No matter how much preparation you’ve done beforehand, sometimes on race-day things just don’t go to plan. But for this week’s questioner, a disappointing performance has left her void of all motivation to continue – can you help her regain her

We UK runners are lucky to have one of the world’s biggest and fastest 26.2-mile races right on our doorstep. But we’re even more lucky to have some of the world’s friendliest, prettiest, toughest and even smallest marathons, too. And to help you find the race to suit you, we’ve ...

you'll pack into your race-day bag.19:30 - Make another plan Now is the time to finalise your race plan and goal. "Whether your goal is to set a PB, have fun or simply finish it's well worth reminding yourself of it and ensuring that it's still

A camel can survive for up to two weeks without a drink in desert conditions. When they do have a chance to drink, they can devour as much as 200 litres of water a day and a third of their body weight inside 10 minutes. Unlike humans, though, camels don't pant, they perspire very...

Q This may sound silly, but I have real problems drinking during races. Usually I grab a cup, spill most of the contents as I’m picking it up, get one tiny slurp of water and then spill the rest down the front of my vest. Any tips to help me overcome my drinking problem?A Here ar...

Q I’m 45, and can no longer train at the levels I used to. Recently I’ve tried the run/walk method. However, I can’t get past the ‘guilt’ I feel when I’m walking in a marathon. Any suggestions?A I understand the psychological barrier that experienced runners have with walking b...

If you’ve been training for weeks, you’ll want to make the last workout before your race count. Studies indicate the best way to prepare for a race is to reduce the volume of your running (mileage) while maintaining the intensity. These four track sessions do just that. They s...

Q I’m a 40-year-old male who’s been running for more than 10 years. Despite an eight-year gap between my second and third marathons, I still covered the distance without too many problems. However, after 22 miles of my fourth marathon (five months later) I suffered horrible cram...

Q. I’m a fairly strong runner with a recent 5K PB of 16:32, but I have trouble with the last mile of that distance. I always have to slow down at the end of the race, even though I try not to start out too fast. Can you recommend any racing strategies to help me stay more consis...

Q. Whenever I race, I find that I feel sluggish during the first few miles. Can you give me some tips to speed me up during the all-important opening section of a race? A. The first thing you need to look at is your pre-race warm-up. If you don’t warm up and get yourself ...