Where: London When: December 5 If you like dressing up, running and Christmas, the London Santa Run is the race you’ve been waiting for. The 6K course is just the right distance for most beginners, and the race is set alongside the Thames

Sports psychologists often divide objectives into three different types:Technical process goals relate to the technique of your sport (for example running a negative split, or mastering forefoot striking).Outcome goals reflect your overall placing in a specific event (such as win...

GETTY IMAGES At the start of a brand spanking new year, and in the terrifying knowledge that Brits put on an average of 5lbs (2kg) over the Christmas period (according to the British Dietetic Association), we've come up with these inspirational ideas to help you fulfil your 2010 ...

.What this also means is that where many beginner triathletes can make huge strides by finessing their technique, I have to face facts: if I want more speed, I'll have to work for it.Not only that, I've got work to do on my fitness in general. After running

Getty Images Off-road running might summon up dark memories of being sent round the school field in the cold. But there’s much more to going off-road. Springing along a forest trail is easier on your body than Tarmac, and the world beyond road racing is packed with beautiful,...

-Nation 5 Where: Derbyshire When: June 14 Grab this rare opportunity to dent your PB over five miles with the 15th staging of this Nottinghamshire fixture. This local road race is well attended by local club runners and beginners alike, and has a friendly

, offering jelly babies, orange slices, drinks and even beer to the annual invasion of runners."This is such a great event and the support from the spectators is fantastic. The buzz of the whole event seems just the thing to get any beginners hooked

to rank them. NB: We have only included races with at least 25 responses and where a race appeared on more than one Top 10 chart (Scenery, PB Potential, Beginner-friendliness, Atmosphere), it was only included in the chart where it had the highest ranking.

socially afterwards, the more experienced runners can impart an awful lot of knowledge to beginners, the little tips that wouldn't come out in a training talk."Just good friendsFor those bitten by the training-camp bug, it can be addictive – RW forumite Ian

to the finish.The Glynneath 5 is festive fun for all abilities, with beginners made very welcome. Among the staggering array of prizes are Improvers' Trophies for anyone beating last year's performance, and team prizes for father and son, father and daughter