Q. I've seen the perfect bike but the company is based overseas - what do I need to be aware of when buying from abroad?A. The first thing to consider is the setup of the bike. Depending on the country of origin, the brakes may be connected in a way likely to confuse - the rear b...

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 solution is to have separate t...

Q. I developed shin splints about two months ago. I have tried insoles to correct overpronation, and ice to reduce swelling. Nothing seems to work. Can you help?A. Shin splints is a term used to describe a variety of pains that occur in the front of the lower leg, along the tibia...

Q. If I'm not really sore or exhausted does that mean I won't benefit from my training session?A. Training isn't about killing yourself every session so that you are exhausted at the end. Training should comprise structured sessions designed to progressively give you an overload ...

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 carbohydrate products that you h...

Q I have a triple injury. First I got a pain under my hip, then a swollen ankle and now a pain in the back of my knee. All on the right side. I recently switched from trail to road running – could it be due to the camber?A There could be two reasons for your right-sided ailment...

Q I have only just been bitten by the running bug, and although I feel no pain while running, the next day I get a niggling discomfort on the outside of my left hip. It doesn’t hurt when I touch it or when I’m sitting down, but I’m aware of it when walking. Is there a hip stretc...

Q Since having my last baby I have experienced a burning feeling down through my sacro-iliac joint. Occasionally I feel an ache deep in my buttock. I’ve tried osteopaths, physiotherapy with ultrasound and now acupuncture, and I would appreciate some advice from you. I had th...

Q I’m a 33-year-old female, and after being collected by the ‘slow police’ after 19 miles in last year’s Berlin Marathon, I’m desperate to get my time down in this autumn’s race. I guess I should do speedwork but I don’t know what my targets should be. My other problems: I’m ove...

Q I took up running a year ago and was really pleased to quickly notch up PBs of 36:57 for 10K and 1:21 for the half-marathon. I then set my sights on the marathon and built up to a peak of 80 miles a week, with five good long runs under my belt. With a sub-3:00 target I started...