Hitting your stride is not always easy, but here’s some good news: there’s a hidden saviour in your kit bag – your MP3 player. The most effective training tracks have strong rhythms and a tempo that matches exercise intensity. Our latest playlist

rate or higher, with slower music working better during recovery periods. We took these factors into consideration when compiling Runner’s World Playlist no. 2: Rock ‘N’ Run: a 78-minute rock mix to boost your mood and stamina during a run

Need a motivation boost for training on those cold winter days? Well, we've got just the thing for you - two expertly produced Runner's World playlists for just £4.49 apiece.You can only buy the playlists on iTunes, and the offer lasts from December

Good news - we’ve ‘remixed’ and extended the first Runner’s World Playlist: Running Classics, released on iTunes on May 2, 2011.Runner's World Playlist No. 1: Running Classics (Extended Run) is a revitalised and extended version of the December 2009

Jim Peterik still remembers the conversation. The year was 1982, and the songwriter was sitting in his Chicago home when Sylvester Stallone called with an intriguing request: "I'm making Rocky III," he said, "and I need a song for the kids." Soon thereafter, Peterik got together ...

It's easy enough to play a song that pumps you up for a few minutes, but conceiving a playlist to propel you through an entire run is a trickier matter, especially when you're going long. "You're building a jigsaw," says Steve Boyett, DJ

It's easy enough to play a song that pumps you up for a few minutes, but conceiving a playlist to propel you through an entire run is a trickier matter, especially when you're going long."You're building a jigsaw," says Steve Boyett, DJ

relatively fast, select upbeat tunes. If you want to pace yourself, a slow tempo is more suitable. We asked participants to rate the motivational quotient of their favourite songs, then create a playlist specifically for their goal run. Study subjects said

playlist simply detracts from the simplicity of the running experience.It's not just us runners who are getting hot under the collar either: the relationship between music and running is receiving increased attention from sports science experts too

for a long run. The rubber strap was comfortable and the Pac-Clip and iPod stayed in place. Another bonus: it was easy to remove the iPod on the run, change playlists and replace in the Pac-Clip.Contact www.m-pac.co.uk; 01245 258 300Nathan iBand - £13