-winning website - before moving up to the role of Publishing Director. He's a serious runner with limited talent. He's run more marathons that he cares to remember (mostly slowly), numerous ultras (slower still) and completed a host of multi-day adventure races

months ahead of time guarantees your entry, avoids late fees and, most importantly, commits you to the training because you don’t want to waste the cash. ‘This early investment in a race supplies you with motivation because it’s a concrete  step,’ says

; this will help you to cope better on race day."When trying to think positively, Thompson recommends focusing on real experiences, such as the training you've done, to remind yourself that you have the skills and fitness to complete the race. You can then build

Clubs regularly attend races as a teamThe days when running clubs were the sole preserve of ultra-competitive elite racers hell-bent on crushing the opposition at all costs and putting in more hours than Geb or Paula are thankfully long

In triathlon men and women race side by side. This wise policy engenders a sense of camaraderie that is one of the most appealing aspects of our sport. But there are certain physical attributes and psychological traits specific to each sex

way."Harmston may be encouraging other people to try a tri, but he's also focusing on the day-to-day benefits he gains from the sport. "Every day is new: sometimes I feel back to square one and the next day I'll feel better, but if I do start to feel

benefit to his training and his appetite for the sport. "I think I’m more motivated than my contemporaries who have been training for years," he says. "There can’t be many runners my age who train twice a day." He also believes that if your faster times

on to dominate the race, winning 10 times – including six straight victories in the early 1970s. The most coveted fell-running record has long been for the number of peaks scaled inside 24 hours. On an extraordinarily hot day in July 1975, Naylor accomplished

It's an all too common story: runner sets achievable goals; runner puts in the necessary physical training to meet goals; runner falls short on race day. So, what's the problem? Could it be that you're spending too much time becoming a stronger

and freshly motivated with every step you make towards your end goal.Setting realistic time targets also helps. If you fancy losing a stone "one day", you'll find it easy to keep making excuses. Instead, start a weight-loss plan now with the aim of dropping