'd expected and I did not have time for all my energy drink. Lessons learned."Helen Jenkins, 2008 ITU World Champion"I once had a problem at the Windsor Triathlon with heat exhaustion - I hadn't drunk enough the day before the race, which was freakishly hot. I

to wear the swim cap provided in your race packet for the swim leg of the event.CycleBicycleBike helmetBike shoesRace outfit (whatever you plan to wear for the swim, bike and run portions of the race): Some participants wear their swimsuits for the entire

, Florida. The best 100 triathletes in Wimbleball earn themselves a place for the American race, which could ultimately open a door to the prize of a place at the Ironman World Championships finale in Hawaii.The triathlon starts with a swim in the flooded

made by newcomers to triathlon.Don't forget your helmetRead your race pack when you receive it. If you are taking your bike to the transition area the night before the race, remember to take your helmet. The rules in your race pack will state that you

Man Triathlon and her local Southwater Relay. "I ride the route beforehand if I can," she says. "I've driven courses before, just to get an idea of what I'm in for. It helps me to know what's around the next corner. I swim regularly in the lake I'll be racing

1. Sleep well"In reality, trying to sleep well the night before a race never works," says triathlon coach Rick Kiddle (www.rickkiddle.com). "The best sleep will be the night before the night before. Many athletes can survive with little sleep

. If you cycle too hard, you won't have enough gas left for the run - no matter how strong a runner you normally are.3 Join a triathlon clubTraining for an Ironman can be lonely, so training with others can be a huge benefit on a five-hour ride. Moreover

sprint triathlon. Part of the way round I completely ran out of energy and my time was terrible. For my next race I had porridge for breakfast and finished in a great time."There are certain things to bear in mind with regard to eating before training

feeling weak, hungry and craving more carbs. This is not an ideal situation when you're halfway through a 40K cycle."The primary source of energy for an athlete is carbohydrate, because it's the easiest fuel for the human body," explains nutritionist

If transition is triathlon's fourth discipline, nutrition should be the fifth. Making fuelling mistakes could mean your race ends in disaster. And the longer the event, the more critical your food and drink strategy becomes. But it's not easy