We are providing the following information to help you tailor materials for publication in Runner's World. It should go without saying that the best way to understand RW, and what we are looking for from freelancers, is to read several recent issues of the magazine closely.

In addition, you should understand that most RW articles are written by staffers, senior writers or experts (podiatrists, nutritionists, etc.). In other words, it's not easy to be published in Runner's World. We have little interest in general articles on the benefits of running, fitness and the like. We may agree with your sentiments and advice, but that alone is not enough to make an article publishable.

These departments offer the best opportunities for freelancers: What it takes to..., Rave Run and Life & Times. It's not necessary to query when contributing to these sections of the magazine; all submissions are on speculation. Because of the large number of submissions received, we cannot acknowledge receipt, and we do not send out rejection letters or return the original materials. Therefore, please keep copies of everything you send us. You will hear from us only if we are interested in publishing your materials.

We encourage electronic submissions. These should be sent to rwedit@rodale.com. Do not send your story as an attachment. Please paste it directly into the body of your email. We appreciate your attention to this detail.

Here's some additional information on submitting materials to Runner's World:

What it takes to... tells the everyday, inspirational and humorous stories of regular people doing amazing things. Almost anyone can be a candidate for this section, as long as you find out something interesting about the person's running or lifestyle. Photos essential. Address all materials to "What it takes to...".

Rave Run requires a simple descriptive letter. Briefly describe your Rave Run—where it is located, what you see while running, why it is meaningful to you, etc. It is also important that you include details like distance of the run and the name of the road or trail on which you run.If you think you have awesome publication-quality photos, send the images in JPEG or TIFF format on a CD or DVD with the approximate dimensions of 18 inches x 12 inches @ 300 dpi or in a horizontal slide format (35mm or larger). Naturally, we can only publish a small number of the Rave Run nominations we receive. Don't let this discourage you! If you meet the qualifications, please send your submission to: Runner's World, Attn: Photo Editor, 400 S 10th Street, Emmaus, PA 18098-0099. (Please note: We are unable to return slides, CDs, etc.)

Life & Times. is a column featuring first-person essays about running-related experiences. Topics can be personal in nature, of course, but should appeal to a wide range of readers. We look for a variety of voices to contribute to the column; the tone can vary from humorous to sentimental to reflective. Essays are reviewed on speculation.

OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND FEATURES: Most other departments are written by experts or professionals with whom we have ongoing relationships. There are few freelance opportunities.

We receive hundreds of first person stories each month, many from people describing how they ran their first marathon. These are nearly always inspirational, but they are rarely publishable, because we don't have magazine-quality photos to accompany the stories. Still, the occasional first-person story is so unique and emotional that we decide to publish it. So, give us your best. Remember, however: We can't acknowledge receipt or return materials. Keep copies of everything.

We are always looking for "Adventure Runs" from readers -- runs in wild, remote beautiful and interesting places. These are rarely race stories but more like backtracking/running adventures. Great color slides are extremely helpful, and often crucial in the decision to publish or not. We suggest sending us your story first, and letting us know if you have color photos to accompany it.

PHOTOS: Nearly all our photos are taken by professionals. The exception would be the photo that you managed to capture that no one else in the world got; e.g., Madonna running in Central Park, a scenic wilderness photo, a photo of an elephant chasing a runner in India.

RUNNER'S WORLD ONLINE: Our website, runnersworld.com, rarely pays for materials. However, it has interactive sections, including forums and user blogs, where you can make contributions. We will also consider stories submitted on a not-for-payment basis for our Other Voices column via our Contact Us form. (Due to the volume of queries, we regret that we cannot respond personally to each submission.)

Happy writing, and happy running.

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