Ahead of Racing the NYC Marathon, Matt James Shares the Playlist He’ll Turn to When the Miles Get Tough

Good music can often make the difference between a rave run and a blown goal. That’s why we’re putting together 90-minute playlists each month chock-full of songs with enough of a beat to keep you moving. For even more tunes, check out our list of The Best Running Playlists to Power Every Pace and Distance.Find Your Next Running PlaylistHow did Matt James get into marathon running?“I don’t think it’s a secret that I love food,” he says, smiling. “When you’re training for a race and running a lot, you need fuel. The more I was able to train, the more I was able to explore the culinary scene without a guilty conscience. It’s part of the job.”This makes sense to anyone who follows James on Instagram, where he’s shared videos eating a $225 bagel, housing a five-pound hot dog, and spending a month eating nothing but pasta and gelato. While James is perhaps best known for appearing on reality TV shows like The Bachelor and Dancing With the Stars, he’s now built a social media following of like-minded runners/eaters.James’s marathon and carb-loading journeys actually predate his time as a celebrity. He raced his first marathon in Chicago in 2019, and has run a dozen since. On November 1, he’ll line up for his sixth consecutive New York City Marathon, but this time, he’s more focused on eating than on his time.“I’ve got a lot of eating planned,” he says. “I’m going to a family-style dinner at Little Ruby’s on Thursday. It’s probably my favorite restaurant in the city. I eat there all the time. Then, I’ll go to Lavagna and have pasta Friday.”In fact, James takes his marathon-week dining so seriously, he’s partnered with Yelp to create a marathon weekend dining guide for out-of-towners. The list, which includes Melba’s Restaurant, Chrissy’s Pizza, and Winson Bakery, looks beyond the typical tourist fare in Manhattan to give marathon runners a true tour of New York’s best food.James’s fueling expertise is hard-won. He ran his second NYC Marathon in 2022 alongside former NYC Marathon winner Shalane Flanagan. On race day, he ambitiously told her he was trying to run a sub-three-hour marathon, despite not training properly for the task.“I just hit the wall,” he remembers. “We’re walking up First Avenue, and I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, I have 10 more miles to walk with a former marathon champion.’” While he tried to send Flanagan on ahead, she stuck by him and coached him to a 3:46:45.“Running with her inspired me to take the sport seriously,” he says. “It’s really been a complete lifestyle change after that in terms of getting adequate miles and workouts in. Then when it comes to race day, it’s a celebration and not a death march.”When the two reunited at the same race in 2023, he finished in 3:04:50.Besides carb-loading and a strong training regimen, a great playlist is a part of a successful marathon strategy, and James crafted one in honor of the New York City Marathon.“I like to take myself through a musical journey,” he says of his typical running playlists. “I’ll start with some pop punk, something that’s upbeat. Then I’ll go into some R&B vibes, and then I’ll pick it up at the end with something that’ll get the heart going as a reward.”His Runner’s World playlist, which features blink-182, Wale, and Gucci Mane, does just that. And while he doesn’t recommend running a full marathon with headphones in, he does recognize that a good playlist can help you push through a “pain cave” if you don’t have Shalane Flanagan running beside you.“If you see me and I have my headphones on during a race, know I’m battling demons to keep my legs moving,” James laughs.With a running playlist, a restaurant guide, and his training done, James is ready for the marathon. “It’s the best day of the year in the city,” he says. “I’d have too much FOMO if I didn’t run.”Listen on SpotifyListen on Apple MusicListen on Amazon MusicMatthew Huff is a freelance writer and runner, and he is the author of MARATHONER: What to Expect When Training for and Running a Marathon, published by Rizzoli Publications. His writing has appeared in Runner's World and BuzzFeed among others, and he is the co-host of “P.S. You're Wrong: A Pop Culture Podcast.” Originally from Michigan, he now lives and runs in New York City, where he is pursuing a career as an expert chicken tender taster.