It's great that so many people have signed up to run and fundraise for the NAS - a wonderful charity that offers such vital help and support.

Taking part in such a challenge is just that - but the great thing is that you know that when it gets tough, all you need to do is to think about how your efforts will be helping to make a huge difference to people with autism all over the UK.

Most importantly, good luck and enjoy yourself!

My top running hints and tips

  • Train properly and give yourself enough time to gradually improve your condition so that you can fully enjoy the race.
  • Keep a log of distances you are running, calculated on a daily and a total weekly basis.
  • The rule for increasing distance is no more than 10% in any week - both for the actual distance per daily run and total weekly distance.
  • Break the week up into harder and easier runs, so your shorter runs are during the week, and your longest run is at the weekend.
  • Never follow a hard run with the same run. Always follow a hard run with an easy run. For a better performance it is also important to vary the pace of the runs, eventually the shorter distances will be run at faster than race pace, while the longer distances may be run closer to race pace.
  • Clothing and footwear should be 'run in' before the big day, and footwear should be purchased at the end of the day, when feet are a little more swollen; this will help select a good fit for you. The same socks that you will run in should be worn when selecting shoes. 
  • Other things that should be considered are nutrition, clothing and footwear, stretching and upper body conditioning.
  • Finally, stretching as always is essential. Though the glutes, hamstrings and calves are important, the whole body should be stretched - you would be surprised how hard the back and shoulders can work during running. For more information on stretching, email info@pocketpt.co.uk

How I got into running and fitness

I first got into fitness as a young man with an interest in martial arts and I found it a great way to channel my energy as well as getting fit and healthy. I love acting and how creative it can be, but after some time I wanted to channel my energy into business and felt naturally that fitness and health was the best way to do that.

I feel really passionately about the involvement of charities in challenge events. I am sure that there are many supporters of the NAS who take part in these events and who are able to get a huge buzz out of their hard work and achievements, and also the fact that they are raising money for such a worthy cause.

I suppose it sounds quite evangelical but for me fitness is an engine for positive energy and a way to make the world better, if only because we begin that day that we went running in a good mood and feel great - so are more likely to make someone else's day good as well.

Daniel Newman, actor and fitness entrepreneur
Daniel is a fitness expert at Pocket PT, a personal training company that provides tailored training plans, workouts and fitness advice that can be downloaded to your mp3 player and taken with you wherever you are.

As well as running Pocket PT, Daniel is an actor whose TV performances include Casualty, Holby City, Doctors and Absolutely Fabulous.

For more in-depth information about training for any run, contact info@pocketpt.co.uk