Pedal power

What's the best way to raise money for charity? Shake a tin in the street, perhaps, or host a bring-and-buy sale? Al Humphreys decided to go one better - by taking three years out of his life to do a sponsored cycle ride around the world. Here he tells us how the first year has gone

Rural rides

After a miserable year the English countryside is now back to its best, so Stuart Jeffries decided to explore the West Country trails of the national cycle route.

Weekend warriors

Running, kayaking, cycling and horse riding - and that's just before lunch. Welcome to the demanding world of adventure racing

Flat-track family

Winding through the Peak District, old railways have been made into cycle paths. Perfect for a spin with the kids, says Dan Joyce.

Marathon man

I'm looking at my running shoes. They lie, rather meekly now, in the corner of my bedroom.They betray few clues of the horrors they have witnessed.

Three days to go …

For 12 weeks we've followed his gruelling training regime for this Sunday's marathon (and his obsession with isotonic drinks and toilet training). But with time running out, it's all going horribly wrong for David Munk.

Marathon man

They always say if you start dreaming in a foreign language you can call yourself truly fluent. Well, I woke up running the other morning, my legs cycling under the duvet, my arms flashing around, powering me to my imaginary finish line.

Marathon man

There are some delicate subjects which should only be referred to in hushed tones. One of them is toilet training for a marathon.

Marathon man

I've unconsciously started sowing the seeds of my running downfall. I'm eating anything I can lay my hands on. I'm drinking more than I should. I'm now smoking with both hands.

Smoothly does it

It doesn't matter how many lengths you can do - or how fast you can do them - if your posture, strokes and breathing are all out of kilter. Veronique Mistiaen on how to make the most of your trips to the pool.

Welcome to the new map of the UK

The first 5,000 miles of the National Cycle Network opens next month. Stuart Jeffries reports on a mammoth project to make cycling a safe leisure pursuit ands 'test drives' two of the routes