GETTY IMAGES Better sleep. That's all that could be standing between you and a new PB. Too good to be true? Not according to Mara Yamauchi, who set a new marathon PB (2:25:03) at the International Women's Marathon in Tokyo in November. "Sleep is one
GETTY IMAGES1. WALK AND RUNRemember: miles are miles, as far as your belly's concerned. "Coming back from injury last year, I needed a plan to stop me piling on weight," says James Smith from Hemel Hempstead. "I stopped taking the bus and started
P20 Once A Day (£18.45 for 200ml from chemistdirect.co.uk). If you have fair skin or a family history of melanoma, consider sun protective clothing and avoid midday runs. You should also have a coffee before you go, advise dermatologists from
The Workout On road or the track, run a fast 1km interval at 10K pace, rest for 90 seconds, then run a 2km interval at half-marathon pace. Rest for 90 seconds, and repeat the set twice. "This is a hard session, but is excellent for speed endurance," says
of Running Well (£14.99, amazon.co.uk). "Working backwards from your goal, incorporating all the other stuff in life you have to fit around your training – from kids to work – will help you identify what is realistic in your specific time frame." Get it down
pressure should be at/or lower than 120/80; HDL (good) cholesterol above 50; LDL (bad) cholesterol lower than 100; triglycerides lower than 150; and blood glucose level lower than 100. Get a check-up (blood test, blood pressure check and a sounding of your
and maintain a reasonable pace, you still only have about 2,000 calories worth of glycogen stored in your muscles – enough to get most runners to about mile 18 or 20," he says. "As glycogen reserves are used up and fatty acid metabolism increases, your heart
can take days off." And don't try to beat your run-to-work PB. "This will add pressure." Mix it up Running a different route everyday will keep you motivated. Go to sustrans.org.uk to find 12,000 miles of traffic-free routes near you. Come up