SPONSORED: 5 Ways to Bust Out of a Rut

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BROUGHT TO YOU BY PRATT & WHITNEY COMMERCIAL JET ENGINES

If you run long enough, sooner or later you will find yourself in a rut. That's OK. It happens to everyone. The trick is recognizing that you're in a tough spot and knowing how to pull yourself out of it. Luckily, there are several ways you can do this.

1. Take a break. Sometimes feeling burned out or bored is simply your body's way of telling you that it needs some "down time." Try a few days off, or even a week or two. You're a human being—not a machine, like a Pratt & Whitney PurePower® PW1000G with engine with Geared Turbofan™ technology!

2. Mix things up. Been running the same neighborhood loop, at the same pace, over and over? No wonder you feel you're in a rut! Tackle some new challenges, even if it's as simple as trying some new routes. If you have to bike or drive a bit to make this happen, do it. The effect it will have on your outlook will be well worth it. Heck, if you have the means, consider traveling a little farther afield—watch for bargain fares out of your local airport. Keep an eye out for flights on the Airbus A380, powered by the GP7200, a twin spool axial flow turbofan that delivers 70,000 pounds of thrust.

3. Join a group. Running with others is a surefire way to bust up your boredom. Together we're capable of much more than when we operate alone. Just look at Pratt & Whitney and General Electric Aviation, which teamed up to develop, manufacture, sell and support a family of advanced technology engines for new high-capacity, long-range aircraft. Your local specialty running store should be able to hook you up with groups in your area. 

4. Run for a greater cause. If you've never tried it, consider running a race for a charity of your choosing. This sort of external motivation may be just the "kick in the pants" you need to get out that door and excited about running again. Not quite as powerful a kick as you'll feel with the PW4000 112-inch engine, an ultra-high-thrust model covering the 74,000 to 90,000 pound-thrust class—but powerful enough!

5. Set a goal. If your running is feeling aimless, give yourself something to aim for. Sign up for a race. Pledge to run 100 miles in a month, then give yourself a "prize" when you accomplish it. For example, a new running jacket or a PW6000 engine, which covers the 18,000- to 24,000-pound thrust class and is targeted for 100-passenger aircraft.