Training for a marathon requires you to go on dozens of runs, covering hundreds of miles before the big race. You’ll need certain products when you embark on this journey, like good running shoes, a hydration pack, and comfortable running clothes. You’ll also want to consider the non-tangible aids in marathon training. Namely, the music you listen to when you’re running. As a bilingual who trained for a marathon in 2024, I truly believe I couldn’t have done it without the help of some Spanish-language bangers.
In English, your go-to angry song might be “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood, and your serotonin-boosting track may be Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.” Anyone who listens to music in more than one language can understand that those melodies and lyrics do something different for you. So much so that Remezcla knew we had to share these songs with other Latine (and Spanish-language music-loving) runners.
These jams are old and new, happy and angry, and always full of energy. For instance, we have an anthem from la Reina de Salsa, Celia Cruz, originally released in 1994. You’ll also find dembow classics from El Alfa and Lomiiel, which have the upbeat vibe that keeps you going when you just want to give up. (And for the record, that happens more than any of us would like to admit.) We also have new hits from Latine superstars, including Karol G and Bad Bunny, of course.
From salsa, dembow, and reggaetón to música mexicana and electronic dance music, find the 10 best Spanish-language songs to help you train for a marathon or any other race you might want to run.
Karol G - “S91”
With “S91,” La Bichota released a smash hit that blends reggaeton and pop with Latine trap in a motivating masterpiece. All of these genres have fast beats, which help you find your stride time and time again. Moreover, there’s also a spiritual message in this song and music video that helps you ground yourself before you get out the door. In the Pedro Artola-directed video, the Colombian-born singer is seen sprinting (away from a pack of wolves), which you do yourself when she starts rapping. Karol is also kneeling in prayer inside a church, reciting Psalm 91 — a prayer of protection and strength with which she also ends the song. “No tengan miedo a los peligros nocturnos, ni a las plagas que llegan con la oscuridad. Pues mil caerán a tu derecha y diez mil a tu izquierda. Pero a tí, nada te pasará.” It’s the perfect prayer for when you need to hear something that makes you keep going.
Lomiiel - “Hay Lupita”
Part of training for a marathon is doing speed work, which often requires a song that is wildly upbeat so you can keep up the pace. For a song that’s not even two minutes long, Lomiiel’s “Hay Lupita” really makes you move. It’s an ideal song for when you need to do strides, aka running about as fast as you can for 15 seconds. The dembow song starts off acapella, with Lomiiel using his voice to create a catchy cadence. About 20 seconds in, the beat drops, and you can’t help but go faster. There’s also a great amount of joy in this song that makes it impossible not to smile — which is great for running because it helps you relax and control your breath. While the lyrics are definitely on the wild side (the opening line is “Ay, dígame Lupita ¿Cuánto quiere por la cosita?”), this actually helps distract you while you’re sprinting.
Bad Bunny - “Chambea”
Latine trap is quick, upbeat, unapologetic, and badass. Considering “Chambea” is a Latine trap anthem, it’s not hard to see why this is a wonderful song to add to marathon-training playlists. From the second the beat drops, your strides match up with it. And then El Conejo Malo emphatically says, “Chambea.” And when Benito asks you to work, what choice do you have besides doing exactly that? The fact that we know how far Bad Bunny has come in his career since “Chambea” dropped in 2017 is also a good reason to keep going. The ad-libs in this jam, like “prrrr” or “woo hoo” or “ha,” are also really motivating while you’re running because they help keep your mind on the lyrics. This, in turn, helps you focus on your breath instead of thinking about how tired you are or how much you’d rather be sleeping instead.
Celia Cruz - “Que Le Den Candela”
Whenever you listen to a Celia Cruz song, you can feel her joie de vivre through the speaker. “Que Le Den Candela” is no different. In her opening line, Cruz sings, “Ese hombre que tú tienes no está en nada,” which you can relate to if you’ve ever dated a man who’s no good. Since this is one of her less popular songs, you might not be super familiar with the lyrics. In each verse, the queen of Salsa lists bad things that men do — which make you angry enough to give running your all. For instance, she says, “Te exige que tú le laves. Que lo vistas y lo calces. Y si acaso tú protestas, Se indigna y quiere pegarte.” If that’s not a girl-power anthem, I don’t know what is. And, of course, it’s not a complete Celia song without her gleefully yelling out “¡Azúcar!,” which she does twice on the song.
Fuerza Regida - “Tu Name”
If you’re someone who needs to get angry to give a workout your all, kindly add “Tu Name” by Fuerza Regida to your running playlist. The song speaks of a woman who cheated on the singer (another relatable experience) and goes on to explain that the singer is doing much better without her. The melodic chorus repeats “party” twice, which helps amp you up during a speed run and a long run. The best part of this song, though, is the hard-hitting lyrics. For example, “Nos fuimos de shopping y le compré todo lo que nunca te compré,” and “Me fui con la Briana, Juliana y la Tania, y con la que nada que ver,” can make you angry enough to sprint. This is true whether you relate to the singer or the woman he’s talking to because you just know they’re both really salty and bitter about the breakup.
Becky G - “MAMIII (feat. Karol G)”
This is another great jam to help you channel the anger you need to smash short runs or give you an extra boost on your longer runs. From the first chord, you’re excited for what’s coming: good, old-fashioned lyrics from a scorned woman. The opening line, “Lo que no sirve que no estorbe, Te metiste autogol por torpe,” gives you a sense of Becky G’s anger and it helps you propel yourself on the treadmill, track, trail, or road. Considering that this track is produced by Ovy on the Drums, it shouldn’t be a surprise that the beat goes hard. It’s a song about spite, infidelity, and — as far as the visuals go — revenge. Once the chorus hits and Karol G starts to sing, you’ll find yourself smiling as you run. If you’ve gone through this experience, the lyrics will help pump you up to keep the strength regardless of how many miles you have left to cover.
El Alfa - “Bendecido (feat. Farina)”
It’s impossible not to speed up when you hear El Alfa’s “Bendecido” play on your headphones. From the “culo” adlibs to the heavy dembow beat and “vroom vroom” onomatopoeia, this is a runner’s ultimate hype song. El Jefe brings a strong masculine vibe through his lyrics, as always, and Farina’s femininity softens up the song while still keeping it sexy with explicit lyrics. The standout in this song, though, is the beat — which makes you take more strides in shorter times because of the faster tempo. This jam originally dropped in April 2022 as part of El Alfa’s Album Sabiduría and was nominated for Billboard’s Song of the Year. With that said, El Alfa’s track is unbeatable when it comes to motivating you to run fast.
Don Omar - “Taboo”
Originally released as part of his fourth studio album, Don Omar Presents: Meet the Orphans, “Taboo” was also included in the 2011 soundtrack of the fifth Fast & Furious franchise installment, Fast Five. Since the film takes place in Brazil and Don Omar was a part of it, the track has a samba-inspired beat that makes you move your feet as fast as you would if you were dancing to Brazilian music. And when you get into the lyrics, you’re able to tap into a similar anger as you would with Fuerza Regida’s “Tu Name” or Becky G’s “MAMIII.” Don Omar sings about a love interest who took him for granted, saying, “Llorando se fue la que un día me hizo llorar.” Still on the topic of lyrics, it helps that some of the song is in Portuguese. When you’re running, you might find it’s a welcome distraction that helps you clear your mind and catch your breath.
Deorro - “Perdóname (feat. Dycy and Adrian Delgado)”
Perhaps the only true EDM track on this list, Deorro’s “Perdóname” has been a hype-yourself-up classic since dropping in 2010. The intro instantly puts you in a good mood, which is better for your running than being “meh” or dreading the workout. And when the beat drops a few moments later, you unintentionally switch up your pace. A similar thing happens once the lyrics come in, except this time, you’re in your zone. Since this song has many switch-ups, it’ll have a similar effect on your running. This is good because you’ll need to go at different paces throughout your 26.2 miles. Plus, if you watch the video beforehand, you’ll visualize Deorro in a charro outfit, surrounded by fellow charros wearing panda masks. Trust me when I say: This is enough to make you laugh and help you finish your run.
El Guincho - “Bombay”
If I had to describe El Guincho’s “Bombay” in only one word, I’d say: ethereal. When you put this on while you’re running, you feel like you’re soaring through the clouds — regardless of how fast you’re actually going. There are strong electronic and indie vibes with “Bombay,” but there’s also an air of rock that psyches you up for your run. What’s especially cool about this track is that there isn’t a traditional bridge or chorus. This makes it therapeutic to listen to while you run because you can focus on each individual lyric, which are all hard-hitting when you think of it. Take the closing verse, for example: “Solo yo te pido que te quedes en, Donde puedas alcanzar lo que quieras conseguir, Y en cambio tú me pides que me quede donde puedas, Vigilarme hasta que te canses de buscar.” Who wouldn’t want to run away from a relationship like that? After this verse, you get a strong instrumental that helps you cool down from your run.