that pounding and wear and tear; it can’t do the body any good, she thinks. Marian’s got her share of aches and pains, and loving auntie that she is, she doesn’t want me to end up in even worse shape.I bet you’ve got an Aunt Marian in your life, too – a family

. Success? Excellent. Reward yourself with another day off, and then run three miles at 10-minute pace.If you're pain-free, continue easing back into your normal routine. If not, take another three days off, then repeat the process to see if it works

or she planned. You won't either. Stuff happens, life gets in the way, but you can deal with it as long as you stay focused on the big picture. Shrug off the bad days, get back on the programme, and you'll still achieve your goals. Remaining persistent

This extract is from The Runner's World Complete Book of Running by RW USA Editor Amby Burfoot. You can now preview it, free, for two weeks without risk or obligation. All running programmes for beginners are the same: they move you from walking

, enjoyable (and effective) way to run. It’s worth a try, isn’t it? Amby Burfoot is Editor of Runner's World US.

into the no-pain, no-gain trap. They train too hard. You know what comes next; burnout, fatigue, injury.Some runners make the opposite mistake. They don’t train hard enough. Their speciality is junk mileage – running so slowly that they receive little