OUR  BLOGS

There is nothing like seeing friends and family when you're doing a distance running event. Even better if you see them a few times. It can also be upsetting if you plan to see them but miss them on the way round. We look at the best way of ensuring your run is given the lift that spectators can give you and that you avoid the lows that come with not seeing them.

With 27,000 running the last edition of the event, the Barcelona Marathon is growing rapidly. It takes place in one of Spain's most fascinating cities, in March every year and goes past some of Europe's most well known landmarks, like the football stadium, Camp Nou and the Casa Batloi, designed by Antoni Gaudí, and considered one of his masterpieces. And then there's Gaudi's other landmark, the unfinished Cathedral that you'll also see en route.

Months of preparation and you're on the start line feeling 100%. or are you? Did you get up too late, arrive too late, go to the wrong start wave? There are so many things to think about and if you get one of them wrong it can cause chaos. Planning for your big day is crucial. It's not hard, you just need to devote time to it.

There is nothing quite like the 'runner's high'. A short term sensation of elation after intense exercise, it's always been thought that it's as a result of the release from the body of chemicals called endorphins. It can also include a sense of optimism, a sense of achievement or increased confidence and it can make a real difference to our motivation to train. Not everyone gets it though, so is it real and if it is then how does it happen?

Withdrawing from a major event is never an easy decision If you decide it's the right thing to do this post tells you how...

Located just over 50 miles south of central London , the Brighton Marathon is a great option for those that don't get an entry in the London Marathon as it's held at a similar time, in April, every year. The course is nice and flat and there's plenty of support on the streets. Definitely a great option if you're looking for a northern hemisphere Spring marathon.

Should you record your runs? In years gone by runners would come back from a run and religiously record their run in a diary and compare performance over time. These days it's much different. Press a button at the start of a run and another at the end and you have everything recorded for posterity? But is it a good thing? Does it put pressure on you and affect your performance or is it all positive?

Compression is now a huge sector with all manner of different products available from a wide variety of suppliers. What is compression and why do so many more runners wear compression products these days? From leggings to shorts to arm sleeves to T-shirts if you want a compression product for a certain part of your body you're very likely to be able to find it. But, do they make a difference?

Another of the World Marathon Majors. the Chicago Marathon doesn't boast the history and world famous landmarks of some of its peers, but it does boast excellent race day logistics and a pancake flat course. Even if you're not after your Majors medal the Chicago Marathon is still one that you need to tick off the bucket list.

Getting an entry in one of the big marathons, like the World Marathon Majors, can feel as much of a challenge as actually running it. But what happens when you do get a spot? What do you do next? Panic or plan? We talk you through the next steps and help you prepare for the experience of a lifetime!

One of the World Marathon Majors, the Berlin Marathon has built itself a fearsome reputation for marathon world records. Year after year it invests in one or two of the fastest of the elite runners, and almost inevitably this translates into a new world record. It's a very flat course. with the ideal climate and this makes it the perfect environment for super quick runners. If you're looking for your best time this could be the one.

All the training in the world will count for nothing if you get your race day nutrition wrong. your build up to the big day itself is crucial and on the day itself you have to make sure you get it exactly right. That's why we train. It's not just to get your body ready it's also to test out approaches to race day itself. Here we'll go through some do's and don'ts, all based on experience!

Whatever you do throughout your running career you absolutely must stick to the 4 Principles of Training. 4 principles that will shape your success, or otherwise, in whatever you do. We'll discuss in detail each of them and outline why it's so important that you follow them to the letter. All good training plans will be based on them. They are not optional!

One of the biggest challenges when you're in the city for the Dublin Marathon is keeping out of the bars in the days leading up to the event! This is a city that loves its nightlife and there is plenty of it, including Guinness at every turn. It's a marathon that's had plenty of course changes over the years due to the ongoing development in the city, but it's settled now and it's one that you have to do.

Why does everyone want to run the Boston Marathon so badly? Is it because it's one of the Majors or because of its history? Probably the latter given that it was so popular before the Majors became a thing. But is it worth the hype? And just how hard is it to get into? The Boston Marathon is a very different event to the rest of the Majors, for so many reasons.

The purpose of this DISCLAIMER AND NOTICE is to make you aware of the potential risks connected with activity in any exercise, physical fitness or training program and to help you make an informed decision about whether you should participate in these activities.

Don't let anyone tell you that you don't need a training plan. Whether you're training for an event (your first or you fifty first, it doesn't matter) or running to lose weight you need a plan as to how you're going to achieve it. your plan will have been written by someone with experience and who has done it many times before. The plan needs to include gradual progression and it needs to include rest days. The plan will act as your guide and your motivator. Without it you'll

One of the new breed of running shoe brands, Altra is a zero drop shoe with a much wider toe box than the usual running shoe. Formed in 2009 by two running college running buddies, their approach was on finding a more flexible shoe that allowed the runner's individual running gait to dominate rather than the shoe taking the lead.