Q My weight, diet and running habits have not changed for 20 years but my waistline has grown steadily. What’s going on? AEven runners who stay in top shape as they age may see their waistlines expand because of declining levels of “youth” hormones, such as DHEA, which alter wh...
Q I regularly run hill reps at 85 per cent of my maximum heart rate (MHR) but when I’m halfway through the session, I feel like giving up. What should I concentrate on to get me through the repetitions? A Training in the 85 per cent MHR zone threshold pace is very demanding, ...
Q I assumed I could drink less when running in the autumn, but my urine is dark yellow, which I know means I’m dehydrated. Are there any guidelines for staying hydrated in cooler weather? A Exercising in cold conditions can blunt your thirst, increase your urine output (cold-indu...
Q I feel nauseous every time I do speedwork. I have even been sick a couple of times. Am I pushing my body too hard or is this just an aspect of speedwork I need to become used to?A Nausea during high intensity training is a common problem for runners. Some people are more suscep...
Q I’m 44 years old and have been running for 20 years. I stretch my calves and hamstrings before I run but have recently suffered a calf strain after a few miles. How can I avoid this and how should these injuries be treated when they occur?A From our 30s both the muscle tissue a...
Q In 40 years I’ve never had a problem with hay fever but I now find that midday running during the summer months makes my eyes and nose stream. I don’t have these problems in the winter. Is there anything I can take to stop it? A The best time to run outside coincides with the p...
Q Im a 40-year-old male whos been running for more than 10 years. Despite an eight-year gap between my second and third marathons, I still covered the distance without too many problems. However, after 22 miles of my fourth marathon (five months later) I suffered horrible cram...
Q Ive returned to running after a three-year break, but after just six weeks Ive developed a pain in the back of my right knee which feels as if someone is pinching my skin and an aching calf muscle. The pain isnt there all the time, but usually appears if Ive been sitti...
Q I have a triple injury. First I got a pain under my hip, then a swollen ankle and now a pain in the back of my knee. All on the right side. I recently switched from trail to road running could it be due to the camber?A There could be two reasons for your right-sided ailment...
Q During a recent run, my left hamstring seemed to become quite tight. Im worried that Ive picked up a strain, but as Im training for the Flora London Marathon, Im reluctant to see a physio wholl just tell me to rest. At the moment Im stretching the hamstring before and ...
