drinks stations along the route, as well as countless food stops serving local delicacies from foie gras, oysters and entrecote steak, to ham, cheese and fruit. The party starts well before the race begins though. In the days leading up to the Saturday

A camel can survive for up to two weeks without a drink in desert conditions. When they do have a chance to drink, they can devour as much as 200 litres of water a day and a third of their body weight inside 10 minutes. Unlike humans, though, camels

," he says. "I tried to cope on my own because that's the nature of the disorder: I don't feel comfortable around other people and I've always been the sort of person who tries to do everything on his own." Harmston turned to drink in an attempt

because of its role in bone-mineral health, muscle contraction and nerve conduction. Swigging this fat-free drink after a run will protect you against stress fractures, shin splints and possibly muscle cramps. Try it Skimmed milk is a great post

indulgence - this will make it easier to avoid bingeing on unhealthy treats.Carol Vorderman's Detox for Life (Virgin Books, £10.99) Take away tip Aim to drink at least two litres of water every day, and when you're exercising drink an extra 500ml per hour

that with a boiled egg, vegetables and a glass of orange juice. I have sports drink and coffee before the start. The night before I have noodles because they're easy to digest and I go to bed as early as I can. For the few days before the race I try to eat

, and drink plenty of water. "Detox diets have received a bad press - mainly because they involve semi-fasting or omitting important food groups," says Bean, "but this diet focuses on fresh, tasty and nutrient-packed foods that help your natural detox system

need to follow a programme of progressive, consistent training.Eat And Drink Your Way Faster You’ll only perform at your best, in a race lasting more than 60 minutes, if you take on carbohydrates. A fall in blood glucose towards the end of a race can

team of four were all in a checkpoint at the same time, but it's hard to go at someone else's pace so we tended to string out along the course. Conversation turned to all the foods and drinks we'd like to eat when we returned to civilisation. Frozen

' Champagne at every drinks' station in the villages you pass though. After the civilised 3pm start, around 2000 runners head through the undulating French countryside, with more than half in fancy dress hoping to win a prize for the best costume.Race website