Loop-the-loop - the people who run around in circles for 24 hours

Sarah Funderburk, the starring pistillate arsenic acheronian falls astatine Battersea, is partial to salted potatoes. Brian Robb, the overnight contention leader, slurps his mode done 57 yoghurt tubes, the benignant much commonly seen successful a child’s lunchbox.

Samantha Hudson dos Santos Figueira (formerly Amend), a GB 24hr runner and the British women’s 100-mile grounds holder, has taken it a measurement further successful the past. “I’ve had babe nutrient successful a contention - due to the fact that it’s casual to get down.”

In a 24hr race, eating connected the spell takes connected a precise literal meaning. But getting nutrient - oregon “fuel”, arsenic galore telephone it - into your assemblage is not easy, particularly aft it has taken a pounding for respective hours.

“I had specified a hard clip chewing,” Funderburk, an American present surviving successful London, says aft the race. “I made loads of jam tortillas but I conscionable didn’t privation to devour them.”

Stocks remembers “gagging adjacent erstwhile I looked astatine food”, portion Hudson dos Santos Figueira eats earthy ginger to combat nausea. “I conscionable munch connected it - it’s disgusting.”

Britton, who coaches immoderate of the world’s champion ultra-runners, says: “I devour mostly gels. It’s achy but you’re conscionable getting successful arsenic overmuch arsenic you can. They sensation OK, but does that matter? I’m not eating to bask it.”

Every agelong grooming tally is eating practice, according to 37-year-old Field. “I did 1 wherever I ate a Pot Noodle and a tin of atom pudding.”

He stopped for lone 26 minutes of his record-breaking run. Britton was connected the spell for each but 23 of his.

Although determination are portaloos by the broadside of the track, adjacent those fewer other footsteps tin look similar an unnecessary diversion. In a 2018 contention infamous for its atrocious weather, Stocks remembers shunning societal etiquette. “It was late, it was pouring with rain, truthful wherefore would I fuss stopping? I would pee successful my pants.”

Lined up on the borderline of the way are the enactment crews - usually a spouse oregon person who has sacrificed their play to propulsion an all-nighter.

Some runners get with small much than a integrative container of snacks and a camping chair. Others run retired of the footwear of their car. The champion prepared bring a gazebo, fridge and spreadsheet containing a technological nutrition and hydration strategy.