setup, or a training error," says Andy Pruitt, author of Andy Pruitt's Complete Medical Guide for Cyclists. If you're a seasoned triathlete, the culprit is generally wear and tear. Your body has grown accustomed to your bike setup and training over

) or neglected (understretched, understrengthened), they’ll complain. And the result could be one of the two most chronic, hard-to-heal injuries a runner can face – namely, plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendinitis. To avoid the dreaded ‘itises’ it helps to first

of a repeat performance will be greatly reduced.As for your age, I don’t think it’s a factor in this instance. The way in which muscles respond to exercise does change as you get older. Generally they can’t sustain the same level of intensity

Ever felt a twinge when running that you knew would cause you problems later? Everyone knows that sports injuries can be extremely painful but tablets and creams often only provide limited relief. Help is at hand in the form of a new device called

therapist – you don’t want to overdo it, or risk an injury, because coping with setbacks will be more of a challenge if you are depressed.Recognise your improvements. Keep your goals modest. Reward yourself for just going out and running and sticking to your

increase your speed and distance, and incorporate sufficient walk breaks and rest days, there's little chance you'll suffer an injury.I thought I'd eventually be able to run without walkingRunning continuously doesn't have to be your goal. Most runners find

Learning how to manage injury – and the threat of injury – is an unavoidable side-effect of being a runner, but how can you tell whether the sudden onset of pain will pass in a couple of miles or is a sign of something more serious? Is the only

that they assist with the function of both, making an injury to either muscle group extremely disruptive to running. Both can be strained (or pulled) if they are overextended to the point that they rip slightly. A complete tear of the muscle is called a rupture

, overhauled his diet and overcame a knee injury to get in shape for London, wouldn’t be drawn on his future plans straight away. “I’d like to run abroad maybe, but we’ll see.” Before the off, Braidwood said she’d be happy as long as she didn’t come last. She

physio Sarah Connors analysed the contenders' flexibility, injury history and potential injury risks. Finally, an ASICS technician gave each runner a gait analysis and offered advice on choosing running shoes.THE SELECTION DAY EXPERTS Steve Smythe