advice will help you make the most of your marathon experience. After finishing, enjoy every moment – you have earned it. When it's over, eat a small carbohydrate meal or a banana up to 30 minutes after finishing and drink steadily for a couple of hours

rest week do you downsize your portions or eat more to build up for the race?Also 'normal' foods to eat during a marathon would be useful. I plan for malt loaf, banana etc but any ideas would be good. – Bart Everton A5) I would suggest you eat as you

. Sometimes, I find it hard to chew because of the nerves so I might pick things that are a little easier to eat, like a banana. Once we’re at the start. I’ll do a short warm-up: some jogging and some strides. I usually take my MP3 player to the start

. It was flatter, for a start.I’m an absolute scavenger during a race. I’ll have anything people offer me – chocolate, sweets, pieces of banana. I’m not the fastest runner so I’m out there for a long time. I get really hungry!Most of us can find time to run if we