David Smyth

3 weeks ago | runnersworld.com | David Smyth

You’ll know the feeling if you have tight hamstrings – your strides feel shorter, it seems like you’re working harder than usual and your legs feel stiff and restricted. Going faster or tackling hills aren’t realistic options. It’s a very common complaint among runners, but it can be helped. Here’s our guide to the causes of tight hamstrings, as well as seven of the best exercises to relieve that discomfort.

3 weeks ago | runnersworld.com | David Smyth

It’s easy to think of the human body as a machine, just like a car. Put the right amount of fuel in and you’ll get the right amount of energy out, right? Well, it’s a bit more complicated than that. While we all know that fuelling before – and after – a run is important, your diet still needs to include the right mix of nutrients for your individual needs and you need take these in at the right time and in the right proportions.

3 weeks ago | runnersworld.com | David Smyth

Running is fun! Stretching, less so. Yes, we know that stretching is important, but why ruin a good endorphin buzz by doing something boring? We’ve all come up with excuses to put off running’s sensible sibling, but losing flexibility isn’t the only issue if we neglect this key type of movement. According to Jeff Brannigan, who is the programme director at Stretch*d, which is a stretch therapy studio in New York City, this activity is vital for recovery and decreasing your risk of injury.

3 weeks ago | ft.com | David Smyth

It’s highly likely that when you think back to your schooldays, you can barely remember a scrap of the vital knowledge that once kept you...

1 month ago | runnersworld.com | David Smyth

If you're one of the legions of people who hated doing cross-country at school, try it Will Robinson-style. The 28-year-old investment surveyor from Dorset ran across Ireland - Galway to Dublin - in December 2023 and, a year later, he traversed India, covering 750km between Chennai on the east coast and Mangaluru on the west, in just seven days and 11 hours. He certainly likes to approach his challenges fresh.