Q I have recently discovered that when I’m training and racing hard I end up suffering from a terrible sore throat. I eat a well balanced diet, take multi-vitamins and have tried echinacea. Should I take antibiotics, cut down on the alcohol – I don

us more susceptible to UPS.You may be used to finding yourself weary and achy during and after periods of hard training, but UPS is much more than mere post-training tiredness. The deep fatigue you feel results in longer-term problems, which demand

relationship between hard training and diminished sex drive. But you need to differentiate between the psychological and physiological responses to your increased training load.If your flagging libido is merely a short-term loss of interest in sex, lasting less

you stay healthy. A poor recovery strategy can lead to fatigue, chronic tiredness, muscle soreness, poor sleep and increased susceptibility to infections and injury.   Recovery in the body involves a complex process of adaptation to the physical stress

's an investment that will pay dividends on the road. HARD CORE, HEALTHY RUNNERYour core is like a power plant. If it’s not working efficiently, you’ll waste energy, says Tim Hilden, a physical therapist, athletic trainer, and exercise physiologist, specialising

adapting to a regular (or increasing) training load. Long runs, hard sessions and races also leave your immune system dramatically lowered, so knowing what to eat, drink and do immediately after exercise is vital for staying fit and healthy too.Keep Moving

, but also by boosting the immune system. And by learning how to reduce muscle tension caused by intense activity, recovery is accelerated and muscle soreness reduced, which in turn improves flexibility and can allow you to continue training hard. Making

of occurrence. When you breathe hard, the air is not warmed as it enters the lungs. This also increases the amount of mucous, which is a further obstruction to exhaled air. Training improves EIA but cannot prevent it. Aerobic exercise increases the ability

enthusiasm to train when the weather turns wet and cold. That's why it's important to watch what you eat at this time of year to help keep your immune system fighting fit.Cold WarA single hard training session causes temporary depression of immune function

Q I seem to experience problems in breathing when I run. I often feel breathless after hard efforts. I’d welcome any advice on how to improve my breathing or about correct breathing techniques.A Above your lactate threshold (running uphill