, then the schedule prescribed may be the same but the beginner may be better doing less until they are stronger and have more miles in the bank.Q11) What are your thoughts on 20 mile races in the marathon build up? I've always under-performed in the marathon after a

practise pacing, hydration and running in crowds. I’d suggest running a half marathon, 10K or 10-miler once a month to monitor your progress. The merits of a 20-mile race are more debatable. It’s probably fine for a marathon-pace run, scheduled four to six

your all into a 10K, 10 miler or half marathon and get a realistic gauge of how you have progressed. I recommend tapering for a few days before your assessment race so you go into it fresh. Use online predictor tools to see what your result says about