Detroit Free Press Marathon fueling plan
Where every Detroit Free Press 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.
Detroit Free Press Marathon
Sunday 18 October, 7:00 start
- Distance
- 42.2 km
- Aid stations
- 20
- Gels on the course
- GU 01 2nd Ave & Henry and GU 02 Wilkins St. & St. Antoine
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 Detroit Free Press 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 (2.5 km) | Absopure Water, Gatorade Endurance Lemon Lime | 0:13 | 0:14 | 0:16 |
| Mile 4.4 (7.1 km) | Absopure Water, Gatorade Endurance Lemon Lime | 0:36 | 0:41 | 0:46 |
| Mile 5.6 (9 km) | Absopure Water, Gatorade Endurance Lemon Lime | 0:45 | 0:51 | 0:58 |
| Mile 6.9 (11 km) | Absopure Water, Gatorade Endurance Lemon Lime | 0:55 | 1:03 | 1:11 |
| Mile 8.8 (14.1 km) | Absopure Water, Gatorade Endurance Lemon Lime | 1:10 | 1:20 | 1:30 |
| Mile 9.8 (15.9 km) | Absopure Water, Gatorade Endurance Lemon Lime | 1:19 | 1:30 | 1:41 |
| Mile 10.5 (16.9 km) | GU 01 2nd Ave & Henry | 1:24 | 1:36 | 1:48 |
| Mile 10.5 (17 km) | Absopure Water, Gatorade Endurance Lemon Lime | 1:24 | 1:37 | 1:49 |
| Mile 12 (19.3 km) | Absopure Water, Gatorade Endurance Lemon Lime | 1:36 | 1:50 | 2:04 |
| Mile 13.3 (21.4 km) | Absopure Water, Gatorade Endurance Lemon Lime | 1:46 | 2:02 | 2:17 |
| Mile 14.6 (23.6 km) | Absopure Water, Gatorade Endurance Lemon Lime | 1:57 | 2:14 | 2:31 |
| Mile 16.1 (25.9 km) | Absopure Water, Gatorade Endurance Lemon Lime | 2:09 | 2:28 | 2:46 |
| Mile 16.7 (26.8 km) | GU 02 Wilkins St. & St. Antoine | 2:13 | 2:33 | 2:52 |
| Mile 17 (27.4 km) | Absopure Water, Gatorade Endurance Lemon Lime | 2:16 | 2:36 | 2:55 |
| Mile 18.6 (30 km) | Absopure Water, Gatorade Endurance Lemon Lime | 2:29 | 2:50 | 3:12 |
| Mile 19.7 (31.7 km) | Absopure Water, Gatorade Endurance Lemon Lime | 2:38 | 3:00 | 3:23 |
| Mile 21 (33.8 km) | Absopure Water, Gatorade Endurance Lemon Lime | 2:48 | 3:12 | 3:37 |
| Mile 22 (35.4 km) | Absopure Water, Gatorade Endurance Lemon Lime | 2:56 | 3:22 | 3:47 |
| Mile 23.5 (37.9 km) | Absopure Water, Gatorade Endurance Lemon Lime | 3:09 | 3:35 | 4:02 |
| Mile 25.8 (41.5 km) | Absopure Water, Gatorade Endurance Lemon Lime | 3:27 | 3:56 | 4:26 |
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 0:36 (Mile 4.4 (7.1 km))
- 600 to 900 ml fluid per hour
4:00 finish
9:09 per mile
- 50 g carbs per hour
- 8 gels, first at 0:41 (Mile 4.4 (7.1 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 (2.5 km))
- 600 to 800 ml fluid per hour
3:30 finish
8:01 per mile
- 75 g carbs per hour
- 10 gels, first at 0:36 (Mile 4.4 (7.1 km))
- 600 to 900 ml fluid per hour
4:00 finish
9:09 per mile
- 75 g carbs per hour
- 11 gels, first at 0:20 (Mile 2.2 (3.5 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 (2.5 km))
- 600 to 800 ml fluid per hour
3:30 finish
8:01 per mile
- 100 g carbs per hour
- 13 gels, first at 0:20 (Mile 2.5 (4 km))
- 600 to 900 ml fluid per hour
4:00 finish
9:09 per mile
- 100 g carbs per hour
- 15 gels, first at 0:24 (Mile 2.6 (4.2 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 (2.5 km))
- 600 to 800 ml fluid per hour
Race-day facts
- Date
- Sunday, 18 October 2026
- Start
- 7:00
- Distance
- 26.2 miles (42.2 km)
Detroit Free Press Marathon fueling FAQ
Where are the water stations on the Detroit Free Press Marathon?
There are 20 aid stations, at Mile 1.6 (2.5 km), Mile 4.4 (7.1 km), Mile 5.6 (9 km), Mile 6.9 (11 km), Mile 8.8 (14.1 km), Mile 9.8 (15.9 km), Mile 10.5 (16.9 km), Mile 10.5 (17 km), Mile 12 (19.3 km), Mile 13.3 (21.4 km), Mile 14.6 (23.6 km), Mile 16.1 (25.9 km), Mile 16.7 (26.8 km), Mile 17 (27.4 km), Mile 18.6 (30 km), Mile 19.7 (31.7 km), Mile 21 (33.8 km), Mile 22 (35.4 km), Mile 23.5 (37.9 km) and Mile 25.8 (41.5 km). 18 of them list water.
Are there gels on the Detroit Free Press Marathon course?
Yes, the organizer lists gels at Mile 10.5 (16.9 km) and Mile 16.7 (26.8 km). Carry your own as well, so your plan does not depend on a single table.
When does the Detroit Free Press Marathon start?
The race is on Sunday, 18 October 2026, starting at 7:00 local time. Check the organizer's runner information in race week, since wave times can change.
How many gels do I need for the Detroit Free Press 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.