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

/w Cream is available to purchase online.CompetitionTo be in with the chance to win one of 5 exclusive bundles of running gear, worth £100 each, click here and answer our simple question.Feet FirstTo keep your feet in the best of health this summer be sure

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

in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Danish researchers studied the sports and leisure-time activities of 5,749 healthy pregnant women in the first and early second trimesters of their pregnancies. They discovered that physical activity during

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