Ok, here is my suggestion:

I am looking for the best running tips you have. These can be pre, during or post run as long as you have tried them yourself. If we get enough useful tips I am hoping to be able to make a tips summary to share them with the world. To start you off here is a tip I tried after it was suggested on this very forum:

If you find motivating yourself on a treadmill difficult, try covering the clock. If you can't see how long you have been running for the time goes a lot faster and you will be done before you know it


Over to you

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0 - 14 Miles in 6 months, 2 hours, 13 minutes and 58 seconds.
Start weight: 18 st 4.. Current weight: 14 st 11.. Current Goal: Duchy Marathon, 8th March 2009

to avoid going too quickly at the start of long distance races set your target finish time and calculate the average pace, at the end of the first and second mile/ or km if you are ahead walk until you are back on track.

Do not try out an energy drink or food during a race which you have never used before! I did and had a bad reaction to it, I had to stop for a good minute or two to let the intense cramps go away.....

The same can be said for shoes, never go and run a race with new running equipment i.e. shoes, tops, shorts, you never know how they will react with your body and they may result in bad blisters.

O.

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"Sure you've flirted with quitting every now and then. But as long as you don't action it, Running will pretend not to notice."

Give yourself at least five minutes pre and post running/racing for stretching. Stretching will:-

• Improve Flexibility
• Aid Mobility (pre-race)
• Prevent Injury
• Speed Rehabilitation

I would say WARM-DOWN stretches are the most important. These take the muscles back to their pre workout length, as some shortening will have occurred during activity. Many athletes are tired after a session and don’t stretch, it is, however, VERY useful to do so. A suggestion would be to reduce the number of stretches performed to concentrate on the most major and injury-prone muscles to ensure that these are cared for. These static stretches should be held for significant periods of time (about 20-30 seconds).

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Ain't nothin' gonna break my stride Nobody gonna slow me down, oh no I got to keep on movin' ...

Joing a running club! The majority will cater for ALL abilities - they're not just groups for 'elite' athletes at all.

Joining a club encourages consistant training, lowers percieved exertion (training with others seems to take your mind off how hard you're having to work), and you may well make a good few friends through it! Many people will tell you it's the best thing they ever did to improve their running - and I'd be inclined to agree.

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RF Winter Social @ Castle Combe - Bugger me! It's TOMORROW!
www.richardsimkiss.co.uk - 'Lady Godiva Half Marathon' Race Report Added 27/10/08

Listen to your body.

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BE PATIENT NOT A PATIENT

FIRST THINGS FIRST

Surely not?
Seems a tad excessive.

So that's what happens, wait till I tell Mrs Squint.

As for tips, when you feel like walking just keep going till the next lamppost/gate/road sign/house/or any other nearby landmark. Then when you reach it don't stop till you get to the next one then the next one. Soon you will be back home. Doing this makes the run seem easier and shorter as you are only setting yourself small easy to achieve goals, because the next lamppost is only 30 meters away you can run that.

One for the beginners, and definitely the best tip I was given (on here of course, where else?!):

Don't run too fast to start with. If you can't talk while you're running, then you're going too fast. Slow down till you CAN talk, even if that means you're barely going faster than walking pace.

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I feel good... da da da da da da

Have fun!

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**The Protein Cookie**

its just one foot infront of the other....

Always listen to your body. If you feel injured you probably are injured. Running and ignoring injuries can lead to bigger problems and frustratingly long lay-offs.

If in doubt take a rest or take advice.

Cheers,
Ito.

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The runner formerly known as Itokuzu

Get good running shoes and have a gait analysis

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A loser is not the one who runs last in the race. It's the one who sits and watches and who has never tried to run.
Bird in Boots Oh what have I done FLM09