Q Last year I achieved my marathon PB of 2:53, and immediately started wondering what I should do next. I have run several marathons, but rarely more than two in a season. I’d like to do a few shorter runs, but with all the training I’m doing

Q I’m 48 years old, and thanks to the training I’ve been doing for my first marathon I’ve gone down a dress size and feel great. I’m currently running 11-minute miles, and have just run my first marathon, but I really want to know what sort

Everyone knows the original story of the marathon, right? This runner – whatsisname – ran 26 miles back from the Plain of Marathon to Athens, bringing news of the Athenian victory over the Persians, and he died of exhaustion after he gasped out his

Ready, steady... go!Mile 1 There are three different starts at the FLM and, unless you’re on the Green Start, expect it to be crowded. Very crowded. That’s no bad thing, though. Many a marathon has been ruined in the opening stages

GETTY IMAGES With so much to think about before your first marathon – what to wear, when to eat and how to pace yourself for starters – it’s no wonder your anxiety levels can soar during

Many runners assume that because they run, they don’t need to do leg-strengthening exercises. This isn’t necessarily true. A specific weight programme targeting your legs could reap a huge race dividend, particularly over longer distances. If you run a marathon

-strengthening exercises. This isn’t necessarily true. A specific weight programme targeting your legs could reap a huge race dividend, particularly over longer distances. If you run a marathon in 3:30, for example, at a rate of 180 steps a minute, during the entire race

Q Less than a month ago, after just a year of running, I finished my first marathon. I felt fine within a few days, and thought I’d have no problems getting back into training. But after a couple of weeks of complete rest, I went to the gym

The Two Days Before The Marathon...You can’t sleep You should expect nerves to disrupt your sleep on the night before the marathon, so aim for a long night’s sleep two nights before it instead. On the night before the race, eat early, and relax

From meeting the experts to writing to-do lists, here's all you need to know ahead of the Virgin London Marathon 2012.Mile-By-Mile GuideOur interactive mile-by-mile guide is packed with details of the landmarks you'll spot en route, where to find