?"For years I've not taken a complete day off, apart from two days' bad flu and after a couple of hard races. My days in the gym give my legs a rest as I focus on upper-body strength. My fitness-freak boss says I should have a day of complete rest once a week

loads of water. Go out and relax, but make sure you compensate for it with plenty of water and sleep afterwards. – UltraCasIt may have an indirect affect on race dayDrinking alcohol brings other effects with it, like interrupted sleep patterns

guidance on training. Specifically, day to day mileage or weekly mileage."– KarlosYour best answers...I did my first ultra – a hilly 40 miles – on about three days' training a week, between 20-30 miles a time. For me the biggest thing was getting my pace

, and partly for general health reasons. But I feel sluggish and my work is suffering. Is there really a point to this caffeine-free lark?" – Jane Hoskyn aka e17 pixieYour best answersResensitising really works, so brave it outI abstain from caffeine now

At the time of writing, your event rating for Sunday's Great North Run gives the world's biggest half marathon an overall score of 77 per cent. Not bad, but a long way off the 96 per cent scored by the same day's Anglesey Marathon, and also dwarfed

suggests that this is worth trying in a race of little importance to see if it's effective for you. – TomIn my personal training days I'd always advise a 5-10 minute warm-up. It warms muscles, lifts body temperature and prepares the body for increased blood

, or is it OK just to cut back the miles?"I have been running for three-and-a-half years, and the last year has been a bit confusing. In terms of racing it's been a success, but training has been difficult. Normally I train every day (70-80 miles a week

– and that's with three weeks still to go until race day.The thread glitters with pearls of wisdom from RW members who've run the GNR before. There's also advice from runners who live in the Newcastle and Gateshead area, from others who have run half

I'd experience if someone told me they were decorating 50 bedrooms in 50 days."Too Much Water: "Apparently some crazy Germans do 12 in 12 days for the 12 days of Christmas."Plodding Hippo: "I get bored if long running alone, but in a race I'm in too

You may have a will of iron and the self-belief of a firewalker, but you'll still have those odd days (or weeks, or months) when your motivation takes a walk.Is it because the marathon is now over, leaving you nothing to aim for? Is it that you