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

: Two slices of white bread with jam, 60g of fat-free yogurt, a banana and a glass of orange juice. Eat an energy gel or sweets 15 minutes before the start.Hard Ride or Long RunCalories: 600Time before: Three hoursStrategy: A tough two- to three

for you on race day. So I would say that the more time you have to try different sports bars, gels, energy drinks and timings, the better. As well as thinking about which carbohydrate you'll take on board during the race this is also a good time to plan

. Your shoes will slip on with ease. 17. Perhaps have some Vaseline in your shoes. It helps get them on and prevents blistering.  18. Wear a hat to keep the sun off your head. It can make a difference even when the day is cloudy. 19. Have an energy gel

of rice, pasta or potatoes, the night before the race to top-up your glycogen stores. Aim to eat breakfast around three hours before the race and have a couple of slices of white toast or a bowl of low-fibre cereal. An energy gel around 30 minutes before

.RunRunning shoes Running/bike socksExtrasSunglassesHat (optional)Sunscreen (optional)Food (energy bars/energy gels to give you a boost if your reserves run low during the race)Water bottlesPostrace outfit: You may be modest and prefer not to strut around in your

such as a sports drink or half an energy bar on the bike section, then a gel with some water on the run. Work out what time you will need to get up to eat breakfast three hours before the race starts, then set your alarm. Plan what time you'll need to leave

. "Duathlons can be a good gauge of performance, and they can replace 'threshold' workouts with something more interesting" says PhysFarm Coach Dr Philip Skiba.Duathlon, which has national, European and world championship races, is governed by British Triathlon