responded to a request placed by us on the forums earlier this year. We wanted beginner runners who were willing to take on a massive challenge – to get from virtually nothing to 26.2 miles in time for the 2004 Flora London Marathon.Over the coming months

. Everything became easier when I started running with other people in my office. I was running more regularly, I made progress more quickly because I was training with people who were better than me and it was more fun. Rob SpeddingYears Running 7Fast running

When you set out as a runner, you’ll find that you have many more questions than answers. Am I too slow? How do I get faster? What can I do to stop it hurting? How long will it take before I get better? And there will definitely be times when you think you’ll never find t...

We are never going to claim that running a marathon personal best is easy. Even if you've never run a marathon before, there's no guarantee you'll walk away with a new mark. You might have completed every training session; treated each ache as soon

marathon your recovery period can be up to a month.Rob SpeddingTHE SHIRT Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race, 2004Finishing this event gave me one of the biggest buzzes I've ever received from running. Sure, the Himalayan 100 is a fantastic event – magnificent

Running a marathon is a major event for most of us. That’s why more and more of us are heading abroad to race over 26.2 miles. Most of us who visit European cities to race, such as Stockholm or Berlin for the weekend, think of the marathon

to build up to 20 minutes, or if you want to get under 2:30 for a marathon. Either way, a good coach will help you hit your target.And nowadays you’re spoilt for choice. Long gone are the days of the coach as the man with the manic glint in his eye, a loud

You might think that running very, very slowly to become much, much faster is right up there with eating more cake to lose weight. For the marathon runner Sue Gardener, though, slowing down has been the secret of her running success. Before she

to an average of 83 and a maximum of 111 - the two-for-one sausages offer was pretty exciting. "I'm amazed by your shopping heart rates," says Dunbar. "I'd expect them to be higher, you must enjoy it more than most people."—Rob SpeddingAs well as keeping you

're great for speed sessions, short races, steady runs and even marathon racing. In fact, find the right pair of performance trainers and you might just have found the running shoe for all occasions. Here are eight of the best.Adidas Climacool Rotterdam