Rose Bowl Half Marathon 2027 fueling guide: aid stations, Precision Fuel gels, the hills, and a plan for your pace

The Rose Bowl Half Marathon is on Sunday, January 17, 2027, with a 7:00 a.m. start outside the stadium and a finish on the 50-yard line. Based on the last edition’s official race-week guide, you get hydration stations at or near miles 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 11, with Electrolit at every station except mile 2, and Precision Fuel gels near miles 4.5 and 7.5. Each of those gels has 30 g of carbohydrate. For a fast runner, the two course gels are close to a full plan. For a 2:00 to 3:00 finish, carry one to three gels of your own and treat the course gels as planned doses.

The course is a tour of Pasadena: down the Arroyo, up the California Climb, through Old Pasadena, out and back on Green Street toward Caltech, over the Colorado Street Bridge, and around the Rose Bowl loop to the finish. The hardest part comes early, in the first three miles. This guide covers what The McCourt Foundation has published, when you will reach each station at your pace, three fueling plans, and what to eat before a 7:00 start when parking closes at 6:00. The organizer says FAQs may change as race day gets closer, so recheck everything below in race week.

Rose Bowl Half Marathon 2027: the confirmed race facts

One rule matters for fueling. The race rules ban outside assistance, which includes taking food or drink from anyone other than the official aid stations. A friend handing you a bottle at mile 6 is against the rules. If you want your own drink, carry it.

What is on the Rose Bowl Half Marathon course

The station list below is based on the last edition’s official race-week Final Info guide. The current FAQ, which already shows the 2027 date, lists the same stations without mile 7, and still names the last edition’s gel. So expect seven or eight stations and recheck the final guide when it comes out in race week. Locations are read from the official course map and are approximate.

Gels near miles 4.5 and 7.5 sit on the Green Street out-and-back, and the last edition’s medical list pairs miles 4.5 and 7.25 the same way. On the official map this looks like one stop you pass twice, once going out and once coming back. In the last edition, the FAQ said the gel would be the original flavor Precision Fuel Energy Gel. Precision Fuel & Hydration lists its PF 30 Gel at 30 g of carbohydrate and 120 kcal per 51 g gel, made from maltodextrin and fructose, with no caffeine in the ingredients. Take it with water at the nearest station. If you have never tried it, buy a few and test them in training, or carry your own gel and skip the course one.

Electrolit is a ready-to-drink electrolyte drink. Electrolit lists 31 g of carbohydrate and 430 mg of sodium per 21 fl oz (625 ml) bottle, which is about 5 g of carbohydrate and 70 mg of sodium per 100 ml. If it is served in cups, a cup of 100 to 150 ml gives roughly 5 to 7 g of carbohydrate and 70 to 105 mg of sodium. Seven cups add up to about one gel. The organizer has not said which flavors it will serve.

When you will reach each station at your pace

The table shows elapsed time at each station for an even pace, from when you cross the start mat. Your real splits will be slower in the first three miles, which climb, and faster after mile 9. A 1:30 runner takes the course gels at about 0:31 and 0:51 and is close to done. A 3:00 runner reaches the first course gel after an hour, so needs fuel before then.

The Wilson Avenue time check is generous. Even a 3:00 runner gets there about 1:20 after crossing the start mat, roughly an hour ahead of the 9:30 a.m. cutoff used last time. The race describes the four-hour pace as 19 minutes per mile and asks anyone slower to move to the sidewalk.

Pick your plan: three runner profiles

The World Athletics consensus on distance running and the ACSM position stand both give 30 to 60 g of carbohydrate per hour for events of about one to two and a half hours. For efforts of roughly 45 to 75 minutes, they suggest small amounts or a sports drink mouth rinse. Intakes above 60 g per hour belong to longer races and need a glucose plus fructose product and a trained gut. A half marathon sits in the middle, so these plans are smaller than marathon plans. With 25 g gels, one every 30 minutes gives 50 g per hour, every 25 minutes gives 60 g, and every 20 minutes gives 75 g, which is more than most halves need. The course gels are 30 g, so each one counts a little more.

Racing it: your race is short, so the job is to start full and top up. A 1:30 runner at 40 g per hour needs about 60 g in the race, which is exactly the two course gels. If you would rather not rely on a gel you have not tested, carry two of your own and take them at the same points. Do not take a gel on the California Climb near mile 2; wait for the flat of Colorado Boulevard or the gel stop at 4.5.

Steady half: think in grams. A 2:00 race at 55 g per hour is about 110 g. The two course gels give 60 g, and Electrolit at four stations adds roughly 20 to 28 g. That leaves one or two carried gels: one at about 20 to 25 minutes, around mile 2 where there is water, and an optional one near mile 9, before the climb on the Rose Bowl loop. At 2:15 to 2:30 you will want both.

Long day: three hours changes the math. Fifty grams per hour over 3:00 is 150 g. The two course gels and Electrolit at most of the seven stations that serve it cover about 90 to 100 g, so carry two or three gels. A good rhythm for a 3:00 finish is a carried gel at mile 2 (0:27), the course gels at 4.5 (1:02) and 7.5 (1:43), a carried gel at mile 9 (2:04), and a last half gel or Electrolit at mile 11 (2:31). Small, frequent doses work best.

Caffeine, sodium, and the gel stops

• Caffeine: the ISSN position stand supports 3 to 6 mg per kg taken about 60 minutes before exercise. A 70 kg runner is at 210 mg with 3 mg per kg. The course gel has no caffeine in its ingredient list, so any caffeine has to come from your own coffee or your own caffeinated gel.
• A 7:00 start makes timing simple: coffee with breakfast around 4:00 to 5:00 a.m. is early, so a practised caffeinated gel 30 to 45 minutes before the gun is the easiest way to have caffeine on board at the start.
• Sodium: Electrolit gives roughly 70 to 105 mg per cup. In a cool January half that is enough for nearly everyone. Salty sweaters on a warm day may want a tested salt product as well.
• At the gel stops: grab one gel, keep moving, and drink water at the next station. Squeeze it in two or three goes rather than all at once.
• Tear the top of your own gel before a station, so you can drink with the same hand.

Hydration for a cool January morning in Pasadena

The City of Pasadena gives January averages of 68 °F (20 °C) for the high and 43 °F (6 °C) for the low, with January the coolest month of the year. Sunrise on January 17 is at about 6:58 a.m., so the 7:00 start comes right at dawn, close to the coldest part of the day. A 2:00 runner finishes around 9:00 a.m., and a 3:00 runner around 10:00 a.m., in milder and often sunny air. In cool weather, sweat losses over a half are modest. Drink to thirst, and do not finish heavier than you started: World Athletics warns against drinking more than you sweat.

• You will wait in the cold. Parking closes at 6:00 a.m. and gear check opens at 5:30, so bring a warm layer for the hour before the start.
• Mile 2 has water only, and the gap from mile 11 to the finish is 2.1 miles (3.4 km). A small handheld bottle helps if you like to sip often.
• Hydration packs and fuel belts are allowed, but taking drinks from friends on course is not.
• Seek help at one of the UCLA Health medical stations for confusion, severe headache, repeated vomiting, or collapse.

Breakfast for a 7:00 start

A familiar carbohydrate-rich meal one to four hours before racing is the standard advice in both the World Athletics consensus and the ACSM position stand. The early logistics set your timing. Free shuttles from the Parsons lot on Pasadena Avenue start at 4:00 a.m., and at the last edition every car at the Rose Bowl had to be parked by 6:00 a.m. or be turned away. The organizer warned of traffic from 5:00 a.m. with almost 15,000 people arriving. That puts breakfast at about 4:00 to 4:30 a.m. for most runners.

• Two and a half to three hours before the start: a practised meal such as a bagel or oatmeal with honey, a banana, and a familiar drink, about 1 to 2 g of carbohydrate per kg.
• Sixty to ninety minutes before: a small low-fibre top-up, eaten in the car or at the start area, such as a banana or a few plain crackers.
• Ten to fifteen minutes before the start: an optional gel, only if used in training.
• Keep caffeine at the dose and timing you know; race morning is not the day to double it.
• The day before, eat normal meals with extra carbohydrate. A half does not need a full marathon carb load; see our half marathon carb-loading guide.

Course tactics: the California climb, Green Street, and the Rose Bowl loop

The organizer calls the course challenging and says the first three miles are the hardest. The official elevation chart shows the course staying between roughly 730 and 910 ft (about 220 to 280 m), with no long mountains but several real climbs. The numbers below are read from that chart and are approximate.

• Miles 0 to 1.7: a gradual hill toward mile 1, then a drop down Arroyo Boulevard to the lowest point of the course, about 730 ft. Start easy; the self-seeded corrals can be crowded.
• Miles 1.7 to 3: the California Climb. From the low point the course rises about 150 ft (45 m) in just over a mile, up California Boulevard and onto Orange Grove Boulevard. Run it by effort, not pace, and do not take a gel on it.
• Miles 3 to 9: mostly flat through Old Pasadena and on the Green Street out-and-back to Wilson Avenue near Caltech, with a gradual rise of about 100 ft (30 m) on the way back toward the Colorado Street Bridge. This is where you eat: course gels near 4.5 and 7.5, water and Electrolit at 4, 6, 7, and 8.
• Miles 9 to 10.5: back over the Colorado Street Bridge, with views of the Rose Bowl, then a steady descent toward the stadium. Take your last carried gel near mile 9.
• Miles 10.5 to 12: the official chart shows a gradual rise of about 100 ft (30 m) around the Rose Bowl loop, past Brookside Golf Course, to the high point near mile 12. Hold effort, not pace.
• Miles 12 to 13.1: downhill to the stadium and down the tunnel onto the field. Save a little for it.

The long-run rehearsal that makes the plan real

With about twelve weeks to go, you have time to practise properly. In December and early January, do at least two runs of 10 to 13 miles that start at 7:00 a.m., after the same breakfast you will eat at 4:00 to 4:30, carrying the same gels and taking them at the same clock times. If you plan to use the course gels or Electrolit, buy them and test them here. Put a real hill in the first three miles of one rehearsal so you know how your stomach handles a gel after climbing.

The second rehearsal is where you simplify. If carrying three gels is awkward, lean on the course gels and drink Electrolit more often. If a gel every 25 minutes feels stressful, link your gels to the course instead: one at mile 2, one at each gel stop, one at mile 9. The best plan is the one you can still follow on Green Street at mile 7.

Race-week Rose Bowl Half checklist

• Read the Final Info guide when it is posted in race week: confirm the station miles, whether mile 7 has a station, the gel brand, and the Electrolit flavors.
• Pick up your own bib on Friday or Saturday; bibs are not mailed, and race-morning pickup costs extra. Bring photo ID and your QR code.
• Plan your arrival: shuttle from 4:00 a.m., or park at the Rose Bowl before 6:00 a.m. using the organizer’s open routes, not your GPS.
• Lay out every carried item, add one backup gel, and write grams and timing on one card.
• Check the forecast 48 hours out and adjust layers, fluid, and sodium, not the whole plan.
• Do not switch to a new gel at bib pickup because the flavor sounds good.

Frequently asked questions

Sources and update notes

1. 1Rose Bowl Half Marathon & 5K FAQsThe McCourt FoundationAccessed October 25, 2026; January 17, 2027 date, 7am start, 4-hour limit, aid stations at miles 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, Electrolit, Precision Fuel near 4.5 and 7.5, pace leaders, hydration packs, sellout history
2. 2Rose Bowl Half & 5K CoursesThe McCourt FoundationAccessed October 25, 2026; course description, Colorado Street Bridge, final 5 km through Brookside Golf Course, 2027 date and start time
3. 3Rose Bowl Half Marathon & 5K Race Weekend OverviewThe McCourt FoundationAccessed October 25, 2026; 2027 schedule: bib pickup January 15 and 16, shuttles and parking from 4:00 am, 7:00 am start
4. 42026 Rose Bowl Half Marathon & 5K Final Info (PDF)The McCourt FoundationLast edition race-week guide, dated January 13, 2026: stations at miles 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 11, Precision gels near 4.5 and 7.5, medical stations, 19 min per mile and 9:30 am Wilson Street rules, parking by 6am, gear check, course map, elevation chart
5. 52027 Rose Bowl Half Marathon Rules (PDF)The McCourt FoundationFour-hour time limit, ban on outside assistance including food and drink, allowed bottles and hydration packs, 1 liter container limit
6. 6PF 30 GelPrecision Fuel & Hydration30 g carbohydrate and 120 kcal per 51 g gel; ingredients maltodextrin, water, fructose, with no caffeine
7. 7Electrolit Electrolyte Beverage Nutrition FactsElectrolit31 g carbohydrate and 430 mg sodium per 21 fl oz (625 ml) bottle
8. 8Pasadena ClimateCity of PasadenaJanuary average high 68 °F (20 °C), low 43 °F (6 °C); January is the coolest month
9. 9NOAA Solar CalculatorNOAA Global Monitoring LaboratorySunrise in Pasadena on January 17, 2027, about 6:58 am PST
10. 10International Association of Athletics Federations Consensus Statement 2019: Nutrition for AthleticsInternational Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism (Burke et al., 2019), PMID 30952204Pre-race meal, carbohydrate, and hydration guidance
11. 11Contemporary Nutrition Strategies to Optimize Performance in Distance Runners and Race WalkersInternational Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism (Burke et al., 2019), PMID 30747558Carbohydrate intake during events of one to two and a half hours and longer
12. 12Nutrition and Athletic Performance: Joint Position StatementMedicine and Science in Sports and Exercise (Thomas et al., 2016), PMID 2689116630 to 60 g per hour for 1 to 2.5 hours; small amounts or mouth rinse for 45 to 75 minutes; 1 to 4 g per kg before exercise
13. 13A Step Towards Personalized Sports Nutrition: Carbohydrate Intake During ExerciseSports Medicine (Jeukendrup, 2014), PMID 24791914Multiple transportable carbohydrates and intakes above 60 g per hour
14. 14International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Caffeine and Exercise PerformanceJISSN (Guest et al., 2021), PMID 333880793 to 6 mg per kg about 60 minutes before exercise