If you’ve got a marathon or another long-distance race on the horizon, you’ll almost certainly be following a training plan that will see you cover miles of ground every week for a few months. Whatever inspired you to start your training schedule in the first place, finding the motivation to go running can sometimes be tough for even the most dedicated runners.

Taking the time to stretch before running can bring you a wealth of benefits. Multiple studies have shown running stretches allow you to move more freely, avoid aches and pains, reduce the risk of injuries and improve your performance -  among many other positive side effects!

Successful marathon training will normally involve a fairly significant change to your lifestyle. Besides all the evenings and weekends you’ll spend running and doing other kinds of exercise, you’ll also benefit from a change to the food you eat.

Whether you’re recovering from an injury, are concerned about your joints or simply want to mix up your workouts, low-impact training can play an important part in any exercise routine. Many common exercises, like running, tennis, netball and similar sports, will see you running and jumping on hard surfaces.

There’s no doubt about it: running changes you. From an increase in endurance to the control over your body fat composition and heart health, running can help you become a happier, healthier, fitter individual.

When it comes to tackling the harshest terrain, sharp inclines, wet weather and plenty of mud, your choice of shoe is extremely important. Not only do you need a cross country shoe that is durable enough to handle everything the terrain and the weather have to throw at it, but you also need a shoe that’s lightweight enough to help you perform at your best.

Have you reached a plateau in your running? Many runners find they can keep going for long distances at a specific speed, but struggle to improve their race times or go beyond their current limits.

  Are you looking for a new challenge? One sport that’s becoming increasingly popular is the triathlon, and with numerous amateur events across the UK every year, it’s very easy to sign yourself up and get involved.

We can’t all be an Eliud Kipchoge or Paula Radcliffe but getting a good marathon time is still a big motivator for any runner. Whether you’re building up to your first 26.

  If you enjoyed training and racing in a 10k, you might want to start looking at a longer run, like a marathon. If you do the maths, a marathon is ‘only’ the equivalent of four 10.

Maintaining and cleaning your running shoes is a good way to make them last that little bit longer and get more enjoyment out of your purchase. Maintaining and cleaning running shoes is a little different to how you might clean casual pumps or office shoes – you’re working with different materials which require different treatment.

The last 26.2 miles on race day is, for most marathon runners, the culmination of a long training plan which will have seen you cover hundreds of miles over many weeks.

Whether you’re preparing for a marathon or just want to do a few loops of your local park, you probably know you should do some kind of running warm-up.

Have you begin experiencing a deep ache or stiffness in the heel of your foot? Or perhaps you feel a sharp or dull pain when you first stand up in the morning?

There are many reasons why people choose to run marathons, from general health improvement to the opportunity to socialise to self-esteem. However, one popular motivation is running a marathon for charity.