surprise to see my friend and their son at 17.5 miles! Miles 19-23 were the toughest and the despair and the pain were the worst I have ever felt. Had you asked me then, I would have said Sunday was the worst day of my life, and was close to crying

of our entire support team; cheering in Redhead, tinygirl and Little (not so) Fat Welshman, whom I've known virtually but only met in real life for the first time at expo; the fantastic support group of team 3: JJ, Helegant, little steph, Nrg-b's family

, not to give up. I could not look at them because I would have cried. That gesture was repeated countless times in the next eight miles all the way to the finish, and was the best running experience of my life. I was 25 minutes off schedule, but I finally

-race!Great breakthrough: The next day I felt like I could achieve anything - sail round the world, become prime minister or perform brain surgery on a cat. My first marathon produced a tremendous rush of confidence I had never felt in my life before. It's bizarre when you

the Mall and see the fininsh and that famous Flora London Marathon clock! I will keep that memory for the rest of my life and crossed the line sobbing!And I'm definitely going to try again next year!Sarah Boot, 4:44 --It was one of the most amazing

the last 6 miles were pretty painful and as tough as anything I have ever done, it was still one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had, and it is something that everyone should attempt to do at least once in their life! The pure atmosphere

, six days a week. Since you have three sports to train for and a life to live, you can forget the Olympics. Nevertheless, it's difficult to make significant progress without consistent training. Your aim should be a minimum of three 30-minute sessions a

cannot do that unless it has clarity. A day off from thinking about your training schedule can improve your performance the following week. I also believe in life balance, so a rest day allows you to spend time with family and friends."15. Mr motivator

kit together at the start of the week, so when work and other things start interfering with life, it's all laid out and ready – if you're going off-road or travelling to get to a run, your training should be something that falls into place without

using the Training, General or Beginners folders. Or check out UK Athletics' club list - all standards are welcomed, and you're bound to find one near you.Here's to a new chapter in your running life! The dos and don’ts of training with a partner