goal. Phil Sanders set himself the challenge of running a marathon, Kirsten Lodge a half-marathon and icclesuez simply wanted to run for 30 minutes. Whatever your final goal, a 5K race is a fantastic first marker of achievement once you start running

's example and build up to a 5k using our beginner schedules.If you already run, set yourself a more challenging target. Kirsten Lodge only ran occasionally but signing up to a half marathon and upping her training helped her lose 15 pounds over six months

by runnersworld.co.uk forumites.The idea was the brainchild of forumite Stu just ten months ago. Inspired by Eddie Izzard's feat of 43 marathons in 51 days last year, Stu initially thought of attempting the coastal distance alone. "I soon realised a relay was a

some most of our faster forumites blush. Still if enthusiasm counts for anything, then I'm a runner.However, as much I love running, it appears that running doesn't love me. Since upping my mileage to train and race in the Liverpool Half-Marathon