The Tragically Hip running playlist

After hearing that Canadian rock icon Gord Downie has died, we here at Canadian Running HQ started talking about our favourite Tragically Hip tracks for listening to on a run. 

The Tragically Hip are the quintessential Canadian rock band, and also the perfect soundtrack for runners: the music can be muscular and anthemic, but always comes back to a tender and contemplative centre. Downie’s voice ballasts their 14 studio albums unlike any other frontman in Canadian music history. And you can’t help but find yourself mouthing the words to, say, “New Orleans Is Sinking” along with Gord while listening to Up to Here on a run.

When building a playlist for a run, it’s important to have range, peaks and valleys and overall balance. It’s rare that a single band can deliver this full spectrum, from perfect warmup tracks like “Gift Shop” and “Poets” to get you out the door, to a rhythmic mid-run section, such as “38 Years Old” and “Courage” that gets you in the zone, and of course the power tracks, such as the devastating “Nautical Disaster”, which deliver you home. We can’t think of a better cool down track than the contemplative “Bobcaygeon,” arguably one of the greatest Canadian songs.

This variety, intensity and honest delivery makes the Hip’s music so compelling. We put together this playlist, ordered in a way we hope will deliver you a special run today, in honour of Downie and the powerful and emotional music he created. 

RIP, Gord.