SportsBEST EVENTFlora London MarathonReferring to the Flora London Marathon as just a race is doing it a disservice. It’s a national institution. Since it started in 1981 almost 600,000 people have completed it and every year record numbers apply to join

with one or two other sports and watch your running performance improve too.TaperingWhat to do, eat and think in the weeks before race-day.Nutrition on the RunEnergy drinks, bananas, tuna sandwiches - what to eat and drink before, during and after a run

Where Newcastle-upon-Tyne When September 18, 2011 First Man Martin Mathathi 58:56 First Woman Lucy Kabuu 1:07:06 Last Finisher 4:26:18 No. of Finishers 37482It was a chilly start to the 31st Bupa Great North run and with a forecast for a light

’t worry: you can get round with a normal, half-decent bike light, too. ContactsConcurve; 0800 833357High 5 Sports Nutrition; 01332 724747 Hilly; 0161-366 9191 Lowe Alpine; 01539 740840Lumicycle; 0870 757 2229North Face; 01539 738882Oakley; 01462 475400

time is three hours; four minutes for sub-3:30; seven minutes for sub-4:00, and as much as 10-15 minutes for 4:30-5:30. Also expect to run 30 seconds to three minutes slower than planned over the first two or three miles because of the crowded roads

UAN: Article type:++add book link at top++ --This is adapted from the book, Eat Smart, Play Hard, by RW USA Nutrition Editor Liz Applegate. You can find ginseng everywhere: in sports drinks, iced tea, herbal supplements, and energy gels. Used

these may cause digestive problems on race day. So, if you do opt for pasta, use a simple sauce.When it comes to your choice of drink, stick to water at the evening meal. Avoid coffee and tea, which contain caffeine and can therefore disrupt your sleep

and try to build up the quantity over time. If you tolerate liquids better after exercise, try a specially designed recovery drink - with a balance of carbohydrates, protein and essential nutrients - straight after exercise, followed by something like 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

heat with the humidity in the UK."Tim Don, 2006 ITU World Champion"At the 2005 World Championships in Japan I collapsed on the run through heat exhaustion. The lake was about 30°C, which I didn't take into consideration. Also, the bike was harder than I