about your exercise programme – is essential to guarantee a healthy pregnancy. A supportive doctor who recognises the benefits of an exercise programme will not only listen to your concerns, but should also address your individual needs, although you should never hesitate

the line.The big test came in April 2002 with the Flora London Marathon. I was suffering from a knee injury at the time but decided to risk it anyway. It was the first time I had ever spent a night away from Mollie, which was a strange experience in itself

or so higher. "In the opening stages of a marathon, the heart rate of both men and women should climb to the plateau of about 140bpm, working at about 70 per cent of your maximum effort, a guide we use for testing new athletes' fitness," says Pedlar

and competitive runners were put to the test. After initial evaluation of ground reaction forces, lower-extremity stability scores and 5,000m running performance, half participated in a six-week core strength training programme while the other half did not. All

cent in mental tests and ability to deal with the causes of stress. Running actually builds new brain cells in the hippocampus, the region responsible for memory, which deteriorates from the age of 30. "It boosts blood flow – and in turn, oxygen

. It's pretty cheap and stays on for days after. I've just run my first marathon, and it worked a treat. See full threadShoulder painUnclench your fistsWildWill- I find that shoulder pain is normally caused through being too tense - the trick is to try