What is the secret of succesful running. It seems to be that when my cardio is good, the legs feel heavy and won't work and if the legs feel great then I get a stitch that just won't move and if I managed to get rid of the stitch and the legs feel great then my heart rate is up and I feel absolutely knackered.  

I know I am nearly 43 and have come to running really late, only four years now and I am struggling to get rid of the pies and mash that had accumulated since stopping motocross, but does it ever get better and what more can I do. Tried every diet and the only one that really works for me is Dr Charles Clark - High Protein diet,  shifted 10 lbs in a month on that, but again this flies in the face of distance running, no carbs = no energy and I burn out after around 8 miles plus, but enter carbs and the weight goes back on. 

I am somewhat apprehensive to increasing my training from 3 days a week, as it seems to be working slowly and after last years 6 days per week which ended up with the fracture I don't know whether to increase this or stick with what is working. I have no stiffness post running and I am trying a mix of fast and slow runs, tempo, hill sprints, etc to ensure I target each area. My runs are currently Tue 7miles / Thu 7miles / Sat 8miles and these will all increase by one mile per week until I get to September where they will be Tue 15miles / Thu 15miles / Sat 30miles. 

I see other people running and their posture is just superb and they look like flowing atheletes where I look like a have just started running after 100 years of sofa / TV. 

So, what is the secret?

P.S - can't afford a personal trainer.

Since starting running I have continuously suffered shin splints, and despite visiting many places where my gait and running style has been filmed and viewed and purchasing their 'recommendations' I still had them, until now...

So with a shed full of different makes and styles of training shoes, 8 at the last count from cushioning to motion control did any of the advice count for anything - not for me it didn't. 

It was in January when looking around various outlets I stumbled upon a pair of Adidas Kanadia trail shoes, afterall, I had just about everything else so why shouldn't I offer a pair of these to my growing shrine? and at under fourty pounds for the pair - it was half to a third what I have paid.

It was the look of despair on my wifes face when I came home with them which caused a laugh though as I couldn't give any other reason for buying them than 'they look good', feeble I know - but I have used all the other excuses with the other 8 pairs, and into the shed they went until I could start running again. 

I have now been running some weeks with these new trainers and they are the best pair I have ever had, and yet they are so minimalistic. No fancy 'gel' heel or cushioning here - just an upper and a lower section with my foot in-between. Thus far I haven't had a single twinge in my shins, no blisters and I am running faster than ever before - momentarily touching a 6 minute mile pace on Tuesday (don't worry though - it was only for a couple of  hundred metres and I am going to fight furiously for last place!).  

So what is it about these trainers - don't ask me, all I know is they work for me and cost a damn sight less than other brands.

The good news is - I have a good excuse to go and buy another pair and all the others - they have now go in the bin - literally).

Back in December I had to withdraw from the Atacama crossing due to a stress fracture. The advice was to leave off training until March at the earliest and this time I took the advice. 

I have now been running for three weeks and so far the shins feel OK. I managed to keep the weight off during Christmas and even managed to shed a further 9 lbs in the early part of the year. I was releived to get out running again and the first run I did was only two minutes off my best ever time for that distance - go figure!, either the weight loss has made a difference or I was a doddery old sod before??

Anyway the training is going (worryingly) well and with a new approach to the training schedule this year - 'less is more' I am hopeful I can hold it all together to get to the start line this time. 

Looking forward to a good year for training and completing the event 

Simon