," Anderson says. "So keep it steady."The bands let you isolate and work on particular muscle groups. For runners, who often neglect their upper body and core, this means you can balance out your runs with a full-body workout. Try this routine a couple

Running is about self-improvement, not Spartan self-denial. As performance coach Kim Ingleby (energisedperformance.com) says, "You need a balance: training, recovery, food and fun." So while runners might idolise the original marathon runner

GETTY IMAGESWe all know that a healthy diet is a balancing act of carbs, proteins and fats. But there's one factor runners often neglect, warns sports nutritionist Becky Stevenson (proactivate.co.uk): "Whether you've done an easy 20 minutes or been

, so you are semi-warmed up before stepping outdoors. Cramping your style: Salt Imbalance Hydration is a delicate balance: too little water and muscles will cramp; too much dilutes levels of the electrolytes your muscles need to process

be opening up wide? Not so fast.The right balanceThe journal Modern Athlete and Coach reports that an elite sprinter ran 60m with shorter strides than normal. His times, unsurprisingly, crept up. Over the same course, with longer strides, his times shot up

to work out the best footing, slow down and keep your stride quite short for better balance.What to expectYour muscles and tendons must continuously adjust  when running on uneven surfaces, so it's common to feel some soreness in your ankles, calf muscles

, the more effective this  strategy can be. Unfortunately, we also tend to recall poor performances, so counter-balance these with good thoughts. As soon as you have a negative thought, visualise yourself getting a surge of energy late into the race, or think

minimum pronation) and midfoot or forefoot strikers with high or normal arches.AdidasAdidas adiSTAR Ride 3Adidas Supernova Glide 3MizunoMizuno Wave Creation 12Mizuno Wave Rider 14New BalanceNew Balance 1080SauconySaucony ProGrid Jazz 14Saucony Pro