The Great Wall Marathon...The Great Wall Marathon takes place each May, and also incorporates a half-marathon. Entries are available as part of apackage. For more details from the UK, contact 2:09 Events; tel 0870 3500 209; email info@209events.com; www.209

The Great Wall Marathon...The Great Wall Marathon takes place each May, and also incorporates a half-marathon. Entries are available as part of apackage. For more details from the UK, contact Leisure Pursuits Group; 0800 0186101; email reservations

:51:26Point-to-point city marathon that took a dip in 2001 on new course 2002 date: October11 Snowdonia Marathon (14) 2:37:14/3:12:13A very tough course through mountainous North Wales 2002 date: October 2712 Blackpool Asics Marathon 2:37:38/3:16:52A very fast

rest.Mon (am 30 mins steady), pm 1 hr good pace (up to Marathon pace but cooling off for the last 10 mins).Tue (am 30 mins steady), pm 12 x 400m, 3km pace, 2 mins recovery. Wed 90 mins steady. Thu (am 30 mins steady), pm 5 x 1km, 5km pace, 2 mins

Although cheap by the standards of polar travel – the 2004 package for race entry, flights and accommodation from Longyearbyen was $8500 compared with $12,500 on other trips – it was still unquestionably an expensive running race. Perhaps that added extra

4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12 | Week 13 | Week 14 | Week 15 | Week 16The best feeling in the world - two weeks post-race:Week 17 | Week 18

Ready, steady… goStart slow. You will feel lousy before the marathon because of tapering, then when you start you’ll suddenly feel wonderful. Your body hasn't really changed so don’t revise your target pace because you feel good at mile five, or 10 or 15. You

time is three hours; four minutes for sub-3:30; seven minutes for sub-4:00, and as much as 10-15 minutes for 4:30-5:30. Also expect to run 30 seconds to three minutes slower than planned over the first two or three miles because of the crowded roads

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

Ultimate 12-Week Schedules (RW+) Sub-1:25 Sub-1:30 Sub-1:20 1:25 - 1:50 Sub-1:40 Sub-1:30 1:50 + Sub-1:50 Sub-1:45 Sub-2:00 Sub-2:00 Sub-2:15 Sub-2:15 Sub-2