed driver usually not checking for pedestrians.
I left the music industry in 2015, but I’ve maintained the practice of listening to music every hour I’m not running. I’m still finding new bands, as well (Birthday Girl DC this week — a delightful trio of lo-fi alt.rocking teenagers in the vein of Veruca Salt or Phoebe Bridgers). I love seeing your Spotify Wrappeds. I love seeing what makes you tick, because the art that we choose to interact with (and how we do it) is a window into the essence of our being.
Here’s a playlist of songs that have been doing it for me this year / window into my soul:
Not all of these songs are from 2024, but I saw PJ Harvey in concert twice this year, and that Stone Temple Pilots song is just one of the greatest love songs ever written.
To keep on the end-of-year-list tip, however, I asked some of my favorite runners about their favorite records of 2024. We’ll start with one who has the same pick as me...
Brice Partouche, Founder & Creative Director of Satisfy
“I’ve always loved the artistic approach of appropriation and transformation, but I also have deep respect and fascination for the pioneers of a genre. Blood Incantation is one of those bands - disruptive, while simultaneously celebrating a musical style that’s been around for 40 years: death metal.”
“Their latest album, Absolute Elsewhere in particular, reaches new heights of innovation in a genre that, in recent years, has often relied on revivalism. Imagine Pink Floyd playing death metal. And that’s not all. They recorded the album in Berlin at the legendary Hansa Studio, to channel the sound and intensity of krautrock even more directly.”
I am very aware that my love of heavy music can put people off, but you may have noticed in my 2024 playlist that I do like two other types of music (and only two others), so please read on for some lighter listening. I do think this Blood Incantation record is exceptional in its technicality and its accessibility, though. Try it out!
Allie Bailey, UK Coach of 2024, author of There is no Wall, and former music industry pro.
“My fave song of 2024 is Disclosure - ‘She’s Gone, Dance On’ just because it’s a banger - excellent for an interval session.”
“I really love the new Jack White Stuff - especially ‘Archbishop Harold Holmes.’ I like running to songs with a narrative and listening to people who have something to say. Very special mention to Bob Vylan please for his incredible album Humble as The Sun. ‘He’s a Man’ and ‘Hunger Games’ have been on loop. A very special piece of work.”
I made a bold statement about Allie’s book at the start of the year - I believe it was the book’s first review - and thousands now agree with me. It’s a thrilling, difficult read from a wonderful person. If you haven’t read There is no Wall yet, fix that.
Zaakiyah Brisker, Co-founder of South Central Run Club
“Consider this the closest thing to a running music awards show—my top albums of 2024 that kept not just me, but countless others, moving. ScHoolboy Q's Blue Lips, Kaytranada's Timeless, Vince Staples's Dark Times, Tyler, The Creator's CHROMAKOPIA, Kendrick Lamar's GNX, and JPEGMAFIA's I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU stood out as the most creative, culturally centered, and innovative projects of the year.”
“Special nods go to ScHoolboy Q's ‘Ohio’ and Vince Staples' ‘Ettoufee’ for cozy, joyful runs, while power songs like ScHoolboy Q's ‘Movie,’ Tyler's ‘Thought I Was Dead,’ Kendrick's ‘Peekaboo,’ and JPEGMAFIA's ‘Don't Rely On Other Men’ delivered pure sprint energy. These albums reimagined familiar sounds into bold new rhythms, new paces — they not only kept me on my feet, but kept me in stride.”
This is Zaakiyah’s third appearance on Running Sucks this year. She was the subject of my first profile of 2024, and then garnished us with a powerful guest post around her stance on the Olympic Games, which are coming to Los Angeles in 2028.
Luke Myers, Embankment Run Club & Unsanctioned Athletics
“There Goes The Neighbourhood, the third album from establishment challenging punk rockers Kid Kapichi powered a lot of my running in 2024. Fun and energetic tracks like ‘Tamagotchi’ and ‘Get Down’ put a spring in my step as they took me back to my 90s childhood, and the nights out of my 20s, whilst tracks like ‘Artillery’ and ‘Let’s Get to Work’ often set the tone when there was simply some grafting to be done out on the streets of Nottingham.”
“The often cheeky and well-crafted lyrics, coupled with gnarly guitar rifts and pulsing bass lines provided a perfect soundtrack to keep me moving on many a run this past 12 months.”
I love Luke’s efforts in making amateur racing a spectator sport again. It’s a true community project that I loved learning about, but when I saw him loving life at the last-minute Linkin Park show earlier this year, I knew I had to talk to him again, but about music.
Now it’s your turn to tell me all about your favorite record, show, song, or artist of 2024 in a comment! Or you can always, always reply directly to this email for a more intimate conversation. I both welcome and recommend it.
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Thanks for reading
- Raz
I oftentimes run while listening to a podcast. I also run listening to music. Also, I like just listening to my breath. Or to nothing at all.
But when I‘m on a long run, I make sure that the last kilometer or so I listen to „No surrender“ by Bruce Springsteen.
Hermanos Gutierrez’s Hijos Del Sol has been my ultimate vibe this year! Raw, earthy, and drenched in desert soul. It’s the perfect soundtrack for the trail, with every note making you feel like you’re gliding just above the ground. There’s this hypnotic, levitating energy to it that’s impossible to resist.