Boston Marathon fueling plan

Where every Boston Marathon water and gel station falls at your pace, plus a carb and sodium plan built for your finish time.

Grey dots are the 26 aid stations. Build your plan to put your gels on them.

Course route from organiser maps and OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL). Map tiles by Esri. Check the official course before race day.

Boston Marathon

Monday 19 April, 10:00 start

Distance
42.2 km
Aid stations
26
Gels on the course
Mile 11.8, 17 and 21.5
Race
Distance
Optional

Fuel and water line up with this course's aid stations.

Minutes and seconds, like 5:30.

Fuel

Leave empty to use the recommended 92 g for your finish time.

Water during the race
About you
Sex
Weather and sweat
Race-day weather
Sweat rate
Salt in your sweat

Salty if your kit shows white marks after long runs.

Boston Marathon

42.2 km, Boston

3:52:04

Finish time at 5:30 per km

Carbs per hour
100 g
Gels
14
Fluid per hour
600 to 900 ml

Free. No account needed.

Drink to thirst. Fluid is a range, not a target.

Something wrong with this course? Email us

Want training-aware nutrition around this race? See Mavr on the App Store

General guidance for healthy adults, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or registered dietitian if you have a health condition, take medicines or have special dietary needs. Caffeine advice is for healthy adults only. EFSA's safe limit is 200 mg in one dose and 400 mg in a day.

Every Boston Marathon aid station, and when you reach it

Time on the clock from your start, at an even pace. The orange dot marks the gel stations.

DistanceWhat is there3:30 finish4:00 finish4:30 finish
Mile 2 (3.2 km)Poland Spring Water, Lemon Lime Gatorade Endurance Formula0:160:180:21
Mile 3 (4.8 km)Poland Spring Water, Lemon Lime Gatorade Endurance Formula0:240:270:31
Mile 4 (6.4 km)Poland Spring Water, Lemon Lime Gatorade Endurance Formula0:320:370:41
Mile 5 (8 km)Poland Spring Water, Lemon Lime Gatorade Endurance Formula0:400:460:51
Mile 6 (9.7 km)Poland Spring Water, Lemon Lime Gatorade Endurance Formula0:480:551:02
Mile 7 (11.3 km)Poland Spring Water, Lemon Lime Gatorade Endurance Formula0:561:041:12
Mile 8 (12.9 km)Poland Spring Water, Lemon Lime Gatorade Endurance Formula1:041:131:22
Mile 9 (14.5 km)Poland Spring Water, Lemon Lime Gatorade Endurance Formula1:121:221:33
Mile 10 (16.1 km)Poland Spring Water, Lemon Lime Gatorade Endurance Formula1:201:321:43
Mile 11 (17.7 km)Poland Spring Water, Lemon Lime Gatorade Endurance Formula1:281:411:53
Mile 11.8 (19 km)Maurten Gel 100 and Gel 100 CAF 1001:351:482:02
Mile 12 (19.3 km)Poland Spring Water, Lemon Lime Gatorade Endurance Formula1:361:502:04
Mile 13 (20.9 km)Poland Spring Water, Lemon Lime Gatorade Endurance Formula1:441:592:14
Mile 14 (22.5 km)Poland Spring Water, Lemon Lime Gatorade Endurance Formula1:522:082:24
Mile 15 (24.1 km)Poland Spring Water, Lemon Lime Gatorade Endurance Formula2:002:172:34
Mile 16 (25.8 km)Poland Spring Water, Lemon Lime Gatorade Endurance Formula2:082:262:45
Mile 17 (27.4 km)Poland Spring Water, Lemon Lime Gatorade Endurance Formula, Maurten Gel 100 and Gel 100 CAF 1002:162:362:55
Mile 18 (29 km)Poland Spring Water, Lemon Lime Gatorade Endurance Formula2:242:453:05
Mile 19 (30.6 km)Poland Spring Water, Lemon Lime Gatorade Endurance Formula2:322:543:16
Mile 20 (32.2 km)Poland Spring Water, Lemon Lime Gatorade Endurance Formula2:403:033:26
Mile 21 (33.8 km)Poland Spring Water, Lemon Lime Gatorade Endurance Formula2:483:123:36
Mile 21.5 (34.6 km)Maurten Gel 100 and Gel 100 CAF 1002:523:173:41
Mile 22 (35.4 km)Poland Spring Water, Lemon Lime Gatorade Endurance Formula2:563:213:47
Mile 23 (37 km)Poland Spring Water, Lemon Lime Gatorade Endurance Formula3:043:313:57
Mile 24 (38.6 km)Poland Spring Water, Lemon Lime Gatorade Endurance Formula3:123:404:07
Mile 25 (40.2 km)Poland Spring Water, Lemon Lime Gatorade Endurance Formula3:203:494:17

From the organizer's published course information. Check the runner information again in race week.

Sample plans for three finish times

Built for a 70 kg runner in mild weather with Maurten Gel 100 (25 g) and water at the aid stations. Pick how much carbohydrate you want to aim for. Your own plan changes with your weight, gel and the weather.

A middle target most runners can train up to.

3:30 finish

8:01 per mile

  • 75 g carbs per hour
  • 10 gels, first at 0:16 (Mile 2 (3.2 km))
  • 600 to 900 ml fluid per hour

4:00 finish

9:09 per mile

  • 75 g carbs per hour
  • 11 gels, first at 0:18 (Mile 2 (3.2 km))
  • 600 to 800 ml fluid per hour

4:30 finish

10:18 per mile

  • 75 g carbs per hour
  • 13 gels, first at 0:21 (Mile 2 (3.2 km))
  • 600 to 800 ml fluid per hour
Get your plan for your pace

Race-day facts

Date
Monday, 19 April 2027
Start
10:00
Distance
26.2 miles (42.2 km)
Full guide
Boston Marathon fueling guide

Boston Marathon fueling FAQ

Where are the water stations on the Boston Marathon?

There are 26 aid stations, at Mile 2 (3.2 km), Mile 3 (4.8 km), Mile 4 (6.4 km), Mile 5 (8 km), Mile 6 (9.7 km), Mile 7 (11.3 km), Mile 8 (12.9 km), Mile 9 (14.5 km), Mile 10 (16.1 km), Mile 11 (17.7 km), Mile 11.8 (19 km), Mile 12 (19.3 km), Mile 13 (20.9 km), Mile 14 (22.5 km), Mile 15 (24.1 km), Mile 16 (25.8 km), Mile 17 (27.4 km), Mile 18 (29 km), Mile 19 (30.6 km), Mile 20 (32.2 km), Mile 21 (33.8 km), Mile 21.5 (34.6 km), Mile 22 (35.4 km), Mile 23 (37 km), Mile 24 (38.6 km) and Mile 25 (40.2 km). 24 of them list water.

Are there gels on the Boston Marathon course?

Yes, the organizer lists gels at Mile 11.8 (19 km), Mile 17 (27.4 km) and Mile 21.5 (34.6 km). Carry your own as well, so your plan does not depend on a single table.

When does the Boston Marathon start?

The race is on Monday, 19 April 2027, starting at 10:00 local time. Check the organizer's runner information in race week, since wave times can change.

How many gels do I need for the Boston Marathon?

It depends on your finish time and how much carbohydrate you have practised taking. At a steady target, a 4:00 finish uses about 11 gels of 25 g, or 75 g of carbs per hour. Enter your own pace, weight and gel in the calculator to get your number.

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