training plan, diet and race-day strategy. "Every race is a puzzle," says coach Jeff Horowitz, author of My First 100 Marathons (£15.99, Skyhorse Publishing). "Look for clues to solve it." Did you rest enough during your taper? Did you go out too fast? Did

open mesh but keeps its great fit.ASICS GEL DS TRAINER £79.99Weight 295gSizes (m) 6-13, 14 (w) 5-11Pros Lighter; more stable base of supportCons NoneEvaluation Over the last few years the DS Trainer kept its fast, flexible feel but became heavier

it for an adventure race – hip pockets are perfect for stashing gels and food.Contact 01539 740840; www.lowealpine.comSalomon Fastrack 200 – £35At 20 litres, the Fastrack 200 will provide ample packing space for most running commuters. You’ll have little trouble

shoe with a combination of good support and midsole cushioning.Asics GT 2170Asics Gel 1170Asics Gel Kayano 18Adidas Response Stability 4Brooks Ravenna 3Brooks Vapor 10Saucony Progrid Guide 5Mizuno Wave Inspire 8Nike Lunar Eclipse+ 2New Balance 860V2

Star Solution, £95adidas Supernova Glide 2, £80AsicsAsics GEL Kinsei 3, £135BrooksBrooks Defyance 3, £80Brooks Glycerin 8, £95EtonicEtonic Praya 3 NC, £70Etonic Tayu 2, £70K-SwissK-Swiss Keahou II, £70MizunoMizuno Wave Creation 11, £105Mizuno Wave Rider 13, £80

This model may still be available on clearance. But we've reviewed a newer version since we published this.Weight 330gEvaluation Name aside, there’s no similarity between the latest Boston and last year’s more fashionable but underperforming

Weight 311gEvaluation Eagle-eyed readers will notice that we’ve yet to review the New Balance 831. That’s not because we have missed it, but because New Balance have simply leapt straight from 830 to 832. The good news, though, is that despite

. With the 900, which offers stability and cushioning in a lightweight package, New Balance appears to be taking on Asics's DS-Trainer. That's great news for any runner looking for a stable shoe for racing and training.With its big two-density medial post, it

should enjoy it for fast training and, despite the name, races up to marathon length.

. And most importantly, the average performance improvement by the subjects who tapered in these studies was three per cent. That could equate to as much as five to 10 minutes in a marathon. The review’s main conclusion was that, "The primary aim of the taper