can never utilise fat quickly enough to provide all the energy you'll need in races, but the more fat you burn, the less of your precious carbohydrates you'll need to use.Also, you will improve the circulatory abilities of the exercising muscles

.Test SwimPrepare by doing race simulation in the pool and in open water. "During the start of the swim there is so much mayhem," says former Olympic swimmer Chris Hauth, now a triathlete and coach (aimpcoaching.com). "If you start off by pushing harder

Standfirst: 4 surefire stride-improvers for mile racingAuthor: Sean Fishpool and Steve SmythePics:Issue date: aug01 /mile panelKeywords:uan59-->There’s more to running than running, as any tuned-in coach will tell you. That’s especially the case

L1310K: Great event all round" Absolutely fantastic atmosphere - have never known any event like it. Even the church choirs come outside to sing during it!." Catherine Bernal, on the Hastings Half.This year saw a number of races make some impressive

Don't dismiss free weights as the preserve of oiled-up gym bunnies obsessed with six-packs and their reflection. Normal people can use them to burn calories and become stronger, which will help improve both technique and stamina for next season

I've ticked most of the 'must-do' boxes in my 20 years of running, from 5Ks to marathons, a multi-day event and even a night run. But I've never raced a mile, attempted cross-country or donned fancy dress. Nor have I run a European city marathon

You've trained wisely and eaten well - but you just can't shake those pre-race nerves. So how can you work on mental preparation? To find out, I teamed up with researchers from Sheffield, Oxford, Manchester, Reading and Wolverhampton universities

legend Liz McColgan, who has set up a new elite training facility in her home town of Carnoustie, Scotland. "When you're tired, the first thing to go is your form – when I was gearing up for big races I'd almost focus more on this than my running

Cancer killersIt's estimated that one in three of us will develop cancer at some point. Exercise is, of course, very important in maintaining good health, but you can also do some more work in the kitchen to keep you fit and strong. By making some simple healthy adjustments to yo...

are designed to build speed, endurance, and strength but they do more than improve your VO2 max and your lactate threshold. "The trick is maintaining good running action and form under the stress of increased fatigue," says George Gandy, director of athletics