easier though - hills can be daunting and exhausting opponents, especially for beginners. What advice can you offer this week’s questioner as she prepares to tackle her first climbs?"I’ve been training for three months now and did a 5K in June. Now I

Path, the predominantly flat course is sure to prove popular among the hill-averse, though gusty headwinds and the occasional shale stretch may thwart those chasing fast times. Panoramic views over the Burry Estuary and Gower peninsula also offer a

. This will allow you to simulate race conditions i.e. hills, wet, cold, uneven ground etc. and also discover what your actual pace is, rather than a treadmill pace. It may help to find a partner to run with or to join a local club. I found the latter was the best

A spell away from the water's edge, Bewl 15Closing SoonHurry, you won't be able to enter these races for much longer...Bewl 15 (Surrey, July 1) An off-road circuit round south-east England’s largest stretch of open water, with a few tough hills

gravel trails through the 600-acre Arboretum site.-->Closing SoonAsh Excellent 8 (Somerset, September 9) Now in its 11th year, this multi-terrain event takes runners along rough tracks, over stiles and up leg-busting hills rewarding them

, as the locals turn out in force to cheer some 1,100 runners round the undulating, two-lap traffic-free course. Well established on the north-east racing agenda, this year marks the event’s 20th anniversary, and a concurrent 3K race for 11-16s and a beginners

. With participation (rather than competition) at the top of the morning’s agenda, both beginners and family groups can expect a warm welcome, and there’s no doubt the seasonal camaraderie will rub off on spectators too. Suits and beards are included in the entry fee

ciggie during the Notting Hill carnival last year. I'd already decided I was doing the FLM, and so had good reason to try and kick the habit. Literally, ten minutes after crossing the finish line, I had the biggest craving for one of those menthol (oh