. Here are three ways of finding that target, both for speedwork and racing.1. By feelThe best option for beginners. If you’re running 400m repetitions on a track, for instance (the ideal venue), simply ask yourself ‘could I complete three more laps

. This presents itself as cramp-like sensations which can stop you dead in your tracks. This is more difficult to treat conservatively, and although stretching and exercise can help, surgery is sometimes required. — Martin Haines, sports medicine consultant

times to stretch your legs out, increasing the pace a little each time. Then move on to the main part of the session: six times ‘400 metres fast, 400 metres jog’, if you have a track available. If not, pick a piece of quiet road or a playing field and do

one more mile to go, but also another tenth of a mile, or about 40 to 50 more seconds.—Mark Will-Weber, cross-country and track coach, and author of The Quotable Runner

track intervals, fartlek doesn’t require you to set a distance to run, or a time to recover. A watch isn’t necessary (although in the absence of landmarks you can use one to pick different times for your hard sections), as you listen to your body

and fit one of these in at least every 10 days.I’d also recommend training on the track. Try hard intervals over as little as 200-400m, up to 1K. Shorter repetitions will help improve your pure speed and help you kick at the end of races. Longer

to recover between each repetition. Be sure to have a 10-minute warm-up jog first and a similar cool-down afterwards. The best place to run intervals is on a track, but if you don’t have one nearby don’t worry. Find a flat grassy area, where you can run

on a single activity such as tennis or track running is not a good thing; they should take part in a variety of games, as the seasons allow. Swimming, gymnastics, football and dance are all good for building strength, coordination and self

in 2004. Ironman target: To set a PB.OctoberMe at the club speed session. The track work is starting to pay off Typical training week: Mon: 7 milesTue: Swimming Wed: 8 miles fartlek Thu: 4 miles steady Sat: 8 miles steady Sun: 2hrs30 cycling + swimming

.Her performance at last year’s British Masters Athletics Championships was outstanding. She took gold in the 5,000m (23:06:26) and silver in the 1500m (6:23:40) track events – placing her fifth and ninth in the world (respectively) for her age group. Meanwhile, a