-of-season triathlon challenge. Where else could you swim in a world-class marina, take in some of Europe's most exciting modern architecture and - the piece de resistance - lap a Formula One street circuit?Such obvious assets easily seduced this triathlon newcomer

or the really bad news?" he asks. With a week to go until we tackle the Norseman, the world's toughest long-distance triathlon, I'm hoping he'll tell me the event has been cancelled. I ask for the really bad news.  "I've just looked on Facebook and someone has

to raise £1m for military charity Help The Heroes.Travelling just over two miles per day Packer, 37, completed the course on crutches in 13 days. He says:  "The greatest realisation I've had doing the marathon is that regardless of what happens to you

Open water swimming's poster girl Keri-Anne Payne made history when she took silver in the very first Olympic 10K marathon swim in Beijing. A year later she followed this feat with gold at the 2009 World Championships.A true water baby, Keri

and music, and fields of up to 10,000 runners. Still, there are advantages in going small, too: you’ll probably find that a low-key event is easier in terms of travel and getting to the start, for instance.Races are usually advertised in local sports centres

Belfast last year in 3:11, but did not really do the full training. This year I followed the sub 3hr schedule and felt really confident that I could break 3hrs. I ran 2:51, so can I say a big thank you to Runner’s World for getting me there. One

mile markers had already given me goosebumps.The Expo was great but warm. I dropped muffins and Jelly Babies off at the Runner's World stand, bought new running glasses, met my charity, picked up my running number (obviously the best bit), had my photo

(most of them volunteers) from the charity Street Child of Sierra Leone (SCoSL). It’s one of a new breed of races that combine charity and travel, so competitors venture out, shake hands with the recipients of the money they’ve raised and see funded

At Runner's World we try to practise what we preach, and so, along with following abstemious diets (well, we try), we also follow our training advice. That means regular speedwork, long runs, rest days and the dreaded hillwork. Repeatedly dragging

provided more than 50,000 security staff including army personnel to protect athletes and Games venues. More than 20 Metropolitan police will also be travelling from London as security advisers.What are our medal chances?Some of our leading lights