shoegaze
For when you want to disappear into the pavement
By Rob Gordon
Sunday morning, no performance required. That's when shoegaze makes the most sense for running, when you're not chasing a PR or hitting intervals, when you just need to move through space and let the noise wash over you like lake water.
Here's the thing about shoegaze that nobody tells you: it's the most meditative aggressive music ever made. My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Ride—they built these massive walls of distorted guitars and buried everything human underneath. Vocals become another texture. Drums disappear into reverb. And when you're running, when your breathing finds a rhythm and your footsteps go automatic, that's exactly what you need. You don't want lyrics demanding your attention. You want to dissolve.
I had this regular at Championship Vinyl who swore Loveless was the only album that could get him through long runs. I thought he was insane. Then I tried it on a ten-miler along the lake, early autumn, that weird Chicago light that makes everything look like a Polaroid left in the sun too long. Four miles in, I got it. The guitars create this propulsive drone that doesn't push you faster—it pulls you forward. There's a difference.
Shoegaze works for running the same reason it works for staring at your shoes: it creates a private sonic space even when you're moving through public terrain. The tempo's usually mid-range, hovering around easy-to-moderate pace, but the density of the sound makes every step feel significant. You're not just logging miles. You're traveling through layers of distortion toward something you can't quite name.
Dick would argue this is just noise for people who can't handle real noise. Barry would say if you're not running to Motown, what's the point. But they've never experienced that moment seven miles in when the guitars surge and suddenly you're not tired anymore, you're just... gone. In the best way.
If you think running is just about speed and splits, shoegaze isn't for you. But if you understand that sometimes the best runs are the ones where you disappear completely? Start here.
Top 10 Shoegaze Running Songs
These tracks appear across multiple curated shoegaze running playlists.
- 1. 302 — The Lippies
- 2. 6's to 9's — Big Wild
- 3. A Million Bots — That Handsome Devil
- 4. A Pack Of Wolves — Black Eyes
- 5. Adult Diversion — Alvvays
- 6. Anemone — The Brian Jonestown Massacre
- 7. Answer to Yourself — The Soft Pack
- 8. DQ — Charly Bliss
- 9. Dirtpicker — Post Animal
- 10. Doing Things That Artists Do — The I.L.Y's
Frequently Asked Questions
What pace should I run to shoegaze?
Easy to moderate. Look, if you're trying to do 400-meter repeats to Slowdive, you've fundamentally misunderstood both the music and the workout. Shoegaze lives in that 8:30-10:00 mile zone where you're not racing, just sustaining. The guitars create this dense, propulsive wash that matches steady-state effort perfectly. My Bloody Valentine's 'Only Shallow' will absolutely carry you through mile six of an easy long run, but it's not going to make you suddenly run a 5K PR. Different tool, different job.
What's the typical BPM for shoegaze running playlists?
Most shoegaze hovers between 120-140 BPM, which maps beautifully to conversational pace running—about 150-170 steps per minute for most runners. But here's the thing: BPM is almost irrelevant with shoegaze because the tempo gets buried under so many layers of guitar effects that you're not responding to the beat, you're responding to the overall surge and swell. Ride's 'Vapour Trail' might clock in at a certain tempo, but what you feel is the wash. You're running to texture, not percussion.
Which shoegaze artists are best for running?
Start with the holy trinity: My Bloody Valentine for that wall-of-sound assault that somehow feels weightless, Slowdive when you want something more ethereal but still dense, and Ride when you need a bit more propulsion. Loveless is the obvious entry point—'When You Sleep' alone justifies the entire genre. If you want something slightly heavier, Swervedriver bridges shoegaze and alternative rock with actual forward momentum. And if the classics feel too precious, newer bands like Nothing or Whirr bring more aggression. Depends whether you want to float or push.
Is shoegaze better for long runs or tempo workouts?
Long runs, absolutely. Shoegaze is endurance music—it rewards duration, not intensity. The layered guitars and buried vocals create a trance state perfect for those Sunday 90-minute slogs where you need to mentally check out but physically keep moving. Tempo runs require more aggressive energy, sharper attacks. You need the Pixies, not Slowdive. That said, a shoegaze cool-down after intervals? Perfect. You've done the hard work, now let the reverb wash away the lactic acid. It's recovery music that doesn't feel like surrender.
Why does all this reverb and distortion not drive me insane on a run?
Because you're already in a semi-dissociative state when you run. That's the secret nobody talks about. Around mile four or five, if you're doing it right, your conscious mind takes a back seat and your body just... operates. Shoegaze matches that headspace perfectly. The wall of sound isn't chaotic—it's immersive. It drowns out the part of your brain asking why you're doing this, how many miles are left, whether your knee hurts. My Bloody Valentine turns your run into a moving meditation. You're not thinking. You're just present inside all that beautiful noise.