Spotify just got way better for runners, here’s how to try it out

What You Need To Know

I thought Spotify already had running options?

If you’re like a lot of runners, you probably need something to listen to while you stack up the miles. Sure, that could be the sound of your own huffing and puffing, but where’s the fun in that? I mean, there are no lyrics to bop along to or anything. That’s where Spotify (and our podcast, The Drop) becomes a savior for oh-so-many people. There’s a playlist for literally anything you can think of, right down to running cadences for most paces.

The thing is, though, for a while, that was it. You had to either perfectly curate a playlist with varied beats per minute to match different parts of your run, or lock in on one of Spotify’s prebuilt options, trusting its steady tempo to work for your warm-up, your working miles, and even your cooldown. And yes, that sounds like a great idea — it’s certainly better than throwing on your daylist and hoping for the best — but it’s not perfect.

So, Spotify went back to the drawing board. It took a fresh look at what runners need and came up with a carefully curated Running Mode, which just launched for iOS subscribers in select markets.

The idea behind running mode is simple: Different runs need different beats, and transitions from one song to the next are absolutely crucial. It’s tough to set out for a tempo run when you know that you like songs that start slow, only to build throughout. You hit the middle of every song ready to rip, only for it to slow down.

Now, Spotify has 25 different run options ranging from 20 to 45 minutes, covering everything from easy miles to pyramid runs across genres like pop, EDM, rock, and hip-hop. All that’s really left for you to do is pick your run and get started.

Here’s how to try Spotify Running Mode

If you’re ready to jump into Running Mode and get out there, I don’t blame you. If my evening run today weren’t Believe Run Club, I’d be right alongside you. Oh well, maybe tomorrow. You, though, you get to start today — provided you meet a few criteria. Spotify’s Running Mode hasn’t launched everywhere yet, so you’ll need to be an iOS user in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or Sweden. If you find yourself on that list, here’s what to do:

1. Open Spotify
2. Head to the Search tab
3. Tap the Fitness menu
4. Select Running Mode
5. Pick your playlist

You can also add a bit of motivation to your runs with encouraging audio cues, though they’re only available in English. Also, to customize your playlists with familiar songs, you’ll have to opt in each time using the Make It Yours button at the top of the screen. I’ve done so for my long-run Rock & Roll playlist, but I can’t say that it’s tuned itself closer to my actual listening habits just yet — it’s still somewhat generic. When you opt in, though, your playlist will update daily, so maybe that means Spotify will nail my jams tomorrow.