Running is one of the most popular activities worldwide, and provides an incredible feeling of achievement as well as offering an enjoyable and accessible way to get fit. You only need to put on a pair of running shoes to run any time or anywhere. This superb book is an ideal reference guide for beginners, with easy-to-follow advice and guidance on getting started, staying motivated, and improving your performance. To help you begin to run, the first part of the book provides practical advice, including basic health checks, progressive walk/run programmes, a six-week plan of running for fitness, and exercises to build up strength. Appropriate clothing and equipment, stretching exercises and warm-up routines are described, and the book explains how to troubleshoot problems and stay focussed. The author describes injuries and how to deal with them, and outlines alternative treatments. Once you have achieved a certain standard you may want to try an event, and there is a special section devoted to explaining what kinds of events are suitable, from a 5K walk/run to a marathon. Advice is given on how to choose the best one for you, how to enter, train for, prepare and run the course. Illustrated with over 300 photographs and illustrations, including step-by-step instruction, this expert book is essential reading for anyone who wants to begin and to improve their running.