Q I’ve just started running and love the adrenaline burst I get from my 5K efforts, but I hate the blisters that I get almost every time I run. How can I cure this painful problem?A. Painful blisters are caused by friction between the skin

Q Last year I achieved my marathon PB of 2:53, and immediately started wondering what I should do next. I have run several marathons, but rarely more than two in a season. I’d like to do a few shorter runs, but with all the training I’m doing

Q. Should I change my bike tyres before a race? And how do I strike a balance between durability and ride quality? A. I advise never changing anything before a race. Anything new presents an opportunity for something unexpected to go wrong. The best

Q. Why should I bother with energy drinks? I know that I need to keep hydrated during training and racing, but isn’t water good enough?A. As you run, two things happen: (1) you lose water as your body uses it to cool down and (2) you use muscle

Q Following a partial tear in my Achilles tendon, the scar tissue thickened, resulting in stiffness, aches and swelling. I am due to have an operation to remove this scar tissue, which means that my leg will be immobilised for two weeks. I’m told

Q I have a problem that seems to affect me after finishing half-marathons: I feel queasy and don’t want to eat or drink. The feeling seems to pass if I lie down for an hour or so. As advised, I always try to take on water at each drinks station. Do

Q I suffer from what I believe is called ‘Morton’s toe’, where my second toes are longer than my big toes. This causes great pain during and after running. A pair of shoes half a size larger than normal sounded like a good idea, but it has failed

Q. I know pasta's an old favourite, but is there an obvious choice for a meal the night before a race?A. The pre-race meal is a matter of individual choice and preference, but there are some factors to consider. The first important point is to eat

Q I recently turned my ankle and suffered a pulled ligament as a result. After 10 days in a cast and a week in an ankle support, I’m now able to run again. But I’m concerned about long-term weakness. Is there anything I can do to strengthen

Q I suffer from recurring lower back pain, which is a result of minor scoliosis and narrowing of the lumbo-sacral disc space. My GP says I should stop running, while my occupational health doctor says running won’t do me any further harm. Who