Where did I find the courage to talk to my mum about her cancer? At parkrun, far behind the racers

Every Saturday morning, thousands of people get off their sofas to cover 5km in their local park. Like me, a growing number are there to walk rather than run – and to talk about their deepest feelings

Exercise is the prescription that every cancer patient deserves – and one they’re in control of

Mounting evidence shows even moderate exercise can be a valuable companion to cancer treatment

Don’t cheer the scale: doctors and dieticians untangling body size from health

Healthcare professionals, from advanced sports dieticians to general practitioners, are increasingly trading a focus on weight for other, more robust health measures

Embrace the climb! How stairs can super-charge your fitness in seconds

They’re everywhere, they’re free and low-impact. No wonder more and more people are ditching long runs – and taking the stairs instead

Should I worry about my twitchy eye?

It’s most likely due to tiredness, stress or too much screen use – but it can indicate a more serious condition

Minority communities are edged out of the UK’s green spaces. I’m trying to change that

Access to nature should be a fundamental right, but so many barriers are still in place. Here’s how we can tear them down, says mountaineer Haroon Mota

Cold water immersion therapy: do the benefits outweigh the risks?

The health and wellbeing effects of plunging into icy water are well documented – but how dangerous is it?

Run at 40, dance at 80: the best ways to exercise in every decade of your life

Tennis, running, weights, yoga … all exercise is good, but certain sports have more of an impact at a particular age. Here’s what you should be doing – and when

My first time in a float tank: ‘The only part of me I was sure still existed was my head’

In her fortnightly review of fitness and wellbeing activities, comedian Jennifer Wong experiences sensory deprivation in a salty, skin-temperature bath

The Norwegian secret: how friluftsliv boosts health and happiness

The idea of communing with nature is instilled from birth in Norway. I hiked through a rain-drenched forest to try it myself

‘It’s a quicker route but at your peril’: the obstacles to walking in Liverpool

The city’s Riverside district has been identified by a Ramblers’ report as the worst in England and Wales for pedestrians

Never past your prime! 13 peaks we reach at 40 or later – from sex to running to self-esteem

Ageing doesn’t have to mean slowing down. In fact, you’re more likely to win an ultramarathon in midlife, not to mention get happier, wiser and more body confident

‘It takes over your life’: Britain’s world champion strongwomen on the joy of pulling trucks and flipping tyres

Three UK women have won six out of the last seven World’s Strongest Woman contests. They explain how they broke into the world of super strength

‘Just jump on the spot if you can’t keep up’: my 90 minutes of ballet for beginners

In her fortnightly review of fitness and wellbeing activities, comedian Jennifer Wong finds her balance and apologises to her toes.

I walked 1,000 miles alone through Europe – and learned that fear is the price of freedom

I take risks on solo hikes, navigating animal traps and dangerous terrain. But for a woman, men are the biggest threat. I do it to be more open to the world, in the hope it will be more open to me