A s a 16-stone, heavy-drinking, asthmatic, smoking slob, I decided to throw myself into a gruelling training regime. The goal was to make the cut for the marathon at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing - and make a documentary of my journey. Why

a future World or Olympic medallist. Email your entryThe VeteranThis is a lifetime achievement award for a veteran runner with decades of running under their belt and whose commitment has never wavered. Email your entryThe SurvivorSomeone who won

entryThe Rising StarThis will be a young, probably professional British athlete who is packed with the potential to become a future World or Olympic medallist. Email your entryThe VeteranA "lifetime achievement" award for a veteran runner with decades

Every year at Runner's World, we come across people who achieve amazing things and who use running as a force of change, in their own lives and in the lives of others. Go to any running event in the UK and you'll find them. They are the beginners