As any experienced runner knows, success in a marathon is not solely determined by physical training. It’s a harmonious interplay of mental resilience, strategic planning, and, of course, impeccable marathon fueling. You’ve spent months getting ready to run 26.2, don’t let your marathon fuel plan be an afterthought, because it could make or break your day.
In my decades of coaching and personal running endeavors, I’ve witnessed firsthand the transformative power of proper fueling on the marathon course. It’s something I wish that I had understood much sooner!
You’ve heard runners talk about bonking or hitting the wall, which is a less scientific way of saying they ran out of gas. This can certainly happen simply from lack of training, but often it’s due to lack of a good marathon fueling strategy.
On race day, you’re pushing your body harder than most long runs, which means:
- your HR is higher
- you’re burning a higher percentage of carbs per hour for fuel
- if you don’t keep adding fuel, the body will burn through it and your energy levels will be lower
- the brain will also try to hold us back because we’re pushing harder and it’s not being fed its primary source of energy – glucose
Whether you’re a first-time marathoner seeking guidance or a seasoned…
