TRAINING: RACINGHow can I avoid stitches in shorter races? Why do I struggle in the last mile of a race? Should racing related deaths be a concern? I run 10Ks. How long should training runs be? Why do I always get sick at 18 miles? Why do I

’re overweight or out of shape? You need to build up your conditioning and fitness slowly, just as you would if you were running in shoes.How long will it take me to change my form? A. “It takes around 10-12 weeks to change flexibility, and around six to eight

Q I started running two years ago and have increased my half-marathon pace from 9:30 miling to 7:30 miling. I have noticed recently that I’m using a longer, slower stride for both speedwork and general training, and my times have remained the same

, rather than extra red cells. Some scientists believe training at moderate altitudes (2,000-2,300m) may be detrimental to general health, raising levels of damaging free radicals, and depressing the immune system, but these are not because of raised levels

Q I’m a 53-year-old male who races all distances from 5K to the marathon. I train six days a week: four hard sessions, two easy ones, plus a rest day. Do you think this is too much for someone of my age?A The real key to making any training programme successful is to get the rig...

runs, but add a weekly repetition session, such as 4-5 x 1-mile efforts, or 12-20 x 400m (with one-minute jog recoveries).3. Competition phase (four to six weeks), which should include some foundation and preparation work, followed by easy running

excellent cross-training for running, but to run a half-marathon well you also have to get used to spending a long time on your feet. I suggest that you use the days when you run to get in as many miles as possible – maybe a 15-16 mile run on the Sunday, a

Q I have an identity crisis. As a keen runner for the last 20 years, I have recently retired, but now I just cannot find the motivation to train properly. I climb into my car rather than my running gear. When I do go out for a run, any uphill

running over 400-1000m stretches, but your long runs should be really slow. The crucial question is how long you can train hard without taking a rest. A lot of our top marathon runners cover 100 miles a week for most of the year, but the elite cannot

have gone smoothly, the move up to 50K should be completely possible. The two big differences from a marathon will be: (1) you’ll be running for an extra hour or two; and (2) your race pace is likely to be significantly slower.If you’ve trained