Welcome to the Guardian's running blog.
Perhaps you have decided to start running to shift those stubborn saggy bits, or to raise money for a local charity. Maybe you're an ultra-marathon veteran with a VO2 max the size of Saturn and a foolproof anti-chafing strategy. Or perhaps, like most of us, you are simply somewhere in between.
Whatever your level, we hope that the Guardian's running blog – which launches today – will be a place you visit regularly; whether that's to exchange training tips, share your playlist, or to rant about the frustrations of your daily traffic dodging with others below the line.
Our blogging team will be led by Adharanand Finn, an experienced long-distance runner whose excellent book Running with the Kenyans, was shortlisted for the William Hill sports book of the year prize in 2012. You can read his piece on the joy of running here.
At the other end of the scale, I will be pitching in too. I started running 11 months ago to get fit and lose weight after having my second child – I use the word "running" loosely, given I could barely run a mile – and have since run half-marathons and seen PBs tumble some way towards respectability.
In the days and weeks ahead we will also post advice from coaches, share our favourite running books and post on everything from diet to energy gels via running while pregnant – and from all around the world.
And we very much want you to get involved. You can post your thoughts and suggestions below the line, tweet us at @katehelencarter and
@adharanand, or, if you prefer, drop us a line at kate.carter@guardian.co.uk and/or adharanand.finn@guardian.co.uk. If you have a blog of your own, a bookmarked favourite or a subject you'd really like us to cover, please do get in touch – we do also hope to promote (and cross-post from) a wide range of running blogs.
The plan is to follow in the tracks of the Guardian's cycling blog by throwing knowledgeable writers and coaches, excellent and informed posters, and a dollop of the idiosyncratic together. Hopefully you will enjoy what comes out.
