Here are 3 top tips to help you develop your running, firstly, the common problem of stitches. Stitches are probably the most annoying things that you can get when you'r running, second only to getting cramp (I shall come back to cramp).

The best method to avoid getting a stitch is very simple, it is this: Simply do not eat or drink within 2 hours of going for a run. If you follow this advice you should not get a stitch, you are at least much less likely to anyway! If you do need a drink, only drink little sips!

Okay, when you're running, probably the most annoying thing you can suffer from is cramp! Most runners have probably experienced cramp of some sort during their lifetime and know what I'm referring to!

My second tip is an easy way to avoid this suffering! Cramp and dehydration go hand in hand, so my tip is to keep hydrated while running, especially on long runs where fatigue will take its toll! So take some water when you go out running, if you don't want to carry a water bottle while you run, then drop a bottle off half way round your route, then drink it when you reach half way, then pick it up again upon completion on your way home! Other options include hydro packs and other similar products which I personally find very effective during endurance runs! By keeping hydrated you will fight off cramp for a much longer time, but, if you do happen to get cramp, my top tip to get rid of it, is to stretch the muscle in question out, this will help relieve the cramp!

My third tip is a great way for measuring your cardiovascular fitness at a high intensity, then in the future as a monitor for seeing how you have progressed! Okay, start off by having a good thorough warm up, then the test is this: run as far as you can in a 12 minute period, this is recommended round a track to keep measurements accurate! As you run remember how many laps you have completed, when your alarm goes off after 12 minutes, stop where you are and work out the distance you have travelled, this distance is used to measure your fitness! Less than 1,750 metres is poor.
1,750-2,250 is average.
2,250-2,750 is slightly above average.
2,750-3,500 is good!
Anything over 3,500 is excellent!

Do this monthly and see how your fitness improves! This is a good measure of how you have improved!

Follow these 3 tips for happy running, and to gauge your improvements!