Fitness First is last when it comes to cancelling gym membership

I did cool off during the cooling-off period but can’t get my money back

GPs in England ‘unconfident’ discussing physical activity with patients – report

Less than two-thirds of doctors feel confident discussing activity levels and almost a third have never heard of national guidelines

Trainers, tops and shorts – the ultmate running kit

Our selection of essential items to keep you on the go, whatever the weather

Watches, monitors and lights – seven of the best gadgets for runners

Then market is saturated with new tech that can help keep athletes – whether veterans or newbies – safe, entertained and informed. Here are some of our favourites

Does exercise make you eat more?

New research has looked into how different exercises affect appetite – but it’s a tricky area to study

Best running events for beginners, improvers and … adventurous types

Our selection of races around the UK for the months ahead, from 5Ks to marathons and even a race against a horse

‘The runner’s rush is a real thing’ – how to get in marathon shape

An Observer writer’s advice on how to go from a gentle walk to the obsessive attitude needed to complete 26.2 miles

Nike, Strava and Instagram: 10 of the best apps for runners

From accelerometers to zombies, the range of options to encourage, guide and record your efforts are endless. Here are the ones worth the investment

Why I run by Malcolm Gladwell, Denise Lewis, Sadiq Khan and more

Former political strategist Alastair Campbell says he gets his best ideas while running, DJ Charlie Dark uses it to bring communities together and chef Michel Roux Jr says it helps him deal with stress

Fit in my 40s: ‘I’m not an elegant climber, but sometimes I feel like Spider-Man’

You have to plan your climb before you start. All the moss and gunk, the to-do lists, the anxieties, it all vanishes

Fit in my 40s: ‘I turn up at 6.30am to what looks just like an actual rave’

I think it’s morally better to do exuberant jumping and dancing and sweating at a ‘sober rave’ for its own sake, rather than self-improvement

Fit in my 40s: ‘Vaping me is like smoker me rebooted’

I have brought myself to a level of nicotine addiction my younger self wouldn’t have got up early enough for

Whole-body cryotherapy: what are the cold hard facts?

Immersing oneself in air frozen to as low as -160C has its sporting champions – including Leicester City and the Welsh rugby team – but does it stand up to scientific scrutiny?

Fit in my 40s: ‘I look like a Doctor Who monster with emphysema’

It’s part two of my MOT – muscle density, heart, lungs. It’s worse than being naked