Q I gave birth nine weeks ago, and before this I was running up to eight miles every day. I went for my first run the other day and felt dreadful. I want to run a 10K in a couple of months, before tackling a half-marathon in the autumn. I

Getty ImagesBelieve it or not, people who exercise frequently or for prolonged periods are more likely to pick up infections and catch colds than sedentary people.This is even more likely in autumn and winter – the traditional season for a

to walk any of it. Four months later, I entered a half-marathon. I did it in 2:11, and could even have run further. The race was on a beautiful autumn day and I just felt fantastic when I came over the line. Since the half-marathon, I’ve joined a running

minutes whenever I trained.It was summer and we took a trip to the South of France to stay with my sister. She thought I was mad to be running in my condition. One evening, a doctor came round for an aperitif. I was all but internally examined