, you'd rather be on a country lane or the trails of Mont Blanc, but your urban run means you're burning calories, building endurance and strength, clocking useful mileage and, if you're commuting, saving time and money. But urban running comes

Kardong, Olympic marathoner and running authorThe Fear: Trail DangersThe Fix: Plan AheadHave you been watching 127 Hours by any chance? Getting in trouble on an out-of-the-way trail is a rare scenario, and self-amputation thankfully rarer still. However

and trails conducive to enjoyable running. Once you get past the difficult early stage of your return, which should really just be an easy run every couple of days, try to develop a ‘shape’ to your training. The RW half-marathon schedules will be ideal

in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Danish researchers studied the sports and leisure-time activities of 5,749 healthy pregnant women in the first and early second trimesters of their pregnancies. They discovered that physical activity during

at least 10,000 steps (roughly five miles) in the course of every day. 6. Dare to be differentVary your running so that you feel excited about each session. Change your regular route, try a park in another town, go to a track, explore a new trail, run

my mileage and practised running above 14,000 feet, but still I'd limped home after aggravating an old Achilles injury. Today I was ready for a charmed third try. I was fit, healthy and confident of a top-10 finish. Maybe I'd even break three hours

on Mondays or any day after a holiday. Her advice is to make a weekend schedule, and stick with it. For help, line up a training partner.11. Stay involvedIt seems counter-intuitive, but keeping busy can keep you healthy. Having projects to do gives your day