, which is reckoned to be the speed of your best 10 miles; this is slightly above half-marathon pace, but it is the best pace to train at.Band Two: 1:25-1:50This time range takes you up to a regular 40 miles a week, though many runners would still be able

easy 8M fartlek on grass, inc 20 x 30 secs (approx) 3M jog 5M, no pressure 3M warm-up, then 5-6M race (not flat-out) or 13-15M steadyWEEK 10 5M easy, off-road 6-8M at a comfortable pace 2 x (8 x 200m) fast, on grass, with 1-min recoveries 6M easy, inc 1

bursts 3M on grass Warm up, then 10K race, then 10 mins walking or joggingWEEK 8 4-5M easy, off-road 1M jog, then 2 x 7-8 mins fast, with 5-min jog recovery 4M on grass, inc several short bursts 11-12M, as slow as you likeWEEK 9 3-4M easy, on soft ground

easy Rest or 3M jog 4M on grass, inc 6 x 200m strides Warm up, then 10K race. Warm downWEEK 8 5M easy, off-road 6M steady, inc bursts up hills 3 x 1M (or 3 x 5 mins), with 5-min recoveries 5M easy 5M easy 6-7M, inc 10 x 30 secs fast, 30 secs slow 10-12M

minutes at 20K and another five minutes to the finish – so your aim for the first one should be to break 1:45. And yes, it is a good idea to run an intermediate distance first – a 10-mile run if possible – so that you can get used to the slightly slower

mileage and work in two speed sessions a week. This applies whether your goal is the 10K or the half-marathon; the only difference should be the type of speedwork you do. Here's an example of what you should be doing for the road:Day 1 5 miles briskDay 2

miles and half-marathons in the autumn. After that, you can start training for your second marathon.—Bruce Tulloh, endurance coach and organiser of the Safari Marathon

running over 400-1000m stretches, but your long runs should be really slow. The crucial question is how long you can train hard without taking a rest. A lot of our top marathon runners cover 100 miles a week for most of the year, but the elite cannot

, the marathon seems nothing. However, you have to respect your body and allow it to get used to the idea gradually. Best of luck!—Bruce Tulloh, who took just 65 days to run across the USA in 1969

Q I took up running a year ago and was really pleased to quickly notch up PBs of 36:57 for 10K and 1:21 for the half-marathon. I then set my sights on the marathon and built up to a peak of 80 miles a week, with five good long runs under my belt