’d definitely urge you to resist the temptation to run a marathon until you have at least a year of training and racing under your belt. That way, you’ll not only be able to get round it without falling to bits, you’ll even be able to aim for a specific time

. The ladies’ meet is, in fact, the last in a summer series of three, and though this will only be the second staging of the males-only event, organisers are already being called upon to establish a monthly time trial for the men.More 5K highlights

, May 10) After last year's trial autumnal staging, organisers have restored this 4,000-strong city-centre number (boasting some challenging climbs in the first half) to its usual May date.National Highlights...Folksworth 15Folksworth 15

to do a fast one or a long one as the mood takes me, depending how I feel physically. Is this too haphazard a way to train for a half-marathon?" – GlennzoYour best answersWith or without? There’s a time for bothI need a schedule when I'm working

bit. So I carried on running when I left school and went for my two years of national service.When I was posted to Hong Kong, I found that there was plenty of time for sport, and the standard was so low that I could do well. I trained with renewed

at the same time as the diarrhoea. If you get a clean bill of health, modify what and when you eat. Some race-day pointers:Avoid high-fibre foods the day before and the morning of a race.Try liquid pre-race meals.Give yourself two to four hours to digest your

). Consider adding a clip-on aerobar such as the Century ZB (£40) to your bike. This will enable you to ride in an aerodynamic "time trial" position that saves a lot of energy by reducing wind drag. Finally, consider replacing your flat pedals with a pair

," says Chris Abbiss, a biomedical and health science researcher at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia.In one 2001 experiment on end spurts, Australian researchers put a group of subjects through a 60-minute simulated time trial on stationary

starting high-intensity workouts such as tempo running and time trials, and increasing the number of their (swim, run or cycle) interval workouts. For the same reason triathletes should also avoid racing too often. Hallie Truswell says, "I've taken all

places (2006) is published by the Home Office, in consultation with the police, UK Athletics, British Cycling, UK Sport, Cycling Time Trials and the British Triathlon Association. Although not prescriptive, it offers useful guidance in key areas of events