I feel like my "outside time" is my time to bond with nature, so I don't listen to music at all. Also, I need to be alert for traffic. Even though I walk/run in a rural area, I have to do it on the main road. Thankfully, there isn't a lot of traffic. Maybe only 1-4 the entire time.

During my warm-up I focus on the scenery, noises, and smells of nature, and let my mind wander for a bit, thinking of what I'm going to do that day. During my running, I focus on my time, making sure I time my intervals right. (I run between 20-40 seconds every minute and a half for 10 minutes). Then on my cool-down I focus on the sensations in my body, congratulate myself on getting the "hard part" done, and focus on nature again, letting my mind wander if I desire to. It's actually pretty pleasant for me now, and feels more like "me time" than working out.

I like to listen to books on tape or stand up comedy-that way your pace is not being affected by ups and downs the way it can be when you listen to music. When it gets really tough, I repeat "Boston, Boston, Boston,..." in my head because I'm going to make it there!

I've only just begun to run - working my way s-l-o-w-l-y to three minute intervals.. I run on the treadmill since it's much easier for me at the moment.
I think I must be the only freak in the world to read as I run? I have always read while walking the treadmill and I thought I won't be able to when running because of the greater up and down movement :dizzy: - but I actually am able to! In fact, a couple days ago I was quite tired and found running difficult - but concentrated on the book and it took my mind completely off the out-of-breath, tired feeling and I finished the interval running quite easily.
Anyone else manage to read while running? :)

I rely HEAVILY on music while I run. Running bores the heck out of me, but the music makes me happy. I also like to pretend that I'm dancing. I can go out and dance for 4 hours, so I tell myself there's no reason why I can't run for 45 minutes.

I also, like previous posters, like to tell myself how fantastic my butt/legs will look after this. It works.

i don't really have a mantra or anything in particular, but i do know that when i run there's usually always some tough bits for no apparent reason, but then you come out of the tough bit and suddenly feel energised again for no reason.

So when its feeling like hard work i just recognise that, and think to myself that i just have to put up with it for a bit and then i'll feel better again soon!

Sounds pretty dull compared to you lot though!!! I think next time i'll try out a few fantasy tips from this thread!!

If it's a route I always run, I use music. If it's a new route, or one I haven't run in a while, I'm fine without.

For some reason whenever I am doing something mindless these days I start thinking in Spanish. I ran on Wednesday and all I could do was think of something and then translate it. Weird.