Better to be overcautious than overdo itAfter only six months of running and while you're still including walk-breaks in your runs, your priority should be to build up your mileage gradually while maintaining an easy aerobic pace. When you start to run, your muscles
advice to help him succeed in pounding thestreets?"I have just started running outside (with a GPS watch), whereas previously all my running was on a treadmill. I've found it so much tougher outside, it's really depressing! Either I stick to my treadmill
start experimenting now! – Treacle TartThe sooner you start taking on fuel the better About 60-90 minutes before a long training run I down a milky filter coffee and a couple of bananas. If I've fuelled well the day before, I find a bottle of vanilla
. Overtaking people who have gone out too fast feels fantastic in the last few miles and can give you an energy boost if it starts getting painful towards the end. – GavoBreak the race up into manageable chunks. For example, a five-mile run to a Lucozade
for a beginner like me to keep going on these hills. Any advice please?" – West Country PlodderYour best answersJust bite the bulletI struggle with hills all the time, and I even started to run round them rather than go up them. This was cured when I
personal tastes and your digestive tolerances, although recommendations from other runners can be helpful too.Before Starting out with sufficient energy reserves is vital, but it’s best to allow one to four hours after eating a proper meal before setting
original goals Don’t forget the reasons you got into running in the first place - losing weight, being healthy, feeling better about yourself etc. I don't know many runners who got into running to post a PB every race. That comes when you start pushing
- what advice would you offer him as he prepares for his first half-marathon?"I’m a fairly new runner (aged 37) and a busy job and young family prevents me from having a rigid training schedule. I tend to start each run very steadily then decide whether
to the house, drinking some water and then running away, but I don't care, it’s better than carrying water. – Wallsend WandererKnowing when to drinkTop up your tank before you start You should not be taking on water during a 10K, unless it is a searing hot day
per week). I did no more than three runs a week and maybe a three-hour bike session every fortnight or so, but I did start to do longer runs earlier on in the schedule. – fat facePrioritise long runs to make sure you last the distanceFor the 20 weeks
