progress by regularly timing how long it takes » you to swim a certain distance. Swim a timed 250m, 500m or 1000m and note in your training diary how long it took. Revisit the distance every fortnight or so (as suits your training plans) to chart your

had a three-month layoff in 2005. The way I got back into it was drawing myself up a 10K training plan and following it to the letter, no excuses, no procrastinating. Some days I had to bully myself out the door but I knew I would feel worse if I

of nutritional know-how - some weird, some wonderful - that’ll help make you healthier, fitter and even happier. And now is the perfect time to put those new eating plans into practice. We’ve pulled out 49 of our best food fixes to help you eat smarter and run

picked up a kiss there, but that gave me enough energy to trot to the line in a steady 5:25.We failed to meet up at the end so went our separate ways to our reception hotel (I think he planned the last "miss" so he wouldn't have to carry my heavy kitbag

Nutrition IndexHere are seven must-read nutrition articles for every runner: • Food Groups: The Basics• Eating And Training: How To Time It Right• The Ultimate Runners' Snacks• Healthy Takeaway Options• Vegetarian tips• Five healthy eating plans

upped the wimmin's average! – WaboJust how many pairs of feet do you guys have!? – BoffinJoin the threadHEALTHY NOVEMBERI'm embarking on a three-point plan to get in shape before the party season. These are my intentions for November: 1. To run at least

and grimly held on for the next 12 miles. It's all making me wonder whether my 3:15 target is too optimistic. The marathon is a distance that requires realistic planning, and a 1:34 half-marathon just doesn't seem speedy enough. Whatever happens though, I

by former Olympian Jeff Galloway recommends that not only beginners, but also faster marathon runners, run just three to four days a week. Weekly mileage peaks at 31 to 41 miles, depending on your goal time. Galloway reports that 99 per cent of his plan

tell me. I began to entertain fantasies of what I would do when I landed. Through a combination of what I expected, and what I felt I wanted, my plan became: stand up, say “J’ai nagé la Manche!” to a French person, sit down, put my head in my hands

. Something’s got to change! Lickers It depends how far I'm planning to go. For three to five miles just a banana's fine. For a long run, I have porridge first, let it settle, and then take Jelly Babies out with me. Just try a few things and see what works