Theme Ride Thursday: Run for It! A Running-Inspired Playlist and Profile

Theme Ride Thursday: Run for It! A Running-Inspired Playlist and Profile

Cyclists may love their bikes, but many of us have a bit of a runner’s spirit in us, too! Whether you’ve tackled a marathon, sprinted through a 5K, or just enjoy a good jog now and then, there’s something exhilarating about the rhythm of running. That’s why this week’s Theme Ride Thursday is all about running!

We’ve put together a massive Running Bucket Playlist with over 310 songs on the theme of running. These tracks span all genres—classic rock, indie, pop, country, and even EDM—so you can sprinkle a few into your playlists or create an entire class inspired by running.

Ways to Use These Songs in Your Indoor Cycling Classes:

🏃 Throw in a “runner’s high” challenge – Pick a song like “Born to Run” (Bruce Springsteen) or “Running Up That Hill” (Kate Bush) and use it for a sustained effort, simulating the feeling of a long-distance runner finding their groove.

🔥 Sprint Intervals, Track Style – Songs like “Run Boy Run” (Woodkid) or “Run the World” (Beyoncé) are great for high-energy, short bursts of speed, mimicking the kick at the end of a race.

⛰️ Hill Climbs with a Marathon Mindset – Choose tracks that embody endurance and pacing, such as “Runaway Train” (Soul Asylum) or “Take the Money and Run” (Steve Miller Band), and challenge riders to push through steady-state climbs, just like a long-distance runner conquering miles.

🎭 A Storytelling Ride – Build a profile around the idea of a race. Start with a steady warm-up like “I Ran” (A Flock of Seagulls), build into the grind of the race with songs like “Run Like Hell” (Pink Floyd), and finish strong with an anthem like “Don’t Stop Running” (Yello).

👟 Cross-Training for Runners – If your riders are also runners or training for a race, remind them how indoor cycling is a great way to cross-train while reducing impact on their joints. Play some of their favorite running songs to keep them engaged!

Bringing the Boston Marathon Ride Back to Life

If you’ve been with ICA for a while, you know we’ve celebrated the Boston Marathon for years with a special profile from master instructor Dixie Douville. With 23 marathons under her belt (eight of them in Boston), Dixie brings an insider’s perspective to this ride, recreating the course’s famous hills, pacing strategies, and the sheer determination it takes to cross that finish line.

Originally presented at WSSC in the mid-2000s, this profile has been a favorite for years, and we’re excited to highlight it again. If you’re looking for inspiration, you can take this concept and adapt it for any famous race—the New York Marathon, Chicago Marathon, London Marathon, or even a local half-marathon near you. If you have riders training for an upcoming race, they’ll love this immersive ride experience!

Members can find Dixie’s full profile and playlist at the end of this post, along with our massive Running Bucket Playlist to inspire your next ride. Lace up, clip in, and let’s run with it!

Dixie Douville is a former member of the Spinning® master instructor team as well as a former Spin Pilates master instructor. She has run 23 marathons, including Boston eight times. Dixie is also a USA Track and Field certified coach and a certified coach with Road Runners Club of America. She has been a contributor at ICA as well as for both of our Indoor Cycling Summits.

Dixie first presented this Boston Marathon ride at WSSC in the mid-2000s, and it quickly became one of the iconic, empowering sessions instructors spoke about across the country. I was thrilled when she agreed to write it up for ICA members! You are in for a treat!

Here is how Dixie introduces this profile:

For many marathon runners, the ultimate goal is to run fast enough to qualify for the Boston Marathon. I am privileged to have run it eight times (out of the 23 marathons I have run). Since I went to college just north of Boston, I have been a spectator at the race many times. My first Boston marathon was in 1995 and is when I set my PR. I am fortunate to have shared this race experience with many of my running friends. Being a New Englander, there is nothing like running 26.2 miles through the Boston suburbs and finishing at the Prudential Center, one of Boston’s iconic modern landmarks.

In the spring of 1997, my family was living outside of Chicago and one of my indoor cycling students (we’ll call her Lori) had qualified for Boston. As a way to celebrate Lori’s accomplishment and give her a powerful—and what turned out to be a very emotional—send-off the week before the race, I developed a profile based on the course. I filled it with the intensity and the rich history of the Boston Marathon. At the end of the class, there were tears, laurel wreath crowns fashioned from the local craft store, and one of my medals around Lori’s neck. The response was so overwhelming, it became a signature profile for me and my students ask for it annually.

As I approach my 17th season of this ride, I have changed a few things, including some of the songs, but one thing that has not changed is my passion for the sport, the race, and the Boston experience. Take your students to the Boston Marathon and give them a sense of one of the greatest races in the world!