Don't dismiss free weights as the preserve of oiled-up gym bunnies obsessed with six-packs and their reflection. Normal people can use them to burn calories and become stronger, which will help improve both technique and stamina for next season

For an athlete accustomed to exercising outdoors, health clubs and gyms can be mystifying. Follow these three basic tips from exercise scientist Len Kravitz and you'll find that the gym becomes a home from home.Go in with a plan"A lot of people

Becoming a better runner is about more than just running - you need to make your body fit for purpose through cross-training. And with gym memberships having bitten the dust at the first sign of the credit crunch, and winter having curled its frosty

This week's question was emailed to me by forum member Little Lizard, who has taken barely a single rest day in years. She reckons gym work is enough of a rest for her legs, but could she be overdoing it and storing up trouble for the future

Sit on a large stability ball (or even a chair) facing an elastic stretching band in the gym. Grab the elastic with both hands. Sit upright, and pull it towards you. Bring your hands to your rib cage and squeeze your shoulder blades together. Hold

Q How do I fit running around my job as a fitness instructor? I take several classes every weekday, except Thursday, and find it really hard to fit in more than two or three 40-minute runs a week. I really want to run a half-marathon, but how can I make the best of my time?A Al...

If I should let drop that I’ve just run 20 miles to the gym and back, just to idle away a dull morning, I can count on one of two responses from my audience.First there’s, “Run? I can’t even run for the bus, me!” Surely, I reply, that depends on who

Back pain might keep you from running from time to time, in which case you might benefit from some preventive strengthening and stretching exercises. We’ve listed two old favourites for each below, but if you do suffer from a back problem, check with your GP to determine the caus...

holidays, while the cold, dark winter nights and mornings make it tough to run outside.That’s where the temperature-controlled, bright-as-sunlight gym comes in handy. Another bonus is that since you have access to both cardio and strength equipment

You know that adding some weight training to your programme will help your running by making you more stable and powerful, but what if you don’t fancy joining a gym? Here’s the answer: stay at home and use your own body weight for all-round strength