. But after watching the race I was so inspired, I decided I’d give running a try. Logging on to the RUNNER’S WORLD forum and seeing lots of other beginners in the same boat as me gave me a real boost. I know running is one of the best exercises for weight

-in-week-out, and repeating exactly the same runs and sessions on the same day of each week. While that may feel comfortable and familiar, it’s not actually the best way to improve. Mix up your training, try new sessions, enter races of wildly varying distances and you

= 145. This is your maximum aerobic heart rate. Maffetone believes you should train at or below this level for at least three months before adding speedwork, threshold runs and races to your repertoire - making it an excellent plan for beginners

and races to your repertoire - making it an excellent plan for beginners.According to Dunbar, Ryan's running improved instantly because she was experiencing the most basic benefit of using an HRM - awareness. "Your body will let you train harder than

. Everything became easier when I started running with other people in my office. I was running more regularly, I made progress more quickly because I was training with people who were better than me and it was more fun. Rob SpeddingYears Running 7Fast running

.Contact 0161 419 2500; www.adidas.com/ukBest For BeginnersNike Air Perseus – £60Why it's the best There are a number of great all-rounders out there that offer a combination of stability and cushioning to make them an excellent first shoe. Models like