and deciding that I could vault the toilet turnstile at New Street Station. I landed on the tiled floor on my left kneecap. That said, simply drinking beer in a sitting position has never affected my ability to run, even on the day of a race. – Marcus Crompton

?" – HelenlizYour best answersOver-the-counter remedies can ease the physical symptoms It’s nice to know I am not the only one who suffers with pre-race nerves. I too have to go to the toilet several times before a race, which has the tendency to leave me hungry

for home if you are feeling OK.Q. I get really nervous and before a race starts, constantly feel like I need the toilet - even when the run starts, I still think I need to go. How can I combat this? BHOGGA. Try a light jog before the start and see

other precautions fail, for races or special events where you know toilets will not be readily available, consider the use of an over-the-counter anti-diarrhoea product such as Imodium. Studies have shown this has reduced problems related to those prone

to the toilet. A good thing to do is register as early as possible, or the day before if you're local to the race."Your first port of call for information should be the race website. Most organisers put as much information as possible on their sites to help

. Whatever the cause, let's just say that I pitied the athletes next to me in T1 when I had to peel off my wetsuit. In future I will try harder to find a toilet, or train myself to wait." Jack Smith, triathlete and mountain-biker

Wharf. People walked through Blackwall Tunnel and stopped to stretch. Thank goodness I didn’t need the toilet, the queues were still very long - no wonder poor Paula decided to drop ‘em.I finally saw my charity at mile 22. They were so pleased to see me

it time for another painkiller" and "Thank God I don't need the toilet" to "How is he running dressed as a giant strawberry?" or "Isn't he getting seriously chaffed wearing that mankini?" But the overall thought running though my head the whole time was

hours, having done my first, 2002, in 4:20. I was on a delayed train from Charing Cross, so I didn't get to the red start until bang on 9.45am. I then realised I needed the toilet, so left the start and ran to a Portaloo. I didn't expect to be sitting

. It was spooky in there.What I would do differently: Not drink as much water! Because it was so hot, I think I drank a full bottle at every water station for the first half of the race. After four toilet stops I figured I wasn't in any danger of dehydrating