it in my head that I want to do the Southend half-marathon on 10 June – exactly two weeks after Edinburgh. I've been told by my friend's bloke, a seasoned marathon runner, that it's a horrendous idea. Is he right? Given that it's my first marathon, I

to set PBs at 10K, 10 miles and half marathons. – Johnny JConsensus advice is that for a first marathon you'll need up to a month to fully recover. However, as others have said, if you feel OK and don't do anything silly, you can pick up running again

. – fat buddhaSix days before should be fine. Four days before, not so fineI ran my first London Marathon in 2004. My training had been somewhat sporadic and interspersed with the odd binge, not to mention a few fags. On the Wednesday before the marathon

dotted by right royal horse manure, this was an event designed to make any passing tourist weep with joy.The 6,000 runners who turned up for Sunday's unseasonably hot 1pm start seemed pretty impressed, too. It was hard not to be. There's something oddly

four times a week and one hilly 16-20 miler at the weekend – a good mixture to give endurance, strength and speed. – the brokerStick with a marathon approach, but make your long slow run cross-country, and run-walk it so that you're out on your feet

or the New Forest. And, unlike the Great North Run, it’s not on telly.But this marathon, in a sleepy market town just outside Oxford, is hugely popular. Race day isn't until October 22, but the event's 1,000 places have long been snapped up – 107 of them

medallist Brendan Foster, who got the idea after running in New Zealand's Round the Bays race in 1979.When the GNR made its debut in 1981, it took place in June and boasted a line-up of 12,000 runners – many of whom will be back this year, no doubt relieved

an entry form in, you have effectively entered the lottery. There are roughly 20,000 places available for the general public after taking into account GFA [good for age], charity and club places. In most years about 100,000 entries are received, so chances

to do 50 marathons."Dean Karnazes, who runs up to 150 miles a week in training, and whose "long training runs" have included the Western States 100-miler and the Badwater 135 in Death Valley, certainly seems to have the training under control. His epic

have to do it during the session, and this can have a major impact on your time. People say they want to conserve energy before a race, but I read somewhere that the body (liver) stores up to about 2,000 calories in glycogen. At marathon pace