Butterflies in your stomach, waves of nausea and a dry, prickly mouth – sound depressingly familiar? Well, for this week’s questioner, enough is enough - she wants to know how she can nip her race-day anxieties in the bud and get on with enjoying

screwed on to make sure you've got the best chance of race-day success.The Night BeforeOne of the keys to racing success is having clearly defined goals to aim for. Before you even pin your number onto your top, figure out what you want to get out

condition come race-day. TrainingThree weeks is the optimum amount of time to taper if you’re preparing for a marathon. There’s little you can do to make yourself fitter in this time – here are some basic guidelines to help you put in the miles without

trainer and author of The Marathon and Half Marathon: A Training Guide, believes many athletes, especially beginners, make mistakes with race-day hydration. "Lots of athletes unwittingly drink too much water during a race. This flushes salt from the body

and a good, tried-and-trusted breakfast... Here’s what to do next to ensure race-day bliss...1. Arrive earlyRacing is meant to be enjoyable. Tough, perhaps, but enjoyable. So don’t stress yourself by arriving late on the big day. Aim to turn up an hour

Leading the field: Paula RadcliffeThe Athens Olympic Marathon in 2004 was meant to be Paula Radcliffe's race. Since her marathon debut in London in 2002 the British world record holder had never been defeated over the distance. Certainly the Kenyans

Leading the field: Paula RadcliffeThe Athens Olympic Marathon in 2004 was meant to be Paula Radcliffe's race. Since her marathon debut in London in 2002 the British world record holder had never been defeated over the distance. Certainly the Kenyans

, and arranged an emergency contact for you all to ring if the plan goes awry.Race-day kit list Vest or shirt with race number pinned to it Race-day shoes with ChampionChip properly taped to it; socks Shorts and/or tights to run in Optional light gloves, gilet

health to take part in the world’s greatest race.During the raceFocus – but focus on the moment, not on how many miles remain. Think about your form, breathing and pace. This will build confidence and help you to remain relaxed. It’s only natural for your

Before The MarathonYou have no appetite at breakfast You need to take in 400-600 pre-race calories to replace what your body has burnt since you last ate. Because the marathon starts at 9.30am, some runners find they need to eat at 5.30am; others