, find out what gels and drinks will be available to you on race day and try them out.Racing overseasOther considerations will come into play if you are travelling abroad to race, such as how food and hydration strategies change with the climate, what

Preparing your mind for a long-distance race is just as important as preparing your body, says Chrissie Wellington. If that's what the three-time Ironman World Champion and world record holder thinks, then that's good enough for the rest of us. So

you prepare for the perfect race day.Worried about swimming in a pack? Here are the answers to the triathlon questions you might be afraid to askDon't just plod your way through the last few training days before a race - these sessions are the ideal

small bowl of porridge and half a bananaTime Trial or RaceCalories: 400Time before: About two hours Strategy: Triathletes often take in too many calories from the wrong places before a race. A little fibre is OK, but too much can slow you down. Aim

yourself before and after a session. (One kilogram of weight loss is equivalent to one litre of fluid.) Once you know your sweat loss you can prepare your fluid-replacement strategy for training and races.Pre-planningFor an event such as Ironman Nice ensure

. "Training rides are prime opportunities to practise race-time eating and drinking strategies," says Eberle. Once you discover a winning formula, you'll approach your next triathlon with a foolproof plan.Change it: Test new foods on shorter rides before

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

depends on how much contact you choose to have with your coach.If you can't afford a coach, have a look online or in specialist triathlon books for a programme that will give you a structure to follow in preparation for a race. Another option is to go

and enjoy a positive race experience.Whether you're tackling your first triathlon or you fifteenth, there's always something to learn, so read on and take the next step to triathlon success.In AdvancePreparation for a perfect race begins well in advance

. This will dramatically reduce your chances of being kicked by another swimmer. However, some races have limited space and if everyone is going to the back then this strategy isn’t going to help you much – and you’ll be a long way back from the start line.You can ask