Last week, several elite runners released their Spotify playlists in conjunction with the Boston Marathon. Included in that list are some of the top Americans in this year’s race: Galen Rupp, Shalane Flanagan, Molly Huddle, Jordan Hasay, Desiree Linden, and Jordan Hasay. We're still three weeks away from the race, so I dove deep into their musical preferences, looking to see what I could learn about these six runners.

My extremely musically professional critiques follow below.

Molly Huddle

Highlights: “Runaway,” Mr. Little Jeans; “Gold,” Gabriel Rios

Most resembles the playlist of…... Cool European dance party that I’ve never been invited to

Overview: Like Huddle’s approach to racing, this list wastes no time. She’s out of the gate hard with fast tracks by Beyonce, Mr. Little Jeans, and Rudimental. Okay, I’d never heard of those last two, which is part of the allure of Huddle’s playlist. She’s got artists from all over—a Norwegian woman who lives in L.A., a Scottish DJ, a Puerto Rican-Belgian piano player, and a gentleman named The Avener who Wikipedia describes as a “French deep house and electro music producer.” Deep house? I was just getting used to regular French house music.

It’s almost all up-tempo. If you listen while you run, you will go fast, probably too fast. I’m not an EDM fan by any means, but all of it meshes together quite nicely as a playlist. The last five tracks are more mainstream with “Riptide” by Vance Joy, “September Song” by Agnes Obel (also known as that cool song from Big Little Lies), and some stuff from Meghan Trainor and Flo Rida. 

Kanye West’s defiant “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” and “Ready or Not” by The Fugees close things out (“Ready or Not” also appears on Galen Rupp’s list). Both represent a pretty healthy attitude heading into a marathon. 

Shalane Flanagan

Highlights: “Sweet Dreams,” Beyonce; “Use Somebody,” Kings of Leon

Most resembles the playlist of…... An inspirational sporting event montage 

Overview: Flanagan describes her playlist as “super peppy,” and that’s a good characterization. She opens with “Lose Yourself” by Eminem, which appears on the playlists of two other runners. As someone who listened to that song religiously before races in college, I'm glad to know that actual fast runners have also tried to derive inspiration from Eminem rapping about vomiting on his sweater.

I’d describe this whole playlist as montage music—that is, music you hear in the lead-up to a sporting event on TV.  The tracks are recognizable and make you want to get that PR.  

After listening again to all the tracks for deeper connections to Flanagan, I stumbled across this verse in “Moment 4 Life” by Nicki Minaj and Drake.

In this very moment, I’m king
In this very moment, I slayed Goliath -with a sling

This very moment I bring
Put it on everything, that I will retire with the ring -
And I will retire with the crown, Yes!
No, I’m not lucky, I’m blessed, Yes!
Clap for the heavyweight champ, Me!

Wow . . . Nicki was rapping about Flanagan beating Mary Keitany in the New York City Marathon. 

And later in the same song, there's an allusion to Flanagan losing out on medals to dopers throughout her career . . .

Ain't being cocky, we just vindicated, best believe that -
When we're done, this moment will be syndicated, I don't know 

This night, just reminds me of
Everything that they deprived me of 

It all fits. 

Galen Rupp

Highlights:  “ATLiens,” Outkast; “Regulate” Warren G feat. Nate Dogg

Most resembles the playlist of……Someone willing to rap in the car 

Overview: Considering all the innovations and cutting-edge technology of the Nike Oregon Project, Rupp’s playlist is surprisingly old-school. Out of the gate, he drops five 90s hip-hop and R&B tracks. 

My 9th-grade self (and also my current self) applauds wildly. Lil Wayne’s “Let the Beat Build” is the first song from the 2000s and it includes this running-specific line…

I can see the end in the beginning

So I'm not racing I'm just sprintin'

Cause I don't wanna' finish

They diminish, I replenish

From there, Rupp’s playlist continues mostly down the hip-hop path, with a few exceptions. The inclusion of “September” by Earth, Wind and Fire is easily explained by the fact that it’s on the Trolls soundtrack and Rupp has young kids. If it’s stuck in your head all day, you might as well share it with others. 

Rupp closes strong with tracks by Jay-Z, Warren G, Kid Cudi, and Notorious BIG. Drake’s “God’s Plan” has the distinction of wrapping it up and is included perhaps a reference to Rupp’s detractors.  

Bad things

It's a lot of bad things

That they wishin' and wishin' and wishin' and wishin'

They wishin' on me

Or maybe he just liked the beat. 

Desiree Linden

Highlights: “Sympathy for the Devil,” The Rolling Stones; “Maybe I’ll Catch Fire” Alkaline Trio

Most resembles the playlist of…... Your hip roommate in college 

Overview: Linden’s playlist is eclectic, crossing genres and decades. It appears a bit scattered until you remember it’s Desi Linden, so it’s actually structured and optimized for success, just like her race plans.

Check out my @jhboston26 playlist @Spotify. Designed for the rhythm of the run; some early sluggish miles, a steady increase in pace, and the perfect beat to hammer home to. Let the grind roll on. We’ve got this, guys! #TogetherForward https://t.co/y4Ns5eRo84 pic.twitter.com/3iKKNuebaG

— des_linden (@des_linden) March 12, 2018

The playlist begins with country songs from Sturgill Simpson and Chris Stapleton before moving to the sleepy “Conrad” by Ben Howard.  

If the songs are meant to mimic a run, then The National’s “Bloodbuzz Ohio” is where your legs start moving after some slow early miles. But it doesn’t progress linearly from there. Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth” (the song you hear in every movie about the Vietnam War) and “California Dreamin’” by The Mamas and The Papas bookend a screamo track by Brand New. 

The variety keeps you on your toes and the intensity, if not the pace, grows in the last several songs. “Train in Vain” by The Clash has the distinction of possessing a title that is entirely appropriate for marathon training. It’s also the type of song that blends into the background of a long run—unobtrusively accompanying you as the miles tick off. The playlist wraps up with “Maybe I’ll Catch Fire Someday” by Alkaline Trio and “Summertime Sadness” by Lana Del Rey. 

Jordan Hasay

Highlights:  “Havana,” Camila Cabello; “Man in the Mirror” Michael Jackson

Most resembles the playlist of…...NOW That’s What I Call Music Volume: 106

Overview: You know all the songs on this list. You may not recognize the titles, but as soon as the chorus comes around it becomes instantly recognizable as that song from the commercial/radio/movie/campaign rally.

“Brave” by Sara Bareilles, “Wolves” by Selena Gomez, and “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten are all firmly lodged in a portion of our brain that won’t let us forget them for at least another 10 years. These songs are inspirational and it’s easy to see why Hasay included them in a running mix, though they are so pervasive that they are also the songs most likely to be pre-programmed into your brain before you run. 

Be truthful: how many times have you hummed “say what you want to say and let the words fall out….honestly, I want to see you be brave,” during the middle of a tempo run? 

Hasay is the youngest of the runners in this group, so it’s expected that her playlist skews modern. Other than “Man in the Mirror,” the oldest song she included was “Stronger” by Britney Spears. Hasay was 9 when that song came out. 

In the midst of the energetic tracks, there are also some somber songs. “Say Something” by Christina Aguilera and A Great Big World turns me into an emotional mess whenever I hear it. Not sure how I’d react if it came on during a long run. 

Dathan Ritzenhein

Highlights: “Mr. Brown,” Styles of Beyond; “Enter Sandman,” Metallica 

Most resembles the playlist of…...Late 1990s skate park

Overview: This playlist gives a good indication of what Ritz listened to in high school and college. It starts with “Lose Yourself” (Eminem is very big amongst Boston Marathon entrants), “Believe Me” by Fort Minor, and “Numb" by Linkin Park. From there, it’s almost exclusively rock. Hard rock. 

Korn, Avenged Sevenfold, Metallica, Van Halen, Aerosmith, and Judas Priest—this one checks all the boxes of what's jamming in the background as you play Tony Hawk Pro Skater. Being from Michigan, Ritz includes an homage to his home state with Kid Rock’s “Devil Without A Cause.” 

Amidst all the headbanging, “Surprise Party” by Hoodie Allen makes an appearance. Not sure how that happened. There are a few more hip-hop songs at the end with Lupe Fiasco, Styles of Beyond, and Kid Cudi, but it’s back to rock for the close as Rush and AC/DC wrap it up.

Overall Analysis

So, after listening to all 120 songs, what have I concluded?

1. Nothing goes unplanned with Linden—pacing in the early miles, when to hydrate, and Spotify playlists.  

2. Rupp and Ritzenhein probably had a difficult time choosing the music when they were teammates at the Nike Oregon Project together.

3. Most of Eminem’s downloads of “Lose Yourself” come from elite marathoners. 

4. This song won’t get out of my head.

5. As for the big question: who put together the best playlist? I’m partial to the songs on Rupp’s list, so that deserves a mention. But in terms of your ability to run to one of these compilations, I think Linden and Huddle occupy the top two spots in some order.