of cycling team Garmin-Slipstream's training and race preparation."There's nothing nutritious about that food," is Lim's blunt opinion of the traditional pre-race meal. In fact, he has eliminated all processed wheat from Garmin-Slipstream's diet, and at races

You've trained wisely and eaten well - but you just can't shake those pre-race nerves. So how can you work on mental preparation? To find out, I teamed up with researchers from Sheffield, Oxford, Manchester, Reading and Wolverhampton universities

Q. I know pasta's an old favourite, but is there an obvious choice for a meal the night before a race?A. The pre-race meal is a matter of individual choice and preference, but there are some factors to consider. The first important point is to eat

late and had to jog five minutes to the start, then set off about 30 seconds later – and it made a huge positive difference to my nerves, initial pacing, heart rate and also energy levels. I'm now a convert to the pre-race warm up! – Treacle Tart

- especially if you're anxious.Pre-race dietPre-race dietary preparation can affect some runners, so pasta loading or a high- carb diet can be upsetting to people who are sensitive to these types of dietary changes. Try altering your pre-race dietary regimen

performances. Is there anything I can do to calm down?A A certain amount of pre-race nerves is natural. It’s tied in with the body’s ‘fight or flight’ instinct when confronted with danger. You should be able to tap into this system to psych yourself up

their experience of pre-competition stress. He says, "The world's best athletes set lots of different goals – if you go into a race with 15 goals, then you're sure to achieve at least some of them.' Set a variety of goals to make sure you come away happy. You could

. To read the full article - including Gordon Ramsay's perfect pre-race dinner and Michel Roux Jnr's favourite recovery fuel - subscribe now. You'll even save 30 per cent on your annual subscription by doing so right here online. Race-morning breakfast

leading up to, and following a 26.2-miler. Their task: to create a dish with the right balance of carbs, protein and fat to propel runners to the finish line and help them recover from their effort. Bon appetit! Pre-race dinner - Powered-up pasta

Pre-Race | Supporters at Mile 17 #1 | Supporters at Mile 17 #2 | Supporters at Mile 17 #3 |A Pacer's View #2 |A Pacer's View #3 |Fancy Dress |Finish Line #1 |Finish Line #2 | Finish Line #3 | Finish Line #4 | Finish Line #5 |