’t have made it.The race organisation and associated logistics are immaculate. Normally at any race, if you don’t notice the organisation they’ve done a good job. Like football referees! Yesterday, however, the execution was so perfect it enhanced

of mine. I was big on football and played a lot of it, and often in training running was part of fitness-building. Running is something I’ve done more as a leisure activity than getting into it more seriously and doing something like a marathon, although I

, the grassland of parks, golf courses and football pitches provides the purest, most natural surface for running. Areas where sheep graze are often home to fine, close-cropped turf, too.Pros: While grass is soft and easy on the legs in terms of impact

enthusiasm, wearing a groove around the football field, racing the trams in the streets of Shau Ki Wan. In that year, aged 19, I broke five minutes for the mile at last, although I didn’t beat 60 seconds for 400m. I was second at the Minor Units Championships

convenient running excuses (“I'm too tired”, “I'm resting for a big run tomorrow”) for dropping out of things like playing football with the kids or going to a late-night party.The gain: Instead of becoming too self-absorbed, you'll keep lines

cathedral, which dates from 1386) for the 15K. You can set a PB at an odd distance, savour the atmosphere of one of the world’s biggest road races, experience Milan’s fantastic restaurants and maybe even catch a decent game of football. Contact

the football pitch down the street. It doesn’t have to be an idyllic, meandering trail in the Pennines. It simply needs to be a place where there’s no traffic.Running on the roads is a lot better than not running at all, but it does come with certain built

is jogging or playing a physical game such as basketball or football.Make it happen Specify a time for physical activity every day – just like you do for other activities that are central to your life, such as sleep, work, and eating.Choose active leisure

.Last year I had some physio on my right knee following a football injury. I was told that my hips are not fully straight and that my legs lean/bend inwards when I bend down.Is there anything that I can do to eliminate this discomfort and help with my knees

slowly into the bloodstream - eat it at least three hours before the race," says Schenker. Bananas are the nutritional equivalent of football's magic sponge - that's why the likes of tennis world number one Rafael Nadal munch on them at every opportunity