shores. Each has its own charms, such as pre-race campfires, mid-race junk-food stops, and bottles of wine to sip at the finish line. And with fewer runners, you can expect more individual attention from race organisers, aid-station volunteers

your floor from marks and it will also deaden the sound of the trainer. Track pumpCheck your tyre pressure before each ride to minimise differences in roller pressure.Water bottleYou'll sweat even more indoors than outdoors so ensure you stay well

and nothing until I am on my Cannondale. On the bike I have two bottles of Cytomax (400 calories in each), two gels and a small chocolate bar. On the run I have one gel every 25 minutes washed down with some water. I try to get one gram of carbs per kilogramme

'd finish okay. Unfortunately the RW photographer caught me doing a Michael Flatley trying to dodge a load of discarded water bottles, so I'm unlikely to be a RW cover star this year. Never mind... Best moment: on the Embankment, when an attractive young

included). He runs up to 10 miles in the winter, but during the summer I don't tend to venture beyond about six miles with him and stick to routes close to water. If he gets too hot, he takes himself in for a paddle or finds a nice muddy puddle to roll in

being so determined! Emma says: Vicky has documented her previously successful marathon nutrition strategy as follows: bread and jam as a pre-race snack, then regular water and Jelly Babies to fuel and hydrate her during the race.Vicky's nutritional

, running round the bow of this famous clipper ship the roar of the crowd is deafening and gives all the runners a tremendous feeling of support.Further along the course and we pass the 11-mile point still going strong, as we come to the water station a

crazy. We get like an hour in, I haven’t even touched my water. And theirs are gone. Both bottles, done. I can do gels in the marathon. But I wouldn’t want to eat anything. I’d feel terrible. But a three-hour run is the equivalent of a six- or seven

! The iPod and Garmin need charging, bottles filled ready for dropping off, plus the all-important checking of the map. But after all that, job done. 16.61 miles this week and it was good. It was an out-and-back course, so no loops to make me feel loopy

. The only (surprisingly big) noise is of thousands of running shoes striking tarmac. Another water stop. A last chance to drink before the final push. And for a while you run on a carpet of wet Gatorade cups.’ (More from this story) Suzi W on the joys