by Doc Trotters is excellent. The blisters developed when I was on the dunes and though they became worse on the final, flat, 7K they were not hurting when I ran I managed to break into a jog for the first time. I finished in around seven hours

for breakfast: cold porridge with muesli. Then everything is packed up in time for our 8.30 start. That might sound like lots of hanging around but to tell the truth the time passes very quickly. Once again we took off to Highway to Hell, so either

was not one of them. I broke into a determined walk and kept it up for the next four hours as the distant town of Tazzarine became bigger and bigger up ahead. At around 500m to go the sense of occasion got the better of me and I managed a bit of a shuffle

enthusiasm as well as your feet. Running in the dark is a necessity if you work from dawn till dusk or you’re training for a night-time race such as a New Year’s Eve event. Whether you’re heading out early or late, follow these easy strategies to stay safe

Stage 5: 42KToday was the marathon stage of the race. I managed to run the first half - I'd become bored with walking and wanted to test myself, but at the second checkpoint, at the 24K-mark, and with the temperature hovering around 50C, I took a

By the time you reach the run leg of a triathlon, your breathing may be as ragged as your style, but both will benefit if you can find a regular rhythm. "When you're running smoothly, your breathing should be smooth," says Laura Denham-Jones, a yoga

if improving performance is as easy as making a few changes to your diet? Next time you need to run faster, stronger or longer, try these simple staples for a peak performance.Porridge Goldilocks was onto something when she raided the three bears' house

flinging on your running kit.Vila de Santa Pola Half-Marathon (January)2009 Date: tbcSanta Pola, south of Alicante on Spain’s Costa Blanc, is a traditional fishing town that has been attracting visitors since Roman times when fish were pickled and salted

to London for the Marathon in April when the ash cloud descended. I have had a couple of niggles when I've had to cross train for a few days, but that's quite normal. It's rare that I'll manage every single run I had planned. I think it's unlikely I'll run a

the time limit of six-and-a-half hours – a cut-off time that was only introduced recently as a way to discourage runners from spending too long enjoying the hospitality of the wine-stops on the course.Unlike many of the runners, I managed to start the race