Chicago Marathon fueling plan
Where every Chicago Marathon water and gel station falls at your pace, plus a carb and sodium plan built for your finish time.
Course route from organiser maps and OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL). Map tiles by Esri. Check the official course before race day.
Chicago Marathon
Sunday 11 October, 7:30 start
- Distance
- 42.2 km
- Aid stations
- 22
- Gels on the course
- Mile 12.4 and 18.1
- Fruit
- Mile 20.2, 22.3 and 23.04
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 Chicago 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.
| Distance | What is there | 3:30 finish | 4:00 finish | 4:30 finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mile 1.6 (2.6 km) | Water, Sports Drink | 0:13 | 0:15 | 0:16 |
| Mile 3.2 (5.2 km) | Water, Sports Drink | 0:26 | 0:30 | 0:33 |
| Mile 5.1 (8.1 km) | Water, Sports Drink | 0:40 | 0:46 | 0:52 |
| Mile 5.7 (9.3 km) | Water, Sports Drink | 0:46 | 0:53 | 0:59 |
| Mile 7.3 (11.8 km) | Water, Sports Drink | 0:58 | 1:07 | 1:15 |
| Mile 8.8 (14.2 km) | Water, Sports Drink | 1:10 | 1:21 | 1:31 |
| Mile 10.1 (16.3 km) | Water, Sports Drink | 1:21 | 1:32 | 1:44 |
| Mile 11.5 (18.5 km) | Water, Sports Drink | 1:32 | 1:45 | 1:58 |
| Mile 12.4 (20 km) | Maurten Gel 100, caffeinated or non-caffeinated | 1:39 | 1:54 | 2:08 |
| Mile 12.6 (20.3 km) | Water, Sports Drink | 1:41 | 1:55 | 2:10 |
| Mile 13.6 (21.9 km) | Water, Sports Drink | 1:49 | 2:05 | 2:20 |
| Mile 14.6 (23.5 km) | Water, Sports Drink | 1:57 | 2:14 | 2:30 |
| Mile 15.7 (25.3 km) | Water, Sports Drink | 2:06 | 2:24 | 2:42 |
| Mile 16.9 (27.2 km) | Water, Sports Drink | 2:15 | 2:35 | 2:54 |
| Mile 18 (29 km) | Water, Sports Drink | 2:24 | 2:45 | 3:05 |
| Mile 18.1 (29.1 km) | Maurten Gel 100, caffeinated or non-caffeinated | 2:25 | 2:46 | 3:06 |
| Mile 19 (30.6 km) | Water, Sports Drink | 2:32 | 2:54 | 3:16 |
| Mile 20.2 (32.5 km) | Water, Sports Drink, Bananas | 2:42 | 3:05 | 3:28 |
| Mile 22.3 (35.9 km) | Water, Sports Drink, Bananas | 2:59 | 3:24 | 3:50 |
| Mile 23 (37.1 km) | Water, Sports Drink, Bananas | 3:05 | 3:31 | 3:57 |
| Mile 24.5 (39.4 km) | Water, Sports Drink | 3:16 | 3:44 | 4:12 |
| Mile 25.2 (40.6 km) | Water, Sports Drink | 3:22 | 3:51 | 4:20 |
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
- 50 g carbs per hour
- 7 gels, first at 0:26 (Mile 3.2 (5.2 km))
- 600 to 900 ml fluid per hour
4:00 finish
9:09 per mile
- 50 g carbs per hour
- 8 gels, first at 0:15 (Mile 1.6 (2.6 km))
- 600 to 800 ml fluid per hour
4:30 finish
10:18 per mile
- 50 g carbs per hour
- 9 gels, first at 0:16 (Mile 1.6 (2.6 km))
- 600 to 800 ml fluid per hour
3:30 finish
8:01 per mile
- 75 g carbs per hour
- 10 gels, first at 0:26 (Mile 3.2 (5.2 km))
- 600 to 900 ml fluid per hour
4:00 finish
9:09 per mile
- 75 g carbs per hour
- 11 gels, first at 0:30 (Mile 3.2 (5.2 km))
- 600 to 800 ml fluid per hour
4:30 finish
10:18 per mile
- 75 g carbs per hour
- 13 gels, first at 0:16 (Mile 1.6 (2.6 km))
- 600 to 800 ml fluid per hour
3:30 finish
8:01 per mile
- 100 g carbs per hour
- 13 gels, first at 0:26 (Mile 3.2 (5.2 km))
- 600 to 900 ml fluid per hour
4:00 finish
9:09 per mile
- 100 g carbs per hour
- 15 gels, first at 0:15 (Mile 1.6 (2.6 km))
- 600 to 800 ml fluid per hour
4:30 finish
10:18 per mile
- 100 g carbs per hour
- 17 gels, first at 0:16 (Mile 1.6 (2.6 km))
- 600 to 800 ml fluid per hour
Race-day facts
- Date
- Sunday, 11 October 2026
- Start
- 7:30
- Distance
- 26.2 miles (42.2 km)
- Full guide
- Chicago Marathon fueling guide
Chicago Marathon fueling FAQ
Where are the water stations on the Chicago Marathon?
There are 22 aid stations, at Mile 1.6 (2.6 km), Mile 3.2 (5.2 km), Mile 5.1 (8.1 km), Mile 5.7 (9.3 km), Mile 7.3 (11.8 km), Mile 8.8 (14.2 km), Mile 10.1 (16.3 km), Mile 11.5 (18.5 km), Mile 12.4 (20 km), Mile 12.6 (20.3 km), Mile 13.6 (21.9 km), Mile 14.6 (23.5 km), Mile 15.7 (25.3 km), Mile 16.9 (27.2 km), Mile 18 (29 km), Mile 18.1 (29.1 km), Mile 19 (30.6 km), Mile 20.2 (32.5 km), Mile 22.3 (35.9 km), Mile 23 (37.1 km), Mile 24.5 (39.4 km) and Mile 25.2 (40.6 km). 20 of them list water.
Are there gels on the Chicago Marathon course?
Yes, the organizer lists gels at Mile 12.4 (20 km) and Mile 18.1 (29.1 km). Carry your own as well, so your plan does not depend on a single table.
When does the Chicago Marathon start?
The race is on Sunday, 11 October 2026, starting at 7:30 local time. Check the organizer's runner information in race week, since wave times can change.
How many gels do I need for the Chicago 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.
More race calculators
Keep reading
- Chicago Marathon fueling guideRace-day details, three runner plans, and a race-week checklist.
- How many gels for a marathonA table by finish time.
- What to eat the night before a raceCarbs by distance and 12 dinners.
- Salt tablets for runnersSodium per hour by sweat rate.
- All race fueling guidesEvery carb, gel and hydration article.