hours after the race and may linger for up to a week after the marathon. For the first 24 hours after the race, apply ice (wrapped in a cloth) frequently to any painful parts of your legs, keeping it on for about 12 minutes at a time. Elevate your feet

. If your shoes feel uncomfortable, stop and refit them. A minute lost now could save you 15 miles of painful blistering later on.Miles 10-13 You have a stitch. Try holding some deep breaths for a few seconds before exhaling. Alternatively, stop running

Warm up, then 3 x 1 mile at 10K pace, with 5-minute restsDay 3 6 miles easyDay 4 As Day 1, on a different routeDay 5 RestDay 6 6 x 800m OR 6 x 3 minutes, with 2-minute recoveriesDay 7 1 hour easy, off-roadIf your goals are shorter, track-based distances

Standfirst: 4- to 6-days-a-week mile schedulesAuthor: Sean Fishpool and Steve SmythePics:Issue date: aug01 /panelKeywords:uan64-->4-6 days/week   MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUNWEEK 1 Rest or 25-35 mins slow 10 x 100m strides around mile pace, on grass

then 10 mins easy jog; then 6 x 200m with recoveries of 30, 25, 20, 15 and 10 seconds. 30-40 mins slow 1200m time trial; then 10 mins jog; then 4 x 400m with 2-min recoveries with 200m at 3K pace, 200m at 800m pace Rest or 30 mins slow 2 x 2K at 5K pace

of carbohydrate refuelling throughout the day.10. Ensure a good variety of foods in the 24-hour recovery period to help support your immune system and protect you from oxidative stress caused by free radicals.11. Replace 150-200 per cent of fluid losses over a 2

cycling @ 100+revolutions per minute (rpm), 40 seconds recovery), 5 x (20 seconds harder gear, 40 seconds recovery), 10-minute recovery easy cycleFriday Swim session BSaturday Run session: 5-minute warm-up jog, 3 x (2-minute run, 1-minute jog, 30 seconds

hard, 1M easy; or speed session (eg 4 x 1K with 200m jog recoveries) RUN 1M easy, 3-4M hard, 1M easy; or speed session (eg 10-12 x 400m with 200m jog recoveries) RUN 1M easy, 4M fartlek, 1M easy Wed SWIM 16-20 x 1 length steady, with 10

recoveries, then 2-3M easy Rest Rest Rest Warm up, then 4 x 1M or 5.5-6min, with 3-4 min recoveries, then cool down 7-9M easyWeek 8 Rest 2-3M easy, then 5-6x 500m or 90-100 secs, with 400m or 2-3 min jog recoveries, then 2-3M easy Rest 4-5M easy Rest Rest

up, 14 x 400m at 5K pace, with 60 sec recoveriesWed 6 miles easyThu 2 miles easy, 20 + 10 mins THR, 2 miles easyFri Rest OR 25 mins jogSat 3 x 2 miles at 10K paceSun 12-13 miles steadyTOTAL: 52-55 milesWeek SevenMon 6 miles easy, off-roadTue 8