flight to the tip of South America, and then 11 days on a ship – four of them sailing the roughest seas on the planet.Eager for a new challenge, I spent months training in cold, snowy conditions and experimenting with clothes, kit and shoes. I even

knee surgery. Ross Preston Years Running 13 Plan aheadWhen I started out I simply ran purely for the sake of it. I’d pull on my shoes, trot along for a bit and then head home. I enjoyed it, and I soon became fitter, but then the improvement stopped. I

particularly suffered from the cold and the tips of my ears are still frozen. What do you wear to keep warm? - Darth VaderYou can wear a motorcycle balaclava for your head and neck, and Neoprene overshoes over your, err, shoes. Can't you use the force? - candy

58 Boston Marathons and won two of them, starts each run by walking. You think this is a tip useful only for old-timers? Kelley has been walking to start his work-outs for half a century. “It’s a secret I picked up from the Finns,” he says.Ignore peer

-timers to wizened oldies like the RW staff. Here’s a guide to help you get started – peppered with helping hands from the forum folk themselves. Finding your way aroundOn the forum, no beginner is too new, no question too obvious - and sometimes, no conversation

offers in relation to your ability.Some clubs are better than others at breaking down perceptions, particularly in the way they market and organise their sessions. Many triathlon clubs put on beginner-specific sessions, or split groups to maintain even

’ll last the course. By getting the ball rolling this early – we’ll get both her and Phil on an easy walking regime to get them used to regular exercise – she actually has plenty of time. Many beginners won’t even start training until January. And as she

participating in marathons. I’m careful to say “participating” because I’ve never actually run a marathon (I use a run/walk method for long distances), let alone raced one. Still, for me, standing at a start line 26.2 miles from a finish line is the purest

containing nothing acidic in any flavourings you use. – The Swindon OneGet a good night’s sleep two days before marathon day because it’s quite usual to worry the night before. It’s OK to have a glass of wine or two to settle the nerves without any adverse

at himself and puts himself out there in ‘The Penguin Chronicles’, his avidly-read monthly column in RUNNER’S WORLD. Bingham has also written two books (his latest – No Need For Speed: A Beginner’s Guide To The Joy Of Running – will be published in the UK