energised. ‘Informal exercise’ – raking leaves, walking at every opportunity and taking the stairs instead of the lift – will also help. Personal trainer Luke Cunliffe advises his clients to take at least 10,000 steps (roughly five miles) in the course

are to be expected, but don't let them put you off your next cycle of training or another race. It's easy to recover, stay in great shape and be ready for the next challenge if you follow these simple tips from our expert coaches and athletes. Go for a spin"After a

Painful, paralysing and PB-unfriendly, cramps can strike at any time. "There's no one definitive cause," saysDr Steve Ingham, head of physiology at the English Institute of Sport (eis2win.co.uk). Research in the Muscle & Nerve Journal shows

- otherwise, you run the risk of damaging muscles already taxed by a tough workout. A light sports massage and/or wearing compression clothing (brands like Skins, 2XU and Under Armour) can also boost blood flow and help expel lactic acid.Consider following a

, with this tension transferring to the head and face," says Greg Whyte, from the Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Science at Liverpool John Moores University. The fix: Warm up your neck and upper back with self-massage, as well as doing neck and shoulder

, just like the finger-nail ones. They looked great all summer. See full threadBuy bigger shoesSuz - My second toenail is purple and about to fall off from my last pair of running shoes! I have just bought new shoes 1/2 size bigger and have had

at least 10,000 steps (roughly five miles) in the course of every day. 6. Dare to be differentVary your running so that you feel excited about each session. Change your regular route, try a park in another town, go to a track, explore a new trail, run

and maintain a reasonable pace, you still only have about 2,000 calories worth of glycogen stored in your muscles – enough to get most runners to about mile 18 or 20," he says. "As glycogen reserves are used up and fatty acid metabolism increases, your heart

before I gave birth, trying hard to put these questions to the back of my mind.Surprise ValentineOur beautiful daughter Mollie Beth was born at 1.12pm on Valentine’s Day – a true bundle of love. However I’d be lying if I said the birth was a breeze

appropriately, which means 150-350ml of fluid – preferably a carbohydrate drink – for every 15-20 minutes of running. To do this, take your favourite drink on the run, or stash it along your route. And sniff out all the available water along the way – and use it