For all those contemplating running in a marathon or a half marathon, this book is designed to get you started and ready for the event safely. The author aims to provide a guide to all aspects of training from basic eight week schedules for beginners, through fit-to-race schedules for active sports enthusiasts, right up to the shortened schedule for the established 25 mile-a-week runner. The book also discusses what to wear, joining a club, warming up and judging your race, aspects of diet for optimum results and psyching yourself up on race day as well as winding down. It is intended not only to help achieve the best possible performance on the day, but also to derive active enjoyment from your efforts from the first day of training.