shoulders may begin to creep up towards your ears. You may not even notice this but it will affect your performance, causing tension through your body and a tight running style. Relaxed shoulders encourage a relaxed style, so remember to check their position

-Marathon in March, I've suffered from unrelenting tightness and pain in my lower left calf.After the race, I rested up for a month (a whole month!) but then, refusing to admit defeat, I was back pounding the pavements. On days off from the gym bike, I've been

patience, concentration and a strong set of knees, which as a runner, you might not possess. Don't fret, however, you can build up to Toe Stand in stages, strengthening your knees as you go. If you've got tight hamstrings/ calves, take this pose slowly

harder training sessions.4. My body, my selfIn the early stages of my running, I waited for my body to somehow magically change into that of a runner’s. I expected my legs to grow longer and leaner, my muscles to become tight and sinewy, and all my joints

the full range of physiological theories put out by sports scientists and I am still just as confused as everyone else. I still static stretch when I have a tight area (lower back, calf, quads etc.) but otherwise have found that a slow jog building up over

You might be able to run through a tight hamstring or a sore quad, but an injured foot or ankle usually puts the brakes on a session – and can ruin your entire training season. Our feet and ankles, after all, are the foundation of our sport. When

', which sits underneath the bust. Initially it felt quite tight but, once on, it was comfortable and didn't chafe. The bra is a good fit and offers perfect bounce control. But the 'racer back' straps sit a bit too close together inside the shoulder blades

has a lot to offer runners, 'Running is quite aggressive on the joints and many runners have tight, incompliant muscles through years of pounding along pavements. Yoga helps to increase suppleness of runners, and the heat enables a deeper level

, optimises your performance on hills. The Hill ClinicUphill:Problem CauseBreathing too rapidly Over-striding or bounding too highTight leg muscles Over-stridingTight or sore lower back Leaning too far forwardTired or sore shoulders and arms Too much arm

. There are various possible causes – the runner has bad biomechanics or bad bone structure; has followed bad training advice or owns bad shoes; has weak quads or tight hamstrings. Rehabilitation advice includes a programme of rest, icing, strengthening the quads