Read on to discover some of our team's most memorable race day mishaps and tips for how to avoid them...Running has had a recent boom in popularity, and rightly so. It's a fairly affordable form of exercise – as long as you don't start buying expensive kit and fitness trackers – and brilliant for both your mental and physical health. It's flexible as you can run at whatever time and for however long you want.

You can run on your own, in pairs, or even join one of the many running groups popping up all over the country.Many of us who've caught the running bug have been inspired to take things to the next level and sign up for a race. Popular distances include 10km, a half marathon (21.1km), a full marathon (42.2km) and even ultramarathons (50km and more). Having spent weeks or months preparing for race day, we turn up to the start line hopeful and full of adrenaline.

Some of us will be aiming for a personal best time, while others are simply hoping to make it across the finish line.However, as experienced runners will tell you, not all races go to plan. There are many things which can go wrong – even one small mistake, such as ill-fitting clothing, a new food for breakfast or drinking too much water before the race can become a bigger problem when you're pushing your body to the limit. Resulting in anything from bowel explosions (see Paula Radcliffe) to savage chafing and lost toenails.We asked runners, along with expert personal trainer Sam Tomlinson, to share their biggest marathon mistakes and horror stories to help you make the best choices for your big day.

So, whether you're in training for a race this year or thinking about signing up for an event, be sure to read on below.Next, discover what to eat when training for a marathon, what to eat before a run, during a run and after a run. Plus, see how to stay hydrated on a run and check out all our marathon meal plans. And check out our best running hydration vests.

Biggest race-day mistakesBarney, five marathons"On race day, there will be people lining the streets handing out sweets and gels, don't just grab anything and take it. I once saw a runner grab Vaseline at mile 23 and put it in his mouth. He was in a bad way after that."Don’t change your trainers before a race – you’re better off running in old trainers that you trust.

My horror story is I once lost seven toenails and it took ages for them to grow back. Also, don’t suddenly opt for gels on race day if you haven't trained with them, they can go straight through you."The advice I always give is to enjoy it – running a marathon is so much more than hitting a PB. You’re doing something amazing to raise money for charity, so hold your head high, high-five people as you run, look around and take it in."Brittany, one ultramarathon, three marathons and six half marathons"Remember your chafing balm or Vaseline!

Even your most loyal running gear can turn on you after 20 miles of sweat and friction. Inner thighs, underarms, toes and even sports bra bands can become raw battlegrounds."Don't forget the post-race footwear, ideally sandals or sliders. Your feet will likely swell (look up ‘Jamie Laing feet’… sorry in advance), and you might have blisters or soggy socks.

Taking your trainers off might be bliss but putting them back on, well, I would sooner run another marathon."Remembering to wear suncream is one thing – races often start early in the morning so you need to pre-emptively put on suncream just in case – but you need to be sure the suncream you have won’t run into your eyes when your face gets sweaty, blinding you just as you're trying to dodge a water station pile-up. Test your SPF beforehand and opt for a sweat-resistant, sport-specific formula unless you enjoy weeping your way through your marathon."My horror story was trying caffeine gels for the first time on race day.

I had a jittery caffeine high by mile five, a soul-crushing crash by mile 10 and an emergency visit to the mile 12 portaloo. Practise with your gels before race day – and know your caffeine limit."Alice, five marathons and seven half marathons"One of the biggest mistakes I made was not wearing enough clothes before the race. It was November and in all the excitement of getting to the start line, I took off all my outer layers and left them in bag drop an hour before the start.

This turned out not to be a great idea, as it was 2 degrees and I was only wearing a vest and shorts. This meant that my my limbs effectively cramped up in the cold and refused to work for nearly two miles, resul