months ahead of time guarantees your entry, avoids late fees and, most importantly, commits you to the training because you don’t want to waste the cash. ‘This early investment in a race supplies you with motivation because it’s a concrete  step,’ says

-Marathon, with 700 runners in November. The race has raised £20,000 for charity in the last four years. The club also helped organise two Stevenage Race For Life 5Ks last July, and helps out at the London Marathon each year. Chris Leigh says the club is proud

so much support, friendship and awe-inspiring guts to the sport, motivating the thousands of runners they meet both at races and on the runnersworld.co.uk forums.The Fundraiser Eric Hardwick Eric Hardwick is not your average charity fundraiser

's faster than you are. Focus on why you love triathlon. Whether it's to keep fit, challenge yourself or raise money for charity, you've put a lot into getting to that race, so be proud of your achievements. If you come out of each experience with one thing

, get fit and get running.Find out how blogging about your training or discovering the blogs of other runners can transform your training - whether you want to fundraise, meet likeminded runners or just get a motivational boost.Training LogTake Neil Lock

Tomlinson Inspiration AwardThe top Heroes Award bears the name of one of the most inspirational figures in running, Jane Tomlinson – the athlete who raised millions of pounds for charity while battling the cancer that led to her death in 2007. The winner

to raise £1m for military charity Help The Heroes.Travelling just over two miles per day Packer, 37, completed the course on crutches in 13 days. He says:  "The greatest realisation I've had doing the marathon is that regardless of what happens to you

choose the sport. Secondary SchoolCombine sports with community work. Encourage your child to walk a race for charity, earning money from sponsors in your neighborhood. Let your child join a sports club or team. A team atmosphere will help to develop

at a local park, I was so proud of myself. I have been running ever since.”6. Sign up for a race “There is always something very special about taking part in and finishing a race, whatever the distance. You will be surprised how motivating it is to have

moneyfor the charity Seeing Is Believing.