The more you exercise and run the more prone you become to muscle imbalances. The lower back, calfs and hamstrings can become tight and inflexible while the shin, quadricep and stomach muscles become relatively weak. Stretching will help counteract this.

Eat regularly and sensibly. Don't skip meals and try to leave at least three hours before your run, If you run soon after you eat you may risk stomach cramps and maybe diarrhoea. Going to the toilet before you exercise may help.

Wait for your second wind. After approximately 10 minutes and a small rise in body temperature (approximately one degree) the blood starts to flow to the working muscles. When this occurs you start to sweat lightly. Run slowly until this point, then start your training session.

Different seasons require different clothing. In cold weather use several light thermal layers rather than large thick layers. In hot weather use light breathable layers if you can. Coolmax is a good alternative to cotton. Visit our sports clothing section in our online shop to see a great range of mens and womens clothing.

You may find you need extra sleep during heavy periods of training. Be sensible and make sure you get at least your normal quota.

When running at night try and wear something bright and or reflective. Also if possible run facing the traffic. You'll find plenty of high visibility clothing and accessories in our online store.

If you become injured do not try to run through the pain. If your body hurts then something has gone wrong. There are many reasons why injuries occur so seek help. When you are injured try other forms of exercise that do not affect your injury. Try to vary the sort of training you do. This can help stop injuries and also stop you getting stale. You can find all kinds of aids for injuries to help you recover in our online store.