chances of injury.—Rob Spedding, RW Staff Writer

Scrabbling around in the cupboard under the bathroom sink for something to treat a minor running injury is a common occurrence chez Spedding. Sadly, I’ve yet to find a muscle pull or joint twist that responds well to applications of Bonjela or six

, it probably would have helped prevent a multitude of injuries.Paul Magner Years Running 35 Variety is the spice of lifeIt’s easy to get stuck in a rut, and become a habitual runner. You can find yourself following the same routine week

. Everything became easier when I started running with other people in my office. I was running more regularly, I made progress more quickly because I was training with people who were better than me and it was more fun. Rob SpeddingYears Running 7Fast running

, running apparel hit the shelves of a leading supermarket, as well as an effective injury treatment sourced from a flightless bird. Here, then, is a purely subjective list of our favourite running products of 2003.Shoe Of The Year… Reebok Premier Road – £55

packed into the shoe be enough to support your feet, soften impact and guard against injury? Well, yes, for many of us the shoe will be enough for trouble-free running, but some runners need a little extra help - a touch more padding, a little more

You might think that running very, very slowly to become much, much faster is right up there with eating more cake to lose weight. For the marathon runner Sue Gardener, though, slowing down has been the secret of her running success. Before she

marathon your recovery period can be up to a month.Rob SpeddingTHE SHIRT Himalayan 100 Mile Stage Race, 2004Finishing this event gave me one of the biggest buzzes I've ever received from running. Sure, the Himalayan 100 is a fantastic event – magnificent

to an average of 83 and a maximum of 111 - the two-for-one sausages offer was pretty exciting. "I'm amazed by your shopping heart rates," says Dunbar. "I'd expect them to be higher, you must enjoy it more than most people."—Rob SpeddingAs well as keeping you

or three times a week. I help them set goals, advise them on injuries and talk them through their weekend races,” explains Baldaro. “But joining a coach’s group isn’t just about running. There’s always loads of banter, and a great spirit among the runners