that it is attainable and worth the extraordinary effort that is required. I spoke to a group of 40 marathon runners on the UK squad in February 2004. They seemed to take on board the need for hard training, and maybe we're starting to see things improve.Hard training

in the morning; it's not fast enough'. In reality, the ability to be a world-class marathon runner does in part depend on being able to absorb the training over two or three years. I don't know of any elite marathon runner who doesn't average around 100 miles a

of Runner's World just like you. If you want to bring a discussion back to life, don't be shy: just add a new message at the end of it. Alternatively, start a new thread on the training forum. TRAINING: GENERALGeneralCross-country and trail running - how

marathon runners?Mike Gratton There is a debate as to whether it works any better than a well-trained person simply reducing training and increasing carbo intake in the last 3 or 4 days before a marathon, which seems to work just as well without

If you want to see how ordinary runners can move their training to its next level, this section is for you. You'll probably have a number of races under your belt, are ready to train five or more times a week - and right now, are possibly stuck on a

) recoveries, improving to 5K pace with 100m jog recoveries (30-40 sec). Or as fartlek, 15 x 60-90sec with 30- to 60-sec jog recoveries.How often to race in marathon training?Hilly How many races should a runner do during marathon training? Mike Gratton I

't have to worry about melting that £25 technical T-shirt in the dryer. Stock up If you normally run to or from work, double up on toiletries when you shop so that you can keep soap, shampoo and other supplies at your office or in your training bag

– both training and racing. The socks are designed to prevent problems that runners face – blisters, odour, sweat and discomfort. You can take your pick from padded socks suitable for longer runs, or lightweight, lower-cut socks that are geared for warmer

Getty ImagesIf you’re one of the 50,000 runners gearing up to pound the streets of Newcastle on September 20 then this page is just for you! From the perfect two-week taper to nipping race-morning nerves in the bud, trouble-free transport

is generally considered to be the best choice of GPS for runners and its top-end Forerunner 305 shows why. An SDM with HRM, the 305’s many useful features include a virtual training partner and mapping function; you can also download RW’s marathon schedules