faster 4M easy Warm up, then 8 x 90 secs fast, 90 secs slow Rest Warm up, then 4 x 800m (or 4 x 3 mins), with 3-min recovery jogs 7-8M slowWEEK 4 4M easy 6M, fairly fast Repetitions: 4 x 3 mins fast, with 2-min recoveries 5M easy Rest 1M jog, then 5M

beverage (such as a sports drink) could help you recover faster. Another study, published in the journal Nutrition, found that a total of 10 milligrams of the supplement taken after exhaustive exercise such as a marathon could cut the risk of catching a

Q I’m a 53-year-old male who races all distances from 5K to the marathon. I train six days a week: four hard sessions, two easy ones, plus a rest day. Do you think this is too much for someone of my age?A The real key to making any training

together a feast of articles for you to pore over for the next few days... Half-Marathon SolutionsBeginner, elite, veteran or fundraiser – these two articles will equip you with the technical know-how to run your first (or fastest) half:Your First Half

Post-race recovery - Protein-rich broth From 3:13 marathon runner Michel Roux Jr "This delicious and easy recipe is ideal for after a race," says Michel Roux, 47, chef at Le Gavroche and author of The Marathon Chef (£8.99, www.amazon.co.uk). "It

Q After just a couple of months of running, and after finishing my first half-marathon, I’ve been getting muscle spasms in my hips and back. I’ve had to stop running, but I still get them after any light exercise. I’ve been to a physio

-like-magic method that helped propel Paul Tergat, the former marathon world record holder, to greatness. The secret? The tempo run – that faster-paced session also known as a lactate-threshold, LT or threshold run. One US-based coach championing this method

, and so on. Start with four to six reps, and work up to 10 by about two weeks before your goal marathon. Listen to your bodyHow much recovery time should you give yourself between reps in a speed session? Ask three coaches and they'll give you three

Q I’m 22 years old, with PBs from 16:49 for 5K to 1:16 for the half-marathon. My running is going well, but I’d love to try my local triathlon in August. I already swim and circuit train – my only fear is that replacing some of my training

Running is about self-improvement, not Spartan self-denial. As performance coach Kim Ingleby (energisedperformance.com) says, "You need a balance: training, recovery, food and fun." So while runners might idolise the original marathon runner