Am I fit to race?
Before undertaking any training programme, it's important to talk to your GP if you have an underlying health condition that may affect your ability to exercise.
For example:
- heart disease
- asthma
- diabetes
- epilepsy
- arthritis
It's also a good idea to have a chat with your doctor if you have haven't exercised for a long time, are significantly overweight or have recently had an injury that affects your ability to exercise, especially around your joints.
If you start your training programme and find that you feel unwell, see your doctor, especially if you have any of the following symptoms:
- heart palpitations
- feeling lighted-headed, dizzy or fainting
- chest pain or tightness
- excessive shortness of breath
- excessive wheezing or coughing
- joint or muscle pain
Race fit
If you do have a medical condition that could affect your performance on race day, it's important to let the race organisers know. However, it is ultimately up to you to take responsibility for your own health during the race.
To be race fit you don't necessarily need to have run the full distance before race day. However, as a guide, during the weeks before your race aim to have run:
- just over 3 km continuously if taking part in a 5 km run
- 45 minutes continuously if taking park in a 10 km run
- 8 miles continuously if taking part in a 10 mile run
- 11 miles continuously if taking part in a half marathon
Training programmes
See our training programmes for more information
Publication date: June 2009
