All posts tagged: runners

Runners, Especially Women, Are At Higher Risk Of Anaemia

Runners, Especially Women, Are At Higher Risk Of Anaemia

Published by Sam Flores

Last year, I tried to get back into running – and while changes to my joints put me off the sport for a while, I’m now starting again, right from ground zero. Things will be different this time, I reckon. First of all, I’ll start slower (more Jeffing, perhaps). And secondly, I’ll keep an eye on my iron intake. Years ago, while training for a marathon, a blood test showed I was anaemic: facts I thought were unrelated. But it turns out they might not have been. Some research suggests that endurance athletes, especially women, might experience something called “exercise-induced anaemia”. “In female marathon runners, the prevalence is as high as 28% (compared to 11% in the general female population),” the British Journal of General Practice (BJGP) said. Why does “exercise-induced anaemia” happen? Experts think it could be down to a range of factors. One of them is haemolysis, or the destruction of red blood cells through high-impact sports (like pounding your feet on the ground through running). Another is blood loss through tiny tears …

6 Interval Training Workouts to Help Runners Level Up

6 Interval Training Workouts to Help Runners Level Up

Published by Jenni Sidey

There comes a time in every runner’s life when it’s time to kick things up a notch. That means one thing and one thing only: interval training. There’s a reason loads of runners don’t like intervals. They hurt. They’re exhausting and they force your legs, lungs, and central nervous system to work harder than ever. Your first Rolling 400s might seem like the hardest thing you’ve ever done, but follow a good plan (a coach or running app can help) and you won’t just find your fitness improving, you’ll notice your mental resilience hardening, your legs bearing the burden with greater efficiency, and faster run times. Do it enough and you might even learn to love them. From your Fartlek to your Over/ Unders, below is an expert guide to the different types of interval training and what they’re best for. What are running intervals? “Intervals are simply planned changes in pace,” says Ben Lucas, head coach at the TCS Sydney Marathon. “You run hard for a set time or distance, ease off to recover, …

The runners and riders to be Keir Starmer’s next chief of staff – POLITICO

The runners and riders to be Keir Starmer’s next chief of staff – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

She comes from think tank land, where she had a top job at the cost-of-living-focused Resolution Foundation, and has won praise for leading Labour’s outreach to business. The policy expert gets plenty of praise from colleagues, but others fear she may be “indecisive.” Jill Cuthbertson Cuthbertson — the other half of the acting-up deputy chief of staff duo — is seen as having a deeper understanding of the political front, having worked with former Labour leaders Gordon Brown and Ed Miliband. Cuthbertson is due some extended leave in the coming months, but one option under discussion is the job-share being made permanent.  Amy Richards A former long-time adviser to Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, the PM brought Richards into No.10 to bolster his operation’s communications with backbenchers. The political director is spoken of highly among special advisers who don’t seem to lay any blame with her for the Parliamentary Labour Party’s current mood.  Long shots …. Outside chancers being mentioned are the PM’s chief secretary Darren Jones, comms boss Tim Allan, Starmer biographer Tom Baldwin, National Security …

Grand National runners, favourites and odds for 2026: Key horses to note

Grand National runners, favourites and odds for 2026: Key horses to note

Published by Sam Flores

A maximum field of 34 horses will line up at Aintree for the Grand National on April 11, but the initial list of entries features 78 potential horses. The initial entries are listed below in best-odds order. These will be whittled down over the course of the jump-racing season. Grand National 2026: Full list of entries Iroko (Fra) 8yo Owner: Mr John P. McManusTrainer: Oliver Greenall & Josh GuerrieroOdds: 15/2 (Fav)Verdict: Stayed on from quite far off the pace to finish fourth, seven-and-a-half lengths behind Nick Rockett, last year, which sort of left you wondering how he might have fared ridden closer to the pace. In good form this season, campaigned over two miles, five furlongs, to keep his rating down presumably. Beaten by The Jukebox Man first time out, then beat Firefox. Worthy favourite at this stage. I Am Maximus (Fra) 10yo Owner: Mr John P. McManusTrainer: W. P. MullinOdds: 12/1Verdict: The winner in 2024 and a very gallant second under a big weight last year, which makes him a bit of an Aintree …

Beginner runners are always told to run slower but it’s harder than it sounds—I’m a running coach and these five techniques actually work

Beginner runners are always told to run slower but it’s harder than it sounds—I’m a running coach and these five techniques actually work

Published by Jenni Sidey

There’s one piece of advice that every new runner has probably heard: You need to slow down. I’ve dished out this advice to nearly every new client I coach—not to mention friends and family members who tell me that they hate their runs. While boring routes, darkness, or bad kit certainly play a role, more often than not, it’s because they’re out of breath. Slowing down will relax your breathing and make the physical exertion feel more manageable. It can also give you the time and mental capacity to think about—and improve—your running technique. These factors can all lead to a much more enjoyable run—and stop you from giving up on running altogether. And for seasoned runners, incorporating some slower runs into your schedule can actually help improve your aerobic capacity and make you a faster runner. But how do you slow down? It’s easier said than done. Running slowly doesn’t come naturally, and can feel weird when we live in a world that encourages us to get things done as quickly as possible. Start …

Here’s why marathon runners often find themselves sprinting to the toilet

Here’s why marathon runners often find themselves sprinting to the toilet

Published by Daniella Wilson

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Running a marathon is no small feat. Athletes can expect to cover between 50-60,000 steps, burn over 3,000 calories and expel multiple litres of sweat to keep cool. Marathons and other long-distance events can be associated with several dangers – including dehydration, electrolyte imbalances and heatstroke. All important reasons as to why it’s crucial to train adequately for the big day, and come prepared. But there’s another condition that can affect long distance runners – one that can be more than a little embarrassing. It comes under many guises: runner’s trots, runner’s gut, runner’s stomach, runner’s runs. What we’re referring to is the overactive gastrointestinal tract brought on by the whole-body effects of running. This results in urgent, sometimes explosive diarrhoea. Runner’s diarrhoea is actually a triad of symptoms: diarrhoea, cramping …

A running expert pinpoints the number one reason most new runners give up—and provides the simple solution

A running expert pinpoints the number one reason most new runners give up—and provides the simple solution

Published by Jenni Sidey

Time, not distance, is your friend if you’re new to running. That’s according to Mark Kennedy, a RRCA-certified running coach and founder of beginner running platform None to Run (N2R). The Canadian father-of-two set up N2R a decade ago to plug what he saw as a gap in the market. Fed up of seeing new runners start a plan, like Couch-to-5K (C25K), and give up before they’d made much progress, he identified one major problem that he felt needed solving. You may like It’s now advice he volunteers to anyone looking to lace up their running shoes for the first time in a while. “I’m a big proponent of running for time, not distance,” Kennedy tells Fit&Well. “When you’re running for time, you’re less tied to a distance, you’re less tied to pace. When you’re running for time, it calms things down.’ The pay-off, he adds, is more gradual progress and reduced risk of injury. Pointing to the N2R introduction to running plan by way of example, the end goal after 12 weeks is 25 …