If you want to become a better runner, there’s no real training substitute for running. Other sports just don’t cut the mustard when it comes to preparing your body for race day, right?Right. But in terms of boosting your fitness, balancing muscle
Training to run continuously for longer periods of time is a great way to measure your progress, but if you’re running at the same speed day in and day out, you’re likely to see your improvements plateau. Unfortunately for this week’s questioner
Reducing your level of training to improve your race times might seem counter-intuitive but research exists to suggest that in fact, less can sometimes be more. This week’s reader is keen to put this theory into practice - can you help him strike
Eating the right combination of carbohydrates and protein can help you become a stronger and faster runner, and help your muscles recover quicker from each exercise session. What will suit you best depends very much on your level of training, your
Running less in the weeks prior to a race is scientifically proven to lead to better performances. Known as tapering, this period of decreased training allows your mind and body time to recover from months of hard training so they are in prime
Knowing when and how much to drink while on a run is one thing - actually taking on water is quite another. Can you help this week’s questioner master the art and science of hydration?"During training I haven't been taking water with me, as I
Training on hills will make you a stronger, faster and healthier runner, improving your leg-muscle strength, boosting your cardiovascular system, and protecting your leg muscles against soreness. Knowing these benefits won't make tackling them any
This week’s questioner needs your advice on kitting himself out on a rainy day – that way, he’ll have no excuse to forego a training run on account of the weather. How do you tog yourself out if the clouds are looming?"I'm not keen on running
breaking down. It'll do it anyway. – SlowboyUse a scoring system to keep things in perspectiveMy advice is to rate pain on a scale of one to 10. Anything up to three or four and I'd train as normal providing it starts to go away within a week. Five to six
Having already suffered the consequences of overdoing it too soon, this week’s questioner is desperate to avoid future injury by spending time warming up before – and cooling down after – every training run. Trouble is, conflicting opinions on when
