the diaphragm down. Hold the breath for a couple of seconds and then forcibly exhale through pursed lips. Deep breaths allow the diaphragm to lower fully, reducing the stress and relieving the ligament. If you only take shallow breaths when running

depressed. Erika Pickman, a 29-year-old, generally runs five miles at lunchtime. That’s the time of day when she’d otherwise begin to feel lethargic. “The run really rejuvenates me,” she says. When Pickman trained for a marathon and needed to run longer

an activity she had enjoyed as a girl but since lost touch with. "I love my job, but it was just very demanding at times. When it got to a point where it was too much, I turned to running with the Serpentine Club. I knew I was missing it." The results? "Two

." Of course, Steve took things steady to begin with, going out and doing some short walk-run sessions. He’s currently on a programme that will get him ready for the Great North Run in September."I’m exercising about three or four times a week, either

adapting to a regular (or increasing) training load. Long runs, hard sessions and races also leave your immune system dramatically lowered, so knowing what to eat, drink and do immediately after exercise is vital for staying fit and healthy too.Keep Moving

running for more than two years, and the other is made up of runners who have been running for less than six months. This allows us to deduce whether the ability to cope with stress increases with regular physical exercise over a longer time period. So far

. If time allows, wash your face before running, and again after you run before re-applying make-up. Use a sunscreen specifically formulated for the skin on your face and neck. Choose a gel or lotion for the rest of your body, rather than a cream. Wipe

Q I’ve recently undergone abdominal surgery, and the hospital physio has advised me to wait for three weeks before running. I think that this is on the excessive side because I feel fine, and the scar is healing rapidly. Do you agree

Q After my long runs, I stretch and then hop straight into the shower. But when I get out of the water I sometimes suffer a fever-like ‘chill’. I have to get under the duvet for 15-20 minutes before I’m back to normal. What’s going on?A When you

with recovery. Much better than staying indoors and feeling miserable for not training. Anything on the chest at all, DON'T RUN! – XL-manAh, glad this came up. Mini Tweety has just given me her cold – my first one in ages. I like the idea of going out for a walk