You may have a will of iron and the self-belief of a firewalker, but you'll still have those odd days (or weeks, or months) when your motivation takes a walk.Is it because the marathon is now over, leaving you nothing to aim for? Is it that you

. This philosophy is transferable to the rest of us: training with company can be just as beneficial in helping you to achieve your particular goals. A partner could encourage you to adopt more variety in your running and thereby foster greater motivation

down the volume. Research at the University of Northern Iowa found that those running 50 miles a week had marathon times no faster than those who logged just 40 at a similar intensity. Moreover, the 50-mile runners were no fitter than their 40-mile kin

the age of 18 are advised against marathon running. Dr Stephen Rice, a Professor of Paediatrics from New Jersey, emphasises that children are not small adults. While children's anatomy and physiology are developing, they aren't fully mature, so

they need to function properly," says Edwards. "Deep, long breaths activate the parasympathetic nervous system, slowing down your heart rate and reducing anxiety." My last race was a shocker – and now I've lost my motivation What's happening That brick

of Bright Futures Coaching (www.brightfuturescoaching.com) is a Mental Performance and Lifestyle Coach. She is also a recreational triathlete and marathon runner. 

ideas to help you fulfil your 2010 potential... Make it a milestoneWhether it's your very first race, the decision to tackle fells, a marathon, an ultra or a triathlon, make 2010 a year to remember by challenging yourself to completing a huge milestone

running in my forties and ran the London Marathon five times, but then I became injured and was looking for something else," he says. "After the Blenheim Triathlon I was hooked."Dunbabin sets aside 6-10 hours per week for training, occasionally pushing

put his back-up plan into action: he took his family to New York for Halloween, which coincided with the New York City Marathon. "It helped knowing that I had something different to aim for and to immerse myself in - and that it involved my new

plans to concentrate more on taking on 17 to 20-year-olds, the age at which runners are most likely to leave athletics, either through low confidence or social pressure."Ultimately the underlying motivation for me to do all this is to keep young people