Ask any expert how to improve your running and they’ll probably tell you to ensure you’re pacing yourself. It sounds simple enough, but often leads to yet more questions: how do you actually work out what pace you should be running at? And how can you realistically stick to that pace?

“For me, pacing yourself is being able to complete the distance that you’re setting out to do without stopping,” says Kerry Dixon from The Athlete Method. “It doesn’t necessarily mean that every single kilometre is going to be exactly the same speed, although it can mean this. It’s more importantly about trying to stay at a steady speed that stops you from getting too tired to complete your goal distance. Essentially, it’s about conserving energy.”

Running: how to pace yourself properly to improve your running time