raisins and cinnamon for a sweet but healthy treat. Preheat an oven to 180ºC (Gas Mark 4). Core the apples so you have a small hole in each one, and run a knife through the skin around the middle of each apple. Pop the apples in an ovenproof dish and fill

GETTY IMAGESIf you've been running well and your muscles feel fine, stretching might seem like a waste of good running time. But scheduling in some stretching could slash your chance of getting injured, help you recover from existing injuries

of my race." Welsh Alex"Supporting at Mile 17 is the next best thing to running the marathon - it's going to be in my diary every year the rejection slip pops into my inbox. Support starts on the threads well in advance - I felt like I 'knew' most of my

, the welcoming atmosphere gives the day the feel of a running festival. The start and finish arena features a huge array of family-friendly fun, with live music, food stalls, face painting and even a bouncy castle."Love the course - which gives you a lift

at the home of British motor-racing - the first fixture in the eight-race East Midlands Grand Prix Series. -- Leeds 10K - Jane Tomlinson 'Run For All' Filling Up Fast…St Albans Half-Marathon (Hertfordshire, June 14) Get ready for a

of the field, start planning your fancy dress costume now. With prizes for fancy dress as well as the usual winner and age categories, this is one race where technical gear comes second to style. 4. Grizzly & Cub Run Where: Devon When: March, 2010

1. Virgin London MarathonWhere? London When? AprilThe London Marathon has a reputation for being 'the big one' in British running, and with good reason. The numbers are staggering – a whopping 746,635 runners have completed the race, it’s broadcast

, with beautiful sea views. If you don’t like running first thing in the morning, take advantage of this race’s unusual lunchtime start to wallop your 10K PB. It’s a big race, bustling with 3,500 runners, and a great atmosphere courtesy of friendly fellow runners

of this popular half, whose opening six-mile descent does little to prepare you for the infamous steep midway incline.Start Fitness Great North West Half-Marathon (Lancashire, February 22) Bracing two-lap fixture bursting with PB potential, along the seafront

events like marathons and triathlons.Why do I need to carb-load? Your body can only store enough glycogen (energy) to sustain 90 minutes of exercise. After this point, without sufficient extra fuelling you're in danger of running out of energy