Paula Radcliffe

Hodgkinson's only and obvious ambition this summer is to win the 800 metres world title in Budapest. And judging by her wonderful winter, she will have every chance of fulfilling that goal. In the space of five weeks, she has broken the indoor 600m world record, lowered her own 800m British record and won the 800m at the European Indoors. The latter of those achievements came on Sunday night in Istanbul and it was a four-lap procession, finishing nearly two seconds clear of her nearest rival to defend her title from two years ago.

Eilish McColgan broke Paula Radcliffe's 21-year-old British women's 10,000 metres record at the Sound Running Ten in California. McColgan clocked 30:00.86 to win the event, shattering Radcliffe's mark of 30:01.09 that she set when winning the European title in Munich in 2002. Like Radcliffe, McColgan is set to shift her focus to the marathon distance and is planning to compete in London next month.

Personal trainer Sophie Carter, 43, from Woodstock in Oxford, finds solace in running and says it helps her mental health, especially while juggling motherhood and pregnancy. During her most recent pregnancy (centre) she completed several ultramarathons, including races of distances up to 100km, and even completed a long race while she was 31 weeks pregnant. The mother (pictured with her partner and her four eldest children, right) has advised other active mothers that they should keep up the exercise while pregnant and 'listen to their bodies' about what feels right.