dotted by right royal horse manure, this was an event designed to make any passing tourist weep with joy.The 6,000 runners who turned up for Sunday's unseasonably hot 1pm start seemed pretty impressed, too. It was hard not to be. There's something oddly

, and the 4x15 were fitted around commuting – running to and from the train station twice a week. I think all the talk about 'mental toughness' is a bit of snake oil. Ultras aren't that hard. Running 100 miles slowly is much, much easier than running 26.2

comfortable under your belt as your first goal – easily reached goals are the way to go. Start off with 10 mins now, do that for a couple of weeks, than add 1 or 2 mins (or whatever you reckon) a week. You'll improve in leaps and bounds, way faster than you

the run-walk method and successfully completed it in 6 hours. I would now like to run without the walking breaks, but I can't seem to phase them out. I can run for about 17 minutes in one go, but then I feel an overwhelming urge to walk. Can anyone please

medallist Brendan Foster, who got the idea after running in New Zealand's Round the Bays race in 1979.When the GNR made its debut in 1981, it took place in June and boasted a line-up of 12,000 runners – many of whom will be back this year, no doubt relieved

running advantage I could see was: run with a bergan, take it off, and run again. Then it felt like you were running fast. – Tri TaffiaI served in the Paras for 11 years, and most of our training was with 30lb and upwards of weight in our bergans. I haven

variations etc. There is also some calorie counting feature, but I've never bothered with it. – Man In BlackI don't see the need for all these hi-tech solutions. Since men take about 10 seconds to run 100m and women take about 11 seconds, then all you have

think it's to do with endorphins, but I'm not sure what to do about it. Any advice, folks?" – highyYour best answers...1: Cool shower. 2: Good book. 3: Bedroom window open. 4: Ovaltine. 5: Someone special to tuck you in. # 1-4 recommended; # 5 essential

to being able to run a 1:15 half and a 2:41 marathon. But because I didn’t have the genetic build that some of my club mates and training partners had, that was my limit. – GrendelBlaming genes is a cop-outI like to tell myself that it's all about genetic

or the New Forest. And, unlike the Great North Run, it’s not on telly.But this marathon, in a sleepy market town just outside Oxford, is hugely popular. Race day isn't until October 22, but the event's 1,000 places have long been snapped up – 107 of them