The Best (Taylor’s Version) Songs to Run To
With the release of her re-recording of her fourth album (one of the greatest breakup albums of all-time), at a whopping 30 tracks with T. Swift owning the rights, Red (Taylor’s Version) has us deeply into Taylor Swift right now. We’re listening to her while cooking, cleaning, and, of course, running. Our editors share their favorite Swiftie songs to log miles to and help you get a head-start on a truly killer Taylor Swift playlist.
I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault)
Taylor recently said she wanted it to have a “drinking song” vibe, which sure, I can see, but the fun tongue-in-cheek anthem-ness of it makes it a solid running song, too. The verses have a smooth rhythm that match up nicely for easy fall runs, while the chorus makes it impossible to naturally pick up your cadence a little. It’s the kind of song I often find myself putting in the first half of a marathon playlist: when I don’t want to get too amped too early; I want to stay relatively calm and relaxed, with just enough empowering, upbeat energy to help me keep a good head space before the real fight starts later. --Jen Ator
All Too Well (10 Minute Version)
The day that Red (Taylor's Version) was released, I listened to "All Too Well" approximately 50-60 times. Then, naturally, I tweeted about it:
I was mostly joking, but a 10-minute song that isn't fast, but also not slow is pretty perfect for a threshold workout (it's supposed to mimic half-marathon pace with short rest intervals…also described as "comfortably hard," which is how I'd coincidentally classify most of my breakups in my 20s, too). Not up for 30 minutes of threshold work? Do 1x or 2x “All Too Well.” We'll henceforth refer to this session as the Threshold (Taylor's Version). --Erin Strout
I Knew You Were Trouble (Taylor’s Version)
The general consensus is that a “good” running playlist utilizes songs in the 120-140 beats per minute range. As a cardiovascularly challenged person, I like my songs to be closer to my own heart rate bpm, which I can guarantee you is above 140 any time I’m running (this song clocks in at 154). When the original version of “I Knew You Were Trouble” came out in 2012, I was in college and obsessed with bad boys and trying to like dubstep, so this song was perfect for me. And now, Taylor’s Version is perfect for when I need to drown out my embarrassing breathing during a stride or hard push. --Jessica Campbell-Salley
Stay Stay Stay (Taylor’s Version)
Choosing just one song was impossible, but this one (plus “22”) are some of my go-tos--I’m a happy runner and a hopeless romantic (two words that are perfect to describe this bop). During COVID, I think Folklore was the only soundtrack to my mellow, mid-week long(ish) run. But “Stay, Stay, Stay” is ideal for slotting into a longer playlist just when you think you need a little pick-me-up. --Mary McKeon
Come Back…Be Here (Taylor’s Version)
The way this song speeds up around 40 seconds in is great for picking up your own pace after a slower start. It carries through the rest of the nearly 4 minutes, and the melody is steady enough to cruise to while you run along leaf-lined streets in the autumn (isn’t that the dream, anyway?).
Bonus Track: Taylor Swift – All Too Well (Sad Girl Autumn Version)
Just when we thought we couldn’t get any more nostalgic… We also couldn’t help but thing of Gabe Grunewald listening to “All Too Well (Sad Girl Autumn Version)”, which Swift worked on with Aaron Dessner, the founding member of indie-rock band The National, one of Gabe’s favorite bands. We have a feeling Gabe would have loved this combo.