Trust the process

Hold the vision for long haul gains. In a society driven by instant gratification, running can provide a wonderful illustration of how being patient and playing the long game can pay dividends.

As Arthur Lydiard, the great New Zealand running coach said, it takes five years to become good and 10 years to become world-class.

Whether your goal is to become the best runner you can be (given your lifestyle, work and family commitments) or to become the best in the world, the road map is similar.

For athletes, it can be really difficult to balance