I've ticked most of the 'must-do' boxes in my 20 years of running, from 5Ks to marathons, a multi-day event and even a night run. But I've never raced a mile, attempted cross-country or donned fancy dress. Nor have I run a European city marathon
Get properly warmed upWarm up thoroughly before your mile time trial and race. Jog for 10 minutes or so and then perform some strides. It's fine to do some mobilisations and dynamic stretches, but don't hold static stretches - research shows
through the plateaus that can occur with constant long-distance training," says McMillan. One of the biggest impacts training above 5K race pace will have on your running is on your technique. "You rarely see a miler showing poor form," says Rubio
This programme culminates in a mile race or time trial at the end of the eighth week. Each week, space out the three sessions rather than doing them on consecutive days. Any other weekly sessions should be run at an easy pace, the distance dependent
