brutal finishing stretch surprised a few regular participants. There are few flat stretches in Madrid so expect a hilly course, then add to that the highest altitude of any European capital city and breathing becomes just that little bit more difficult

.A GPS will nearly always over-estimate the distance run.8 What about altitude and total ascent/descent? The numbers I get from my GPS are rubbish!It is true, GPS receivers are much better at calculating horizontal position than vertical position. To a

the Commonwealth Games, I went to a Kenyan training camp and started upping my mileage to compete in the 5,000 and 10,000m.Which races will you be competing in this year?I'm going to altitude training camp again, then when I get back I'm going to run in the Bupa

to run easy and how to run hard, but nothing in between," he says. "Being at altitude, I knew she'd need something other than pace-per-mile to determine her efforts." De Reuck, who now wears a monitor for easy and intermediate sessions, was a quick

. It differs from London in many ways though: there's a hillier course and higher altitude - it's the highest capital city in Europe, which may affect your breathing. Factor in also, that Madrid can become extremely hot - even in April - and it certainly makes

on the course for six and a half hours and that this is not only the first marathon for most of them, but some of them haven’t even tackled a road race before. Their secret? They’ve been training on the high-altitude, sun-baked lava fields of Hawaii, where

on the course for six and a half hours and that this is not only the first marathon for most of them, but some of them haven’t even tackled a road race before. Their secret? They’ve been training on the high-altitude, sun-baked lava fields of Hawaii, where

? How hard should speedwork be? How can I conquer hill running? What are the effects of altitude training? -->Am I ready to phase out my walk breaks? How can I calculate my maximum heart rate? -->How should I carry water bottles? Why cool down

realised that running is not about split times on a watch.Kevin Collins, 3:30I followed the 3:30 schedule from day one, and apart from a 10-day injury break due to training too hard after the Wymondham 20, and seven days altitude training (well, a ski

person who perseveres? Am I able to endure?" he says. "You may emerge at the end as a qualitatively different person, and that's something you carry over to the rest of your life." My first marathon, a high-altitude trail race in 2000, was such a journey