m.For example:> 20-25 x 100m, 15 seconds recovery> 12-16 x 150m, 20 seconds recovery> 8-10 x 250m, 30 seconds recovery> 5-6 x 400m, 60 seconds recoveryTry to keep a consistent swim stroke. As you progress, reduce rest intervals before increasing pace

have plenty of time to warm up properly. "Unless you are a very strong swimmer who can warm up once the race starts, plan on a good 10 to 12 minutes of warming up before the race and, ideally, complete it 15 to 20 minutes before the start of your event

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

to the race in 2003!2 City of Norwich Half-Marathon, Norfolk, JuneMore than 1000 runners made this the biggest-ever turnout for this rural race.3 L1310K, Liverpool, OctoberCombining two good races – the Liverpool Half-Marathon and 10K – could have been a

. Just don't overdo it - you're not trying to pack on huge amounts of muscle, so go for weights you can lift 10-12 times per set. A helping hand across the disciplines "You can improve your swimming by doing upper-body and shoulder exercises," says

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

. We tried and tested five ways of boosting runners' moods. Before following the strategies, most of the runners under-performed; afterwards, 70 per cent of them improved their performances. Here are the secrets of their success.Strategy 1: If

The Workout On road or the track, run a fast 1km interval at 10K pace, rest for 90 seconds, then run a 2km interval at half-marathon pace. Rest for 90 seconds, and repeat the set twice. "This is a hard session, but is excellent for speed endurance," says

pastry on your pies instead of short crust or puff pastry," says Norris. Switching to filo saves you 110kcal and 10g of fat per serving, reducing its effect on your blood pressure and cholesterol.17. Chilli peppersThey add heat to a meal, but they also

says. "If I do longer five- to eight-minute reps, I add some shorter hill sprints, or 30-second sprints just to break it up. I definitely look forward to sessions more now. Doing 10x1,000m straight can be quite hard, mentally." Combination workouts