Should you snog before you jog? Athletes traditionally abstain from sex before big competitions. Muhammad Ali wouldn't do it from six weeks before a fight, while footballers in the 1970s adopted the mantra: 'Nothing after Wednesday if you're playing

. Participants can then imagine a positive training or competitive scene and link this with the sense of deep relaxation.- Meditation and massage: Both techniques are also very good for relaxation, although but they tend to require more detailed training

should be reserved for major competitions and done only a few times a year. Ultimately, you need to decide for yourself whether taking the pill makes sense for you. For every runner who swears by it, there is another who insists she feels and performs

temperature above 101°F could increase the risk of birth defects. So make sure you’re staying cool enough, and if in doubt, take your temperature after a run. If it’s over 100°F, you’re probably overdoing it. Also, skip that post-run soak in a hot bath.6. You

/midwife is happy, carry on. Exercise has been found to benefit both mother and baby if you already have a reasonable level of fitness. From the evidence on the pregnant runners' club thread, staying active seems to contribute positively to a shorter, less painful

and competitive runners were put to the test. After initial evaluation of ground reaction forces, lower-extremity stability scores and 5,000m running performance, half participated in a six-week core strength training programme while the other half did not. All

you stay healthy. A poor recovery strategy can lead to fatigue, chronic tiredness, muscle soreness, poor sleep and increased susceptibility to infections and injury.   Recovery in the body involves a complex process of adaptation to the physical stress

disturbances, lowered libido, anaemia, lightheadedness, loss of motivation and lack of competitive drive.How can I get back on my feet?Now you've worked out what's wrong, it's time to get it sorted. Just a few tweaks to your training could help ensure a long

my heart and lungs are working more efficiently. I’m not actually that competitive, and I don’t do any speedwork. I just love running, and it was important to me to start doing it again as soon as possible after the birth.” Top tip: Find a buggy

their running to the next level."PRE-STARTIt's now that the pre-race nerves kick in. But it's not just your incessant back-and-forth pacing that's sapping vital energy stores – sizing up the competition and playing your mile-by-mile strategy on a mental loop can