because they have tight hamstrings and can't touch their toes," says Denham-Jones. "But there are benefits beyond flexible hamstrings: opening and stretching the chest, back and shoulders will release the tension you hold in these areas and allow you
in 3:30, for example, at a rate of 180 steps a minute, during the entire race you will take 37,800 steps. Stronger leg muscles allow you to spend less time on the ground with each foot-strike and increase your stride length.A reduction of just 0.02 of a
Your feet take 18,000 steps every day on average. When you run you'll add to that figure, as well as the amount of perspiration produced by the 250,000 sweat glands on each foot. With stresses like that it's no wonder your feet complain from time
two or three intervals with five-minute recoveries), or do a continuous 25-minute tempo run at a pace that’s 12-15 seconds per mile slower than your usual 10K race pace. TaperIt’s tempting to think that extra time spent training in the last weeks
, hoping to beat his PB of 2:42, but he’s still looking after his back by stretching it regularly with a routine Harwich has given him that aims to reduce the tension in his hamstrings, calves, shins and ankles. “The stretches do help, but I still need a
to reduce back pain – www.backcare.org.uk 020 8977 5474The Pain Society; Information on pain management clinics, 020 7631 8870Pain Relief Foundation; Information on chronic pain, 0151 523 1486Chartered Society of Physiotherapy; 020 7306 6620British