When your lower-back muscles are weak, you are more likely to suffer from nagging pain, bad posture or below-par running. To keep this critical ‘core’ area strong, you need to strengthen and stretch the erector spinae muscle group. The following

Back pain might keep you from running from time to time, in which case you might benefit from some preventive strengthening and stretching exercises. We’ve listed two old favourites for each below, but if you do suffer from a back problem, check

Why not try these simple back-loosening exercises on those days when you wake up feeling as stiff as a plank? They’ll make you feel a whole lot better – and they’ll help your running, too. After all, you run with your whole body, not just your legs

It was the most talked-about new race of this year. It took 9000 runners round the legendary Grand Prix motor racing track at Silverstone, Northants. It's the official warm-up race of the Flora London Marathon - and most importantly, it was a

Standfirst: Author: Pics:Issue date: oct01 / panel from racingbasics.htmlKeywords:-->Throughout your running life there’ll be races that you’ll look back on and think, “What the hell happened there?” Here are the answers to a few of those head

It might seem like gender isn't a big deal in the world of running. But even though men and women line up in the same races, with similar kit and an identical will to win, being a female runner can be a little different. Women have a different

UAN: Article type:++needs pics++-->These stretch more than one muscle group at once – including your upper body, an often-neglected area in runners. 1. Downward-facing dogKeep your feet hip-width apart and your hands shoulder-width apart. Keep

lean back to increase the stretch in the front of your thigh. Take care if you have ankle problems, and stay tall in your upper body to avoid compressing your lower back. 2. Bent-leg standing hamstrings stretchBe thoroughly warmed up before you attempt

to just below your chin, moving your elbows out on the upward movement. This exercise works the trapezius muscle in both the upper back and shoulder.SquatsAn all-round work-out for runners wouldn’t be complete without some leg strengthening, and no

Cornish Marathon: Sunday, November 17WHY RUN IT?Challenge, scenery, Bodmin Moor, peaceA small winter road marathon, run over a tough, out-and-back course near Bodmin Moor with a 16-mile loop on the Moor itself.FEES£9/£10, payable to East Cornwall