Illustrations by Geoffrey GrahnIs it just us, or is autumn the best time of year to be a runner? Still warm enough for shorts (hopefully), but just cool enough to inspire you to pick up the pace. And you’ve taken advantage of the long summer

Nike Women's 3.5 Tempo Shorts (£16)Kerry says: Stay cool this summer with these funky Nike shorts. The breathable tech fabric and mesh side panels will keep you dry in even the steamiest conditions.The elastic waistband and interior drawstring

coach train for 5Ks in the summer. Why not have a go at this distance on the track, as well as the road. You’ll retain the endurance benefits of your marathon training, and working on your speed in the summer will help you to perform better over 10K, 10

Illustrations by Geoffrey GrahnIs it just us, or is autumn the best time of year to be a runner? Still warm enough for shorts (hopefully), but just cool enough to inspire you to pick up the pace. And you’ve taken advantage of the long summer

Forest Marathon (10) 2:36:25/2:58:57An attractive route through the forest helps boost this race2002 date: September5 Afford Rent-a-car Potteries Marathon (8) 2:30:59/3:10:19Traditionally Britain’s top summer marathon 2002 date: June 166 Azco

can find a place to pee anywhere, any time.3. You’ve had the same unopened packet of frozen peas in your freezer for the last two years.4. Your running shoes are the first thing you pack for your summer holiday. 5. When walking in a crowd, you make a

racer/trainers, and then a short-lived 180g racing shoe.Adidas came up with the outrageously-light mesh-soled 131g Mangostin in summer, and now Nike has produced something in between. Still crazy-light by any normal runner’s standards, the Air Streak

. This one could be just the ticket for a late summer holiday, as the race falls amid a week-long festival celebrating all that is Catalan – music, a night market and a lace festival – with bull fighting also scheduled for those inclined. The race itself

, or fast trainers for the lighter athlete. Like these shoes, the Lite offers cushioning at a relatively light weight. And it's a perfectly competent, fast training shoe. It has a similar weight and ride to last summer's £50 Fusion V, but a remodelled upper

Mizuno substantially upgraded the Wave Rider last summer and ended up with a fantastic shoe. Wisely, it has changed little on the Rider other than the upper materials. That said, by using a lighter, more breathable mesh, the Rider's fit now feels