Break free from the cliché – training needn’t revolve around the supposed loneliness of the long distance runner. A solo run can be great for clearing your head, but a group run is ideal for connecting with friends, and by feeding each others

– From the Forum first.)We've grouped the tips into these categories, all on this page:General | Long runs | Speedwork | Hillwork | Heart rateThe name of each tip-giver - each of whom we salute - prefaces each one, and you can click through to the whole

was not a successful or willing runner," he says, "I was the youngest in my age group and I was continually beaten and lost all motivation, stopped running and took up smoking instead."Like many reluctant PE-class attendees, Agyei rediscovered sport later

-gone. With hundreds of clubs catering for the multifarious runners up and down the country, there's literally something for everyone, from beginner fun-runners to serious pace-setters. Indeed, it's possible to join a running club without ever racing, without being

RecoveriesDuring speedwork, lots of runners recover fully between repetitions. For a change of pace, try running your recovery intervals only slightly slower than the pace of the repetition. “This will teach you to recover ‘on the run’ as you would during a

Running addicts can be hard to take, but being laissez-faire isn't ideal, either. "Competition motivates you, but you need to focus on your own performance, not on how others do," says performance counsellor Shaunna Taylor of the Association

’s time to stir up your routine. When you do the same run, day after day, you’re seldom challenged and your motivation is bound to sag. Think of it this way: if you eat a tuna and salad sandwich four days in a row, you’ll probably notice how delicious a

, and associating to actually focus on the feeling," says Lewis. To associate, start from the head and work down, assessing each area or group of muscles. "Keep your pace in line with the information you gain from your body monitoring, from heart rate to basic

people so you motivate each other. Do a road or cross-country race and use the treadmills together at your local gym. Join a tri club and use the sessions and advice on offer." - Tim Don "Tell yourself that training in the miserable winter makes you a

at the university where I work I put together a training group and the difference has been staggering. The competition motivates me, pushes me harder and has made training easier and more enjoyable,” says Dr Mark Hewison, a research scientist and ultra runner.30