How Do You Tough It Out?

When the going gets tough in a workout or a race, what mental tricks do you use to stay focused and positive? Do you repeat a mantra? Do you distract yourself by counting footfalls? Do you imagine yourself surging past competitors and breaking the finish line tape?

We want to hear what mind games work for you.

Leave your responses in the Comments section of this blog, below. Remember: Please include your first and last name, and city and state of residence. Thanks in advance for your contributions!

-The editors of Runner’s World

How Do You Handle the Heat?

Hello!

After a brief hiatus, The Pack Rules is back - and once again, we'd like to tap into the collective wisdom of you, our readers.

This time around, we'd like to know how you deal with running and racing in the heat:

• What changes do you make to your running?
• What time of day do you run?
• What do you wear?
• How much more do you drink before and during your run?
• Do you step up mileage because it's nice out, or do you back off because it's too hot?
• If you race in the summer, what distances do you go for? How does the heat affect your pace?

Leave your responses in the Comments section of this blog, below. Remember: Please include your first and last name, and city and state of residence. Thanks!

-The editors of Runner’s World

What Keeps You Running?

(Apart from the Doobie Brothers, of course.)

Seriously, what does keep you running – especially when the weather isn't so great, or you're tired, or your to-do list is a mile long? We'd like to know.

We’ll print the very best of your responses in the magazine -- so if you do respond, please include your first and last name, and city and state of residence.

So, tell us...   

• How do you get out the door when it’s too hot, too cold, too windy, too rainy?
• Do you train for races to stay motivated?
• If so, how does competition help motivate you?
• How do other runners inspire you?
• What’s your primary motivation for running—to lose weight, relieve stress, stay fit, run really fast?
• Music-listeners, what kind of music do you listen to?
• How do you reward yourself after a hard effort?

Leave your responses in the Comments section of this blog, below. Remember: Please include your first and last name, and city and state of residence. Thanks in advance for your contributions!

-The editors of Runner’s World

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What Do YOU Eat?

Hello there!

Thanks very much for all the great responses to our last question. ("What’s the Best Way to Run a 5-K?") For our next round of user-submitted tips, we'd like to know a little bit about what you eat, and when. (And why!) We’ll print the very best of your responses in the magazine -- so if you do respond, please include your first and last name, and city and state of residence.

So, let us know...

• What do you eat and drink before you run, and how soon before you run do you eat and drink it?
• How long does your run have to be before you decide to eat/drink during your run, and what do you eat and drink?
• Do you carry food and drink while you run?
• How soon after you finish running do you eat, and what do you typically eat?
• Do you change what you eat and drink during your training?
• Do you have any problems with any particular foods?
• Do you have any “special reward” foods for completing tough workouts or long races?

Leave your responses in the Comments section of this blog, below. Remember: Please include your first and last name, and city and state of residence. Thanks in advance for your contributions!

-The editors of Runner’s World

What’s the Best Way to Run a 5-K?

Hello, and welcome to Pack Rules!

Pack Rules is the place to share your lessons, tips, and advice with other readers and with us, the editors of Runner's World. We’ll print the very best of these tips in the magazine, though all the tips will be on display here, in this blog.

To kick things off, we'd like your tips on running a 5-K. Some questions to get you started:

• What’s your best advice for someone who’s attempting their first 5-K? Their fastest 5-K?
• Do you race 5-Ks yourself, or use them as training runs?
• How many 5-Ks do you run per year?
• Do you train specifically for a 5-K or run them when training for other distances?
• What’s the best strategy for racing a 5-K? Start slow and pick it up, or blast off the line and hope to hold onto it?
• What’s the best reason to run a 5-K?
• Do you eat before you run a 5-K? Do you need to drink during it?
• What about running 5-Ks every weekend?

Leave your tips in the Comments section of this blog, below. Please include your first and last name, and city and state of residence. Thanks in advance for your contributions!

-The editors of Runner’s World