This week's question was emailed to me by forum member Little Lizard, who has taken barely a single rest day in years. She reckons gym work is enough of a rest for her legs, but could she be overdoing it and storing up trouble for the future

- otherwise, you run the risk of damaging muscles already taxed by a tough workout. A light sports massage and/or wearing compression clothing (brands like Skins, 2XU and Under Armour) can also boost blood flow and help expel lactic acid.Consider following a

Recovery activity 0-10 minutes Walk slowly. "It prevents blood from pooling in your legs, which can cause light-headedness," says Janet Hamilton, author of Running Strong & Injury Free. 10-15 minutes Drink 250-500ml of sports drink

" feeling like a rather selfish response. But hey, I'm (just) fast enough to get in on merit and I think that’s part of the race isn’t it – the elite (2.04 this year!!), the Olympic athletes, the Championship runners and the club runners right on through

Extract from No Need For Speed by John Bingham (Rodale International Limited, £8.99). To order direct from Runner's World for the special price of £7.99 (inc P&P), call 0800 731 0622 and quote 55174-0.Those who know me well know that I enjoy

yourself."A 10.5-mile swim covering the length of Lake Windermere and a 12-hour split-session (six hours on Saturday and another six on Sunday) in training definitely helped her prepare both physically and psychologically, though Dr Nic is quick to downplay

your intake of protein, which builds muscles and soft tissues, to between 100g and 120g a day.  Other recovery nutrients include iron to build blood; and zinc to speed-up wound healing - both are found in lean meat, whole grains and fortified cereal

Q I’m a 53-year-old male who races all distances from 5K to the marathon. I train six days a week: four hard sessions, two easy ones, plus a rest day. Do you think this is too much for someone of my age?A The real key to making any training

that will help you slow down on your easy days:1. When you head out, imagine you’re doing a two-hour run. That’s the pace you should be aiming for. If you don’t think you could keep the pace for two hours, you’re going too fast.2. Learn to monitor your breathing

Finding the right wetsuit for you is vital. There are a number of things to bear in mind when you're making your choice but, in the end, the key to the ideal wetsuit for you is fit. If it doesn't fit well, you won't perform at your best. Simple as that.The suit should feel very s...