Hitting your stride is not always easy, but here’s some good news: there’s a hidden saviour in your kit bag – your MP3 player. The most effective training tracks have strong rhythms and a tempo that matches exercise intensity. Our latest playlist

by building more muscle fibres and boosting its aerobic engine. Push yourself to your limits twice or three times a week but ease off between hard sessions. Go back to basicsLike a golfer's swing or a runner's stride, a cyclist's pedal stroke, bike

When you first take up running, what gets you out the door is sheer enjoyment. It's this that motivates you to complete your first race (and fans the desire to target your second and third...) and gives you the immense satisfaction of putting a

When you first take up running, what gets you out the door is sheer enjoyment. It's this that motivates you to complete your first race (and fans the desire to target your second and third...) and gives you the immense satisfaction of putting a hard

,’” suggests Dr Robert Udewitz, a clinical psychologist. You may even consider walking briskly for a few minutes before easing into a jog.Play Around With StridesFinish every training run with ‘strides’ – four or five fast repetitions of, say, 100 metres each

-marathon in London in October that will be accompanied by meticulously selected musical acts. "There are some songs that serve as near-universal motivators. It's a proven fact."Maybe. But The Heat Is On? The Blues Brothers featuring Dan Aykroyd? Surely, we can do

and your current energy level, Is this run reasonable or is it asking too much? Experience will help here, because it will help you to discern the difference between exhaustion and a lack of motivation.Sound advice Be sure to always make your plans specific

so much support, friendship and awe-inspiring guts to the sport, motivating the thousands of runners they meet both at races and on the runnersworld.co.uk forums.The Fundraiser Eric Hardwick Eric Hardwick is not your average charity fundraiser

at a local park, I was so proud of myself. I have been running ever since.”6. Sign up for a race “There is always something very special about taking part in and finishing a race, whatever the distance. You will be surprised how motivating it is to have

. This philosophy is transferable to the rest of us: training with company can be just as beneficial in helping you to achieve your particular goals. A partner could encourage you to adopt more variety in your running and thereby foster greater motivation