This week's question comes from a forum member whose event schedule is looking a bit crowded..."I'm doing the Edinburgh Marathon on 27 May. It's my first marathon, and the training is going OK, though I had two weeks off due to injury. I've got

'd recommend getting in a few 5K, 10K, half marathons etc before you try a marathon."Every RW member knows that it's a bad idea to run any marathon when you've got barely any running experience and have done precious little training. The pulling power of London

think I'm better suited to shorter races. I did some sprints with my (elite) running pal, and she was surprised by my speed – but I found my first half marathon very hard. – NamasteLook inside your musclesYou could always have a muscle biopsy to assess

Training for a marathon is tough and time-consuming enough, but at least you're not short of advice on training schedules. But the increasingly popular ultra marathon is quite another matter, as one reader has found. If you've got experience

– but running one day, cross training the next seems fine if your body isn't complaining. – Jeremy LarcombeHorses for courses...Upper body weights don't count as rest in my running schedule, but I do count swimming as rest and cycling, but not too much, as "half

This week's problem may sound extreme, but it's one that many enthusiastic runners or marathon trainees can relate to. In short, how much training is too much? And when you feel you're overdoing it, do you really have to stop completely for a bit

?"It's time to face the cryptic 'cross-training' references on my marathon schedule. What should I do? There's so much choice! Whenever I run more than about 14 miles my upper body gets tired, so I know I need to develop my core strength, but what's the best

't give up. – raceshyRunning is valuable "me time"I was back running within two weeks of giving birth to my daughter, who's now two, and I trained for and ran a half marathon PB within 5 months. It is tricky, especially if you are breast feeding, but I

as you get older. Comparing notes with some V60s a few weeks back, most of us found that running a flat-out 10 mile or half marathon can take up to two weeks' recovery before any hard speed work. – Johnny JNote every niggle and work on preventionI suppose

help redirect your need for controlI know that running can be an element of an eating disorder, but in my experience sticking to a training schedule has helped take something away from the ED's. It has also encouraged me to see food as fuel that enables