to set PBs at 10K, 10 miles and half marathons. – Johnny JConsensus advice is that for a first marathon you'll need up to a month to fully recover. However, as others have said, if you feel OK and don't do anything silly, you can pick up running again

, and the 4x15 were fitted around commuting – running to and from the train station twice a week. I think all the talk about 'mental toughness' is a bit of snake oil. Ultras aren't that hard. Running 100 miles slowly is much, much easier than running 26.2

've already got as a cyclist. Oh yeah, helmet is compulsory. I've since bought a second-hand road bike for £200. Triathlons are great fun – as a plodder myself I highly recommend you give it a try. This may be of use for training plans: Fun2Tri.co.uk. Good

about 30 mins to my planned time, thanks to a couple of vomit stops. It was really unpleasant, so is best avoided. Moderate and you will be fine. For my last marathon I had my sensible head on and stopped at two pints the night before the race

. There are some simple rules to follow for beginner runners:1. Good shoes: properly fitted by a running specialist2. Run slowly: slower than you think you need3. Don't increase distance by more than 10% each week4. Don't increase both distance and intensity

When you remember school sports day, do you smile wistfully or shudder in horror?If you're in the shudder camp, I can relate. The annual 100-metre sprint was the only running we did at school, and I came last every single year. Not just last

dotted by right royal horse manure, this was an event designed to make any passing tourist weep with joy.The 6,000 runners who turned up for Sunday's unseasonably hot 1pm start seemed pretty impressed, too. It was hard not to be. There's something oddly

variations etc. There is also some calorie counting feature, but I've never bothered with it. – Man In BlackI don't see the need for all these hi-tech solutions. Since men take about 10 seconds to run 100m and women take about 11 seconds, then all you have

it will transform your running and racing. I now do one day of speedwork, one fast-paced 7-miler, one 10-20 miler and one other run. I felt I haven't been doing enough, but my running is getting better and better all the time. It might be useful to get someone to do

an entry form in, you have effectively entered the lottery. There are roughly 20,000 places available for the general public after taking into account GFA [good for age], charity and club places. In most years about 100,000 entries are received, so chances