they wish they’d known before taking their first running steps. The lessons they’ve learned will apply to you too and put your mind at rest.If you're a Runner's World UK magazine subscriber, you can see all 20 here. Otherwise, enjoy these 5 as a preview

, but the Mayfly is actually pretty close to Nike founder Bill Bowerman’s vision of the perfect running shoe – one that would fall apart just beyond the finish line. And at £25, it’s also the cheapest serious running shoe for years.Contact: 0800 056 1640; www

and rectifying postural imbalances early on, I might have avoided many injuries and even knee surgery. Ross Preston Years Running 13 Plan aheadWhen I started out I simply ran purely for the sake of it. I’d pull on my shoes, trot along for a bit and then head home

in advance, you can never be too prepared for a race.Neil TillottTHE SHIRT New York City Marathon, 2000I ran my first marathon at London in April 1999, and so for 2000 I decided to tackle two 26.2-milers in a year. (I was 19, so it seemed like a really good

and race at," says Gardener. "For instance I know that if I run a marathon at 145bpm, I won't be slowing down at the end or that 156 will result in a decent 10K." Julie-Anne Ryan is another runner who discovered that her running improved after she purchased

heart rate that you're aiming for (eg 60 per cent for an easy run would be 150 x 0.60 = 90), and add it to your resting heart rate: 90 + 56 = 146. The final figure is your working heart rate. Sample Sessions: 60% Recovery run - this will feel slow