When each turn of the pedals gets more difficult and every step feels like I’m slogging along, nothing gets me moving better than a fast-tempo song beginning to play on my iPod. Pacing workouts to the beat of the music will keep you motivated and working hard—research has proven this to be true! (If you’re really into the finer points of these studies, this one is a must-read. It details what they found to be the exact optimal beats per minute for every song during your workout!)

That’s why I crafted this killer 60-minute playlist, including warm-up, workout and cooldown picks, that will help you enjoy every one of your exercise experiences this summer. It’s chock-full of many current Billboard hits, so hopefully they’re tunes that you haven’t grown sick of yet! Even better news? Just click here to download the entire playlist or each song individually on iTunes—how handy!

• “Rolling in the Deep,” Adele
• “White Flag,” Ashlyne Huff
• “Blow,” Ke$ha
• “So Obvious,” Runner Runner
• “Where Them Girls At,” David Guetta ft. Flo Rida & Nicki Minaj
• “Jet Lag,” Simple Plan ft. Natasha Bedingfield
• “You Make Me Feel…,” Cobra Starship ft. Sabi
• “Don’t Wanna Go Home,” Jason Derulo
• “All I Do Is Win,” DJ Khaled ft. Ludacris, Rick Ross, T-Pain & Snoop
• “Invading My Mind,” Jennifer Lopez
• “Run the World (Girls),” Beyonce
• “Bad Enough for You,” All Time Low
• “Written in the Stars,” Tinie Tempah ft. Eric Turner
• “Edge of Glory,” Lady Gaga
• “The Show Goes On,” Lupe Fiasco
• “For the First Time (Radio Edit),” The Script

Photo courtesy of Flickr user jbelluch.

Which one of these songs is your favorite? Or what is the top track that inspires you to pick up the pace?