This Epic Movie Score Playlist Will Make You Feel Like Rocky

If you're a runner, you're probably familiar with the struggle of keeping your playlist fresh. No matter how much you're in love with an artist, hearing the same words every workout is bound to get old.

In my search for inspiring running music, I decided to try something different: a playlist with no words at all, made up entirely of movie scores. Full disclosure: the idea came from my actor boyfriend who lifts weights to Superman's theme and many other strength-inspiring scores. A fast-paced tempo and the absence of lyrics allowed me to bring my own intention to each run. It felt a little like I was in my own movie.

I once began a Turkey Trot in Washington DC with the music from Mad Max: Fury Road. The postapocalyptic film score made me feel a sense of urgency I couldn't get from the latest chart-topping pop song. As I raced toward the US Capitol Building in early morning light, surrounded by hundreds of others, I imagined myself in a fight for survival. To my surprise, my finishing time also reflected that feeling. And it was fun!

On my run to work in Los Angeles, I came up on the La Brea Tar Pits (actual tar pits with the smell to prove it) at the exact moment the theme song from The Terminator came on. I channeled my inner Linda Hamilton — because she's a total badass in those movies — and dug deep to improve my time.

When I use the score playlist, workouts feel more like an adventure than a regular old run. There's nothing quite like the feeling of starring in your own action movie. Ready for an epic running experience? Give this playlist a try.