to become injured is to train hard on a day when you're fatigued or feeling soreness or the pain of an injury about to happen. Even if you're following all of the rules – running on a good surface, warming up, stretching, using a hard–easy pattern – other

focus on six injuries and the runners they most commonly afflict. Whether you're in a high-risk group or not, simple training adjustments can keep you safe. These precautionary measures could save you from the dreaded routine of rest and rehab. Achilles

focus on six injuries and the runners they most commonly afflict. Whether you're in a high-risk group or not, simple training adjustments can keep you safe. These precautionary measures could save you from the dreaded routine of rest and rehab. Achilles

, most protective training shoes. (Make certain you aren't wearing a worn-out pair. If your shoes are falling to bits, buy new ones.)If you're returning from an overuse or muscle inflammation injury (shin splints, Achilles tendinitis or plantar fasciitis

; whether to walk home immediately or go straight to Accident & Emergency? This article should help you to decide. Its core is a list of aches and pains, what they might be, and what you should do in each case.There are a few general rules you can apply

by your doctor may cause you to overreact! Your injured leg probably looks no different to the other, although running through long-term injury may cause muscle-wasting and alter its appearance.Medical investigations As above, although x-rays are generally

of a pair of prescription supports (orthoses), and you should see a podiatrist for this.Provided that there’s no fracture present, there’s little likelihood of you doing much damage, even if you continue to train. Generally speaking, however, the longer

muscular injury which prevents you training at your full speed. Sports massage is especially appropriate in the last few weeks before a major race for increased vitality and overall relaxation. What to expect Just like any examining physician, a massage

, training too much and training too little.So I went to Plan B: I interviewed the best running-injury experts in the world. Like the medical studies, the experts didn't always agree. But certain principles emerged. From these, I developed 10 laws of injury

Q Why is it that almost exactly 48 hours after a long training run, and particularly after completing a marathon, my leg muscles hurt most? If the race is on Sunday, then I always dread Tuesday because I cannot walk down the stairs without adopting