into the same patterns year in, year out; running the same races, chipping away at the same PBs and getting frustrated by recurring injuries. That’s why we think 2012 should be the year to break the cycle.We’ve assembled a team of running heavyweights full

to maintain your fitness and have some fun. Scenic cyclosportives (long-distance bike events) abound at this time of year. Alternatively, you could enter an adventure race or improve your personal best in a bike time trial or running race. Dusting off your

so much support, friendship and awe-inspiring guts to the sport, motivating the thousands of runners they meet both at races and on the runnersworld.co.uk forums.The Fundraiser Eric Hardwick Eric Hardwick is not your average charity fundraiser

years."There is no doubt competition is becoming increasingly intense. If an event we organise has World Championship-qualifying status, lots of entrants and fierce racing are guaranteed," he says. Vine agrees: "Twenty years ago, anyone who finished

Paratriathlon's popularity is skyrocketing. Last year there were more than 350 triathlon race starts by paratriathletes in the UK, an increase of an astonishing 500 per cent on the 2006 race season. And these numbers probably underestimate total

us will see a big ‘V’ next to our name when we enter a race. You can’t turn back the years but becoming older doesn’t necessarily mean running slower. These three veteran runners are still improving well into their 40s and 50s.Typical training week

years," says Hancock. "So it isn't so much the technical stuff - much of which is fairly familiar - more the buzz on who's doing what, how international races differ and particularly the interviews, which I enjoy for their depth, variety and insight

that year. I knew it was a good time, but if someone else had been told they were the only runner so that’s why they won a prize – well, it’s humiliating."For Ceal though, hanging up her racing shoes is still a distant prospect. In fact, she’s already lined

itI started running at age nine, and am still running now – 19 years later. With my club as a junior, I used to train twice a week (Monday and Wednesday) and then race in cross-country or on the track in the summer, or go out for my own run. My

in until 6.30 on Saturday mornings. In the winter it’s usually dark when they start running. More often that not, it’s raining. When the trio began running together four years ago, one of their routes ended with a very steep 400-metre hill. For a time, none