Painful, paralysing and PB-unfriendly, cramps can strike at any time. "There's no one definitive cause," saysDr Steve Ingham, head of physiology at the English Institute of Sport (eis2win.co.uk). Research in the Muscle & Nerve Journal shows

, and as you will probably be aware, healing occurs in two stages. Initially a thickened, inflexible scar join forms with nerve endings that rebel if stretched – causing pain. Only later does the scar tissue become more flexible and adapt to movement – so

shoes aren't too tight. Morton's neuroma A neuroma is a nerve inflammation, and Morton's usually results in pain between the third and fourth toes. The causes aren't fully understood, but tight shoes tend to worsen the pain since they put pressure

before the 1970s you may still have lead pipes or there may be a lead pipe connecting your home with your area's water supply.Harmful effects: Even a small amount is bad news; lead can cause irritability, anaemia and nerve damage. Women trying to conceive

psychological pitfalls.Problem: You find it hard to stay motivated Keith's solution: Awareness trainingIt's very difficult to keep motivated to continue running if you aren't aware of how your running is going, your progress to date and what factors might

their running to the next level."PRE-STARTIt's now that the pre-race nerves kick in. But it's not just your incessant back-and-forth pacing that's sapping vital energy stores – sizing up the competition and playing your mile-by-mile strategy on a mental loop can

." And according to University of Bristol psychologists, expanding your lungs lifts your diaphragm, taking pressure off the nerve centre in your solar plexus and relieving the stress on your central nervous system. Get some Zzzzs All too often, the problem

wool ball and tape it under the painful area, then I can run marathons with no pain at all. See full thread... and can relieve toe painYentz boogman - Numb feet can be caused by Morton's Neuroma, where the nerves in between the toes get pinched