or five weeks. Then follow a suitable 12-week marathon programme. From experience it's the mental side that can be a problem, as you're back into a "work-tunnel" of structured mileage with a distant goal. – mangoI'd take a month off first. Do some cycling

comfortable under your belt as your first goal – easily reached goals are the way to go. Start off with 10 mins now, do that for a couple of weeks, than add 1 or 2 mins (or whatever you reckon) a week. You'll improve in leaps and bounds, way faster than you

This week's problem may sound extreme, but it's one that many enthusiastic runners or marathon trainees can relate to. In short, how much training is too much? And when you feel you're overdoing it, do you really have to stop completely for a bit