warm on freezing days. You will freak the locals out when you run panting up behind them looking like a madman – but at least your face'll be warm! fat face Try baby-bum cream – anything that works on nappy rash should be able to handle your skin! Lots

gymnastics); and iv) more injuries would be prevented by better warm-ups, strength training and balance exercises. In particular, stretching before exercise is thought to be unhelpful as it can mask muscle pain, meaning that when you should be slowing down

built races up into something horrible for days or weeks beforehand, and then felt very sick on the day. What worked for me was telling myself the race didn’t matter, until I was actually warming up on the start line. There will always be other races

and steady speeds until you have gained the confidence and fitness to increase the efforts. After the session, run at least 10 minutes easy to warm down.The sessions do not have to be on a track. A roughly measured grass or road circuit is acceptable, or you

in the rain. If it’s raining before I go out I probably won’t go. I just run in my normal shorts, tee and top, but get soaked. I tried with a lightweight waterproof, but I sweat more and actually ended up wetter on the inside than out. I also wear glasses - my

's speed sessions are all done within a fartlek session, which helps make sure her the calf is nicely warmed up before speed is introduced. She won't race now until the Reading Half-Marathon, and then (depending how she fares) we might look for a little

-dress rather than under-dress. But remember that you warm up quite quickly when you’re running, so it’s better to start off feeling cool rather than warm. It’s a real pain to carry clothes you wish you weren’t wearing. Also, try to do at least one long run

runs were tough. But now your warm-up distance is probably longer than those first sessions were, and you can run faster with less effort. Your body has adapted to the stress and needs to be pushed again to break through its fitness ceiling. Fast Fixes

days ago and sensibly backed off during a hard session. Instead, she headed home after her warm-up. After the initial panic this setback caused, Helen rested and then produced her best long run so far. She thought she was running easily and much slower

, I had paid my entry fee and I hadn’t got anything else on that weekend, so I took the train to London and the tube to White City. I warmed up in my jeans and sweater, as I had lost my only tracksuit and couldn’t afford another one, and I ran in bare