Whether you're lacing up your trainers for the first time since school, or are about to tackle your umpteenth ultra, chances are you'll have questions about running. Are you doing things right? How you can improve? Is what your mate said at the running club true?

And unless you've exclusive 24-hour access to a panel of experts, there's no better place to turn than the RW forums. Here you can tap the collective knowledge of more than 350,000 runners, from fresh-faced first-timers to wizened oldies, and everyone in between.

Cue the birth of our Reader to Reader feature. The idea? Every week we'd pick a popular question from the forum, collect the best replies, and publish them. The result? More than 50 articles packed with top-notch advice from people who have been there, done that, and are probably wearing the T-shirt...

TRAINING

How important is it to run at different paces?
How can I get used to running on the roads after training on a treadmill?
What's the best way to tackle hills?
How important is it to train to a schedule?
Can I improve on fewer sessions per week?
How can I progress from run/walk to run/run?
Can I become a faster runner through sheer graft - or is speed in your genes?
I want to start running to work - what are the best ways to transport my work clothes and freshen up when I get there?
Does a cool-down jog defeat the point of speed work?
How can I build up my stamina?
How can I tell if I'm overtraining?
What's the best way to find out how far I've run?
How should I go about training for a race longer than a marathon?
How much should I run after my first marathon?
How do you fit your social life around your training?
Can you, and should you, change your running style?

Racing
How can I deal with these race-day nerves?
Am I too old for a PB?
How much should I warm up before a race - and why?
How can I pick myself up after a bad race?
Can I run a half-marathon two weeks after my first marathon?

Cross-Training
Can I ditch rest days completely if I mix cross-training days with running days?
What if I'm too tired after running to do any cross-training?
What sort of cross-training is best for boosting core strength?
Are there any training plans specifically for triathlon? And how much kit will I need?

Family Running
How can I encourage my children to run without overdoing it?
Does being a parent have to get in the way of my running?
How soon after having a baby can I don my running shoes?
Can I train with a bun in the oven?

KIT

Can I put my shoes in the washing machine?
Are there any ethically-made running shoes?
Is there any real difference between the men's and women's editions of running shoes?
I have to wear glasses while running - what can I do when it's raining?
Why won't my legs warm up when I'm running the cold?
What should you wear to run in the rain?
Should I train with a backpack?

HEALTH

Beating Injury
How important is it to stretch? And when's the best time to do so?
Is there any truth in the 'if it isn't hurting, it isn't working' mantra?
How should I handle injury - and the constant threat of injury?
How can I bounce back when I feel like a beginner again?

Nutrition
What's the best way to top up my energy reserves during a long run?
What - and when - should I eat before an early-morning run?
How long should I leave between a booze-up and a marathon?
What's the best way to take on water while on a run?
Will coming off caffeine help or hinder my running?

Weight Loss
Are ready meals really a good way to lose weight?
What pre-run snacks will give me a boost without blowing the calorie budget?

Staying Healthy
Will giving up smoking improve my running?
Can running help me recover from an eating disorder?
Should I run if I've got a cold?
Why do I find it so hard to drop off after an evening run?
Are black toenails just a fact of running life, or can they be avoided?
What's the best way to get rid of a stitch?