Sharpen Your Focus

How to respond when nonrunners have a go at our sport

Tune in to your body to max out your gains

SOME PEOPLE seem to really hate running. Maybe they’re recalling a bad childhood experience – the dreaded PE class – or they have a workmate who won’t shut up about the race he ran last month. Some of them may resent the fact that something they consider a chore is something we delight in. Still, a snarky retort isn’t the best way to convert sceptics. Use this information to craft a diplomatic reply to four common criticisms.