psychological pitfalls.Problem: You find it hard to stay motivated Keith's solution: Awareness trainingIt's very difficult to keep motivated to continue running if you aren't aware of how your running is going, your progress to date and what factors might

sunglasses) to help you reset your biological clock more quickly. Early morning walks are best for this. Do not overdo any exercise because at this stage you should be following a tapering programme as race-day approaches. BlistersIf you develop a blister

outdoors in the sun (without sunglasses) to help you reset your biological clock more quickly. Early morning walks are best for this. Do not overdo any exercise because at this stage you should be following a tapering programme as race-day approaches

begins early in the morning, try to train in the morning, too. You'll be better prepared for that early start, in terms of getting your body moving and maintaining performance. But keep an eye on your taper; as you reduce training in the lead-up to a race

agree on is being well-rested leading up to a race. "I tell all my runners that, in the final weeks of training – and during the taper – you can do more by sleeping than you can by running," says Richard Holt, expert running coach for momentumsports

that I had dreadful physical and psychological symptoms. Realistically, in the overall healthy-eating picture, your caffeine intake is very small-print; in your situation I'd be saying "Life's too short to feel like this when the cure is in a packet in my

minutes whenever I trained.It was summer and we took a trip to the South of France to stay with my sister. She thought I was mad to be running in my condition. One evening, a doctor came round for an aperitif. I was all but internally examined