Congratulations: you've run your marathon! Now, unless you wish to spend the next few weeks plagued with soreness, sniffles and a soul-sapping sense of apathy, read on.What you do in the days following a marathon is just as important as what you did before. Running 26.2 miles pla...

the brains of the bodies behind some of the UK’s most successful races and find out what really goes on behind the scenes before, during and after race-day. Of course, next time you find yourself toeing the line, don’t forget to spare a thought for these guys

shoelaces so they stay tight. But every run has the potential to teach you something, to reveal something to you, to be the first time you ever felt a certain way.I see this most clearly in races. Some runners call it race-day magic. It’s the extraordinary

you home. Veteran runners call this "race-day magic". Before too long, you'll be explaining it to all your non-running friends.Make the time How do you find time for high-mileage training and still have a life? First, accept that sacrifices

and stuck with them. I never felt that I dropped back in the pack which was brilliant.All my race-day strategies worked too. I took a carb gel about Mile 6, then another one at Mile 13. They really helped me overcome any wobbles, although I did feel a bit

. She managed to implement her mental strategies to good effect and keep those race-day nerves in control. This enabled her to perform to her full potential rather than letting her nerves hold her back. Sue now needs to keep practising her mental