FORGET ADDING TIME ON YOUR FEET: HERE ‘ SOUR GUIDE TO THE SMALL CHANGES YOU CAN MAKE THAT WILL REAP BIG PB REWARDS

(without training harder)

INSIDER TIPS

WORDS: RACHAEL WOOLSTON

1 CUT CORNERS

No, we don’t mean cheating on a race route, but if you want to shave time off your personal best, there are several simple tips that will help you instantly.

“Where you stand at the start, the route you take and even who you run near can all dramatically help you achieve a personal best,” explains running coach Tara Shanahan (girlsruntheworld.co.uk).

Shanahan advises standing at the front of your pen, so you have fewer runners to manoeuvre around, which will also help ensure you’re running among others who are focused on a PB. And the most simple race hack of all? Focus on running the shortest route.

“An event can be longer in distance if you take the outside of bends,” explains Shanahan. “That’s why you see a racing line painted on the road at some events, such as the Virgin Money London Marathon, which means you run 26.2 miles exactly if you stick to it.” The same principle applies at parkrun: take the inside line. “Though if someone is running the same line, don’t put on a sudden burst of speed to pass, as this change in pace can affect you: just keep running smoothly.”