and to replace fluid you've lost trhough sweat. The guidelines are: 1g of carbohydate per kg of body weight as soon as possible after exercise, plus 10-20 g of protein. As for fluid, drink according to the amount of weight you've lost. Monitor your urine colour

recovery from injuries and infections, so eat high-quality sources, such as lean meat, soya beans (in the form of soya milk or tofu), fish and low-fat dairy products. Each day, try to have 150-180g of lean meat or two to three servings of soya products

Regardless of whether it's a gel, a drink, a bar or even just sweets that you're knocking back on the move, you're doing it for one very visceral reason - the wall. The wall is what marathon runners hit in the second half of the race, usually somewhere between 18 miles

in cages on my handlebars, one with water and the other with 20 or so gels," says Richard McChesney, an Ironman veteran, "Every 15 minutes I have a sip from the gel bottle, then wash it down with some water from the other bottle." Gels work for Mc

of your urine. University of Connecticut researchers found that urine colour correlated very accurately with hydration status. Pale yellow urine indicates you're within one per cent of optimal hydration. Try to drink one litre of water for every 1,000kcal

: granola or cereal oat bar; rice pudding; yoghurt with a handful of dried fruit; 1-2 slices of malt loaf; half a lean meat/low fat sandwich; rice cakes with banana and a drizzle of honey on top; breadsticks; a crumpet or if you really like your biscuits