Next time you see another runner out on the street, take a closer look. Is he thinking about smashing his 10K PB next week, or getting smashed at the pub later with his running friends? Is she wondering how she'll fit in next week's training, or how

and in knee-deep mud.The result – a well-cushioned, fairly stable shoe with deep rubber lugs and three removable spikes – admittedly isn’t the most practical shoe we’ve ever seen. With the spikes in place, the soft-surface grip is excellent: better than a good

; very good grip on soft surfaces; durable and much-improved Cell cushioningCons Expensive; average on roadEvaluation Now that Puma has made its honeycomb Cell cushioning system a viable option for non-heavy runners by softening the plastic cells, it has

Weight PBT: 294g; Racer: 275gEvaluation Changes happen only occasionally in the world of fell shoes, so a new Walsh is big news – even though it may sound like small news. Walsh has developed a new abrasion-resistant overlay, and used it to upgrade

; very good grip on soft surfaces; durable and much-improved Cell cushioningCons Expensive; average on roadEvaluation Now that Puma has made its honeycomb Cell cushioning system a viable option for non-heavy runners by softening the plastic cells, it has

Weight 277gEvaluation Asics’s lightweight trainers are nearly always gems of stripped-down performance, and this replacement to the Gel Lyte DS fits the bill. It’s not cushioned enough for long distances on hard surfaces, but for responsiveness

monochrome RC230, which we said was a shoe that would suit lightweight, fast and efficient runners for short distances and speedwork on soft surfaces. The same goes for the 240. That’s because while the rearfoot offers the kind of cushioning you’d expect in a

Remember these 10 tips when you start adding the fast stuff to your running programme:1. Graduate from basic training If you’re a novice runner, you need at least three to four months of building up before starting speedwork. Meaning? You should

for those with limited time to spare. Plus, with links to five longer related articles, there’s always plenty more to print out and read later…Trail RunningFor stunning scenery, near-perfect running surfaces and liberation from the urban rat race, take

pace (see Pace Guide) and use your heart rate guide, these should be fairly accurate. Where possible, try to do some of your running off-road and some of your speed sessions on an even grass surface.The most important session of the training week