they need to function properly," says Edwards. "Deep, long breaths activate the parasympathetic nervous system, slowing down your heart rate and reducing anxiety." My last race was a shocker – and now I've lost my motivation What's happening That brick

finishing medal, a course PB or an aim to finish the swim leg faster than last year, for example.Achievable: Set goals which are within the realms of your physical abilities and the amount you can train - outlandish goals often lead to a lack of motivation

will lead to bulky muscles. But if you keep the weight low and the reps high, or find the right circuits class, you'll build strong muscles without adding bulk. "Strength training increases resistance to injury and enhances performance," says Lane. "Research

will lead to bulky muscles. But if you keep the weight low and the reps high, or find the right circuits class, you'll build strong muscles without adding bulk. "Strength training increases resistance to injury and enhances performance," says Lane

Running addicts can be hard to take, but being laissez-faire isn't ideal, either. "Competition motivates you, but you need to focus on your own performance, not on how others do," says performance counsellor Shaunna Taylor of the Association

in speed over the final stages. “Our results show that competition provides the motivation to tell the brain to eat into a greater part of the fuel reserve that athletes have left at the end of a race,” says Dr Jo Corbett, senior lecturer in applied

and thinking, 'What's a fat lump like her trying to do?' I don't remember the end of my first run and I still don't know what made me put my trainers on again for a second time, but I did."My target was an autumn 10K, and although the furthest I'd run leading

you drink enough leading up to - and during - the race? What went wrong is sometimes within your control.4. Two weeks later: SET NEW GOALSRemember that Paula Radcliffe dropped out of the 2004 Olympics, but three months later won the New York City

, reverse the roles. 8 Leave the children. Many gyms now feature in-house nurseries. In mine, staff link the kids together with some kind of rope, and lead them around like a band of tiny chain-gang convicts from one activity to another. The children think

to stir up your routine. When you do the same run, day after day, you’re seldom challenged and your motivation is bound to sag. Think of it this way: if you eat a tuna and salad sandwich four days in a row, you’ll probably notice how delicious a different