MATT LISTER
DA DO RUN RUN
I have always had a love-hate affair with running. After years spent on my knees (for canoeing — minds out of the gutter, please), it’s not long into a jog that I really start to feel the wear and tear and have to call it a day. But when I can push through, the runner’s high you get from completing a marathon is one of the best feelings in the world. The commitment and nerve it takes to complete a race is mind blowing and training needs to start months prior to the race. Try running three to five times a week for a medium distance, with one day a week designated to speed work and hills, a long run every seven to 10 days so your body can adjust gradually to longer distances, and don’t neglect the rest periods. Here are five reasons to take part in a marathon… or 27 of them if you want to match Eddie Izzard’s efforts last year.