Q. I've had stomach issues when racing. I'm about to do an Ironman and am considering taking Imodium. Is this a bad idea?A. No. Between 20 and 40 per cent of all serious runners experience bowel problems when running. Anxiety and mechanical forces

Lynn Clay from Maxifuel is a sports scientist, nutrition consultant and freelance journalist with eight years' experience in the nutrition industry. She’s a former AAA gold medallist runner, a keen cyclist and she’s competing in Ironman Austria

at Sports-Nutritionist.com. "Then you need to take in foods that give you the fuel to perform your best." Here's how. Calories are based on a 68kg athlete.Picture credit: Sue TallowEasy Spin or RunCalories: 200 to 300 Time before: 30-45 minutes

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

supply of liver glycogen will stabilise your blood sugar as you train, keep your levels from spiking and ensure you don't run out of all-important energy.Change it: If time is your problem, stock up on just-add-milk breakfasts such as cereal and porridge

cravings but do no good in the long run. Our systems are generally more acidic in the morning, which leads to an unconscious desire for fat and lots of it.The FixBuy some low-fat yoghurt to have with a banana or nuts and seeds for an energy

, since iron is lost in sweat and, in blood, from the urinary tract or gastrointestinal system of many endurance athletes. The repetitive impact of running may also cause red blood cells to break down - this is known as foot-strike haemolysis

's especially valuable during long training sessions or races, when steady-release energy keeps you from running out of energy. During fuel shortages, your body sends protein to the liver, where it is turned into backup carbs.But the power of protein doesn

's hot, pour in a quarter of the egg mixture. Cook for a few seconds until the base has set, then use a spatula to push the cooked egg towards the centre of the pan, allowing the uncooked egg to run and re-cover the base. Repeat until there is no more

Q. I quite often 'refuel' with a coffee after a long run or ride. Is this doing me more harm than good, or is it an acceptable recovery drink?A. Restoring water and electrolyte balance is an essential part of the recovery process after any exercise