Everything I Ate During My Marathon
Running 26.2 miles is no joke, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned from training, it’s that fueling properly is key to making it through race day. From sweet energy gels to salty pickle juice, I had a mix of everything to keep me going.
If you're curious about what kept me moving for 26.2 miles, here’s a full breakdown of everything I ate during my marathon - plus what I packed but never ended up using!
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My Fueling Strategy
For marathon day, I aimed to consume 60g of carbs per hour to keep my energy levels steady and prevent hitting the wall. I also focused on getting 500mg-700mg of sodium per hour to stay hydrated and avoid cramping - hence all the pickle juice!
Pre-Race Fuel
I started the morning with my tried-and-true combo:
Bagel with cream cheese – A simple, carb-heavy choice to keep my stomach happy.
Grande Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks – Because caffeine is life, especially before a marathon.
What I Ate During the Race
I knew I’d need a mix of carbs, electrolytes, and caffeine to keep me going throughout the race. Here’s the breakdown of what I ate - and in what order!
Apple Sauce Pouch – A nice change of texture and flavor from energy gels.
Pickle Juice Shot – My first of many. It might sound weird, but the electrolytes and sodium help prevent cramping!
Another Pickle Juice Shot
ProBar Bolt Energy Chews in Raspberry
Yet Another Pickle Juice Shot
Another Apple Sauce Pouch
And… Another Pickle Juice Shot
Another Chocolate Outrage Gu
Final Apple Sauce Pouch
Final Pickle Juice Shot
What I Packed but Didn’t Eat
Even though I planned carefully, I ended up not eating:
- A pack of ClifBloks Sour
- Two additional Gu Energy Gels
- One extra Apple Sauce Pouch
Final Thoughts: What Worked & What I’d Change
✅ The pickle juice WORKED. I had zero cramping, which is a huge win!
✅ Apple sauce was a nice break from gels. I’d definitely use it again.
✅ Chocolate Outrage Gu is a keeper. It tasted great!
❌ I got off track with my fuel early in the race due to being distracted by all the sights/sounds. I think if I had stuck with it better in the beginning and eaten more of these the ending wouldn't have felt so hard.
❌ I could’ve used more variety. By mile 20, I was definitely over gels.
Overall, even though there was room for improvement, I'm happy with how I fueled!
Want to Shop My Marathon Fuel?
I’ve linked everything I used for my marathon fuel on my RockPorch account so you can grab your own race-day essentials!
What’s your go-to race fuel? Do you swear by pickle juice like I do, or do you stick to the classics? Let me know in the comments!
