The Music Culture of Road Running: The BPM Science of Running Playlists and Taiwanese Runners' Preferences

Music Is Running’s Oldest Companion

At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Marathon, a runner took to the course with a Walkman, and race officials demanded it be removed, citing “distraction hazards.” Decades later, earphones have become standard running gear, and the bond between music and running is deeply woven into the DNA of runners.

But music’s impact on running is far more complex than simply “keeping things from getting boring.” Research in neuroscience and sports science points out that the music runners listen to—in terms of BPM (beats per minute), lyrics, and personal memory associations—profoundly influences performance and experience.

The Science of BPM: Beats Determine Pace

BPM (Beats Per Minute) is the basic unit of musical tempo and a tool that is easily overlooked in running training.

The human body has a tendency toward “entrainment”—when there is a regular external rhythm, our movements unconsciously sync with it. This means the BPM of music can directly influence a runner’s cadence (steps per minute).

Note: Cadence is roughly twice the BPM (two steps per cycle), so a song at 180 BPM corresponds to a cadence of about 180 steps/min.

A Survey of Taiwanese Runners’ Musical Tastes

Based on informal discussions in running communities and sharing from multiple Taiwanese runner groups, the running music preferences of Taiwanese runners are roughly as follows:

Most Frequently Appearing Genres

• Taiwanese pop (Taiwanese-language songs + Mandarin pop): The top choice for many middle-aged and older runners; “running to Taiwanese-language songs gives you extra power” is a common refrain
• K-pop: Clear rhythms, polished production, and BPMs generally well-suited for running
• Electronic dance music (EDM): The favorite of younger runners; tracks by Tiësto, Avicii, and others are frequently recommended in running groups
• Anime theme songs: Surprisingly popular; “the Attack on Titan OST makes you unstoppable” is a joke among runners, but also a genuine sentiment
• English-language pop (Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, etc.): A global favorite, and Taiwanese runners are no exception

Music Choices for Special Situations

• The final 5 km of a race: Many runners have a “special track” they play only during the final sprint, creating a sense of ritual
• The 30 km wall: Songs with strong rhythms and highly motivating lyrics—one Taiwanese runner says he set JJ Lin’s “因你而在” as his reserved track for the 30K mark
• Recovery jogs: A preference for gentle, mellow music that doesn’t spike the heart rate; some even choose podcasts or radio instead

A Few “Running Anthems” Universally Acknowledged by Taiwanese Runners

This isn’t a ranking, just names that repeatedly come up in community sharing:

1. Mayday’s “倔強”: Played during sprints, with reportedly legendary results
2. Richie Jen’s “傷心太平洋”: Complete rhythm, especially effective on long climbs
3. Ronald Cheng’s “無賴”: The Taiwanese-accented delivery carries a grounded, earthy power
4. G.E.M.'s “光”: Moderate BPM with highly motivating lyrics
5. Eminem’s “Lose Yourself”: A running classic that transcends language

Music or Silence? The Debate and the Choice

Not all runners support running with earphones. Several reasons are frequently raised:

• Safety concerns: On roads or trail terrain, not hearing environmental sounds is dangerous
• The philosophy of pure running: Some runners believe music masks the body’s signals and interferes with the “flow” state
• Race regulations: Some events (especially trail races) explicitly prohibit earphones

In recent years, the popularity of bone-conduction earphones has given Taiwanese runners a compromise—enjoying music without completely shutting out environmental sounds.

Building Your Running Playlist

A few practical principles:

1. Start with mid-tempo tracks to warm up—don’t go all out from the very beginning
2. Place steady-rhythm songs in the middle to help maintain pace
3. Schedule high-energy songs at the mileage points where you expect fatigue
4. Save your last 2–3 tracks as your reserved anthems, making them a sprint ritual
5. Use different playlists for races and training to avoid over-familiarity dulling the motivational effect

Conclusion

Music isn’t a necessity for running, but for many people, it’s a catalyst that makes running richer. Science says BPM affects cadence; experience says a certain song can carry you one more kilometer when you feel like you can’t go on.

Perhaps the deepest connection between running and music isn’t science, but memory: where you were the first time you heard that song, how hard you were trying back then, and how worth it that finish line was.

Every song in the playlist is an index entry for a running memory.

Related Reading

• Music Choices for Cycling: BPM Recommendations Matched to Different Training Intensities
• Indoor Training Playlists and Music Tempo: The Science of BPM’s Effect on Cadence and Optimal Pairing
• Buying Guide for Road Running Music Devices: Safety, Sound Quality, and Running Comfort of Bone-Conduction Earphones
• Running Earphone Buying Guide: Bone-Conduction vs. In-Ear—Which Is Better for Road Running?