character, but only on the pages of Runner's World). My progress as a runner has consisted of frustratingly slow, small gains. I’ve gradually learnt that, in order to improve, I need to inch my mileage up and, sometimes, slow my pace down. I’ve realised

This section is adapted from No Need For Speed - A Beginner's Guide To The Joy Of Running, by John Bingham. Buy this book!Many adult-onset athletes believe that living an active lifestyle would be easier if they could trade the body they have

This might be your first try at running, or a return visit, or an attempt to improve on what you already do. The less running you’ve done recently, the more you can expect to improve your distances and speeds in the next 10 weeks. On the other hand, the less

Running is about self-improvement, not Spartan self-denial. As performance coach Kim Ingleby (energisedperformance.com) says, "You need a balance: training, recovery, food and fun." So while runners might idolise the original marathon runner

injury risk, and includes recovery time to avoid fatigue. Here's how to design your ideal running week.What to includeYour ideal week will feature a longer run to build endurance, a hilly run to improve your strength, and a scenic or social run

colours.1 Welcome to the start lineThis might be your first try at running, or a return visit, or an attempt to improve on what you already do. The less running you’ve done recently, the more you can expect to improve your distances and speeds in the next

-in-week-out, and repeating exactly the same runs and sessions on the same day of each week. While that may feel comfortable and familiar, it’s not actually the best way to improve. Mix up your training, try new sessions, enter races of wildly varying distances and you

technique and all that gear. That's why we've put together this triathlon training guide for runners. Whether your goal is to do your first triathlon or just improve your running through cross-training, these expert tips will help you reach any finish line

Year's resolutions is by no means uncommon. Researchers at the University of Hertfordshire conducted a year-long study of 3,000 people and discovered that less than 30 per cent managed to stick to goals of losing weight or improving their fitness

happened – I became faster with nearly every run. But suddenly the progress stopped. From that point on, I experienced a cycle of improving, hitting a plateau, slipping backwards, regrouping, and then moving on. It took a while, but now I’ve accepted it.2