Q This autumn I’m attempting my first marathon. My goal is simply to finish, although it would be nice to run it in about five hours. What’s the best strategy for this type of goal?A First things first. Your goal – ‘simply to finish’ and ‘to run

Q I’ve been invited to a party on a Friday night. The problem is that I’ve already entered a 10-miler on the following Sunday, and it’s one I’ve trained hard for so that I can get a personal best. Can I drink alcohol on Friday and still run well

Q I’ve been running for just over a year and have recently started entering races. The thing is that as soon as I stand on the start line, I’m always overcome with nerves. I feel queasy and my legs shake, and I’m sure this is affecting my race

Q I do my long runs and races with a water bottle that fits around my hand. Is it true that long-term use of these can affect gait and cause injury?A You are right to be cautious about the use of a water bottle that fits around the hand. There

Q I regularly run hill reps at 85 per cent of my maximum heart rate (MHR) but when I’m halfway through the session, I feel like giving up. What should I concentrate on to get me through the repetitions? A Training in the 85 per cent MHR zone

Q I’ve completed a couple of 10Ks and half-marathons, but worry that I only seem to have one pace. I want to run faster so I’ve tried adding tempo runs to my schedule. But when I make a conscious effort to speed up during a run, I soon find I have

You know what they say about small feet... Or was it big feet...Most runners find it relatively easy to find at least a nearly ideal shoe, assuming they have access to a specialist running shop. What we call ‘cushioned’ shoes are normally

Q London will be my first marathon, and after looking at quite a few training schedules, I remain puzzled about one thing. What, precisely, are the benefits of clocking up a high weekly mileage? Surely lots of miles of running will result

Q After a run, I get an intense hangover-type headache that can continue for two to three days, even though I take the usual pills. I don’t drink alcohol or coffee, I drink isotonic drinks when I’m training and racing, and water the rest

’t think I drink excessively for a woman, but I often manage three glasses of wine an evening – and avoid other people after a run?A It certainly isn’t uncommon for runners to suffer from sore throats when they’re training, so you’re not alone. Training