Food

Obviously food is one of the most important aspects of my job. Not only do I have to predict what The Runner might want at any given time but everything has to be ready when he arrives at the checkpoint. Afterall, that extra minute it takes to make up a roll and jam could cost him an hour in the later stages!!!

Over the years we have found the following list to be the most successful.

1. Chicken and rice soup (also known as Magic soup). This year we are going to try it blended smooth so The Runner can drink it instead of eating it with a spoon. Obviously this will save HUGE amounts of time at the checkpoints.

2. Rice pudding, the ones with apple are the best. Muller do a chilled version but you can buy Ambrosia pots with apple or strawberry that don't need to be kept cool.

3. Flat coke, the full fat version. Needs to be prepared before the race. The first year, The Hippy Chick and I stood in the pouring rain at Kingshouse stirring mugs of Coke to get rid of the fizz.

4. Coffee, the stronger the better.

5. Lucozade Sport drinks. Orange makes The Runner feel sick in the later stages. Mixed Berry is good and you can now get Raspberry flavour.

6. Hot Cross Buns spread with butter and strawberry jam.

7. Fruit loaf spread with butter.

8. Bassets Jelly babies. Supermarket own labels are not as good (apparently!)

9. Nutrigrain bars (apple flavour) and Power bars

10. Lucozade Sport gels and Honey Stingers

11. Bananas

12. Tuna pasta salad

If I remember anything else I'll add to the list later. And if anyone has any other good ideas let us know.

We've had a few food mishaps along the way. Usually we bring too much and end up throwing away most of it on the Sunday. One year The Bearded One brought a dozen rolls. So did we! I think we used about 6 and threw the rest away. In one of the early years we thought it would be a good idea to bring chicken drumsticks. In retrospect it wasn't ideal!