Warming up before a race or a speedwork session should mean more than just a 10-minute trot. Gentle running will get the blood flowing, but to avoid that heavy-legged sensation in the opening mile of the race, or the first few repetitions of your

lean back to increase the stretch in the front of your thigh. Take care if you have ankle problems, and stay tall in your upper body to avoid compressing your lower back. 2. Bent-leg standing hamstrings stretchBe thoroughly warmed up before you attempt

, after a 10-minute warm-up jog.Ease into each stretch: don’t bounce or force it.Before speedwork, hold each stretch for 10-15 seconds. After a run, hold each stretch for 30 seconds; repeat once or twice on each leg

parallel with the floor.Keep your weight on your front foot – your back leg is for balance only. Make sure your front knee stays behind your toes. Pushing up through the front foot, return your feet to the start position, and lower arms to shoulders.Do 20

your legs straight, keep your hips high, and lengthen your heels towards the ground (don’t worry if they don’t reach). Press your palms and fingers flat into the ground; you should feel as though you’re trying to push the floor apart between your hands

without them." Hereare the key core muscles you need to run. Here's how your core works for you on the road...1. SpeedAs you extend your stride or quicken the rate of your leg and foot turnover when you're trying to pick up the pace, the lower abs

's an investment that will pay dividends on the road. HARD CORE, HEALTHY RUNNERYour core is like a power plant. If it’s not working efficiently, you’ll waste energy, says Tim Hilden, a physical therapist, athletic trainer, and exercise physiologist, specialising

that includes some lactate threshold (the point at which lactate begins to accumulate in the blood) efforts and a few 10- to 30-second effort sprints.Cut to the coreDon't burn precious time in the gym. Just target your core muscles; they'll help you stay strong

You know that adding some weight training to your programme will help your running by making you more stable and powerful, but what if you don’t fancy joining a gym? Here’s the answer: stay at home and use your own body weight for all-round strength

. Important building blocks in a runner's diet are salt, potassium and magnesium, so when they are lacking a runner is prone to calf cramps. Leg cramps occur at night because we don't drink water or top up our electrolytes in our sleep.What's the cure? Gentle