Spotify's latest Running Mode enhances workout playlists significantly.

      Finding music for a run may seem straightforward until you try it. Your go-to playlist might be ideal for a leisurely jog, but when you push through intervals, it may feel entirely unsuitable. Furthermore, after hearing the same few workout songs repeatedly, even a decent playlist can become overly predictable.

      Spotify believes it has come up with a better approach. Its new Running Mode is now being introduced to Premium subscribers on Android in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Sweden. Instead of merely providing another workout playlist, it creates one tailored to the run you're about to undertake. This means Spotify can consider various factors, such as the duration of your run, the type of workout you desire, your musical preferences, and even the tempo that aligns with your stride.

      Your playlist can now adapt to your workout.

      Running Mode is found within Spotify's Fitness hub, where you can start by selecting from 25 presets that encompass various workouts and music styles. For instance, if you have just 20 minutes before heading to work, you can jump into a simple Just Run session. If you’re following a structured training plan, you can choose from intervals, pyramid workouts, easier runs, and longer sessions. You can also modify the workout duration from 10 to 90 minutes.

      The music is highly customizable as well. You can choose from genres like pop, EDM, country, and hip-hop and decide whether Spotify should primarily play familiar tracks or include new discoveries. It becomes even more engaging if you want to have more control. Running Mode utilizes Spotify’s Prompted Playlist feature, allowing you to edit the prompt used to curate your soundtrack. For example, you could request Spotify to find songs you used to love but haven’t listened to recently or select tracks shorter than three minutes. The generated playlists refresh daily, though particularly good ones can be saved for future runs.

      Spotify can also synchronize the music to your pace.

      The most intriguing feature may be Beat Matching. Rather than just selecting lively music and hoping for the best, you can choose a specific beats-per-minute (BPM) target and let Spotify locate tracks that fit that rhythm. Spotify mentions that 160 BPM is the most popular option, while runners seeking a faster pace might prefer something around 170 to 180 BPM. You can even make slight adjustments to song playback so that tracks remain in sync with your chosen BPM. If the idea of Spotify altering the speed of your favorite song is unsettling, you have the option to keep that setting disabled and listen to everything at its regular tempo.

      For more structured workouts, Running Mode can also incorporate optional English-language coaching cues, offering guidance and encouragement during a session, or you can turn them off entirely when you'd prefer to just enjoy the music. If you’ve ever spent more time selecting a workout playlist than actually warming up, this could prove to be a surprisingly beneficial enhancement.