Illinois Marathon fueling plan
Where every Illinois 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.
Illinois Marathon
Saturday 24 April, 7:33 start
- Distance
- 42.2 km
- Aid stations
- 19
- Gels on the course
- At 5 stations
- Fruit
- Mile 6.5 and 24.5
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 Illinois 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 2.3 (3.7 km) | Water | 0:19 | 0:21 | 0:24 |
| Mile 4.7 (7.5 km) | Water, Nuun Endurance | 0:38 | 0:43 | 0:48 |
| Mile 5.5 (8.8 km) | Water, Nuun Endurance | 0:44 | 0:50 | 0:56 |
| Mile 6.5 (10.5 km) | Orange slices | 0:52 | 0:59 | 1:07 |
| Mile 6.8 (11 km) | Water, Nuun Endurance, GU Energy Gel | 0:55 | 1:02 | 1:10 |
| Mile 7.8 (12.6 km) | Water, Nuun Endurance | 1:03 | 1:12 | 1:21 |
| Mile 9.7 (15.7 km) | Water, Nuun Endurance | 1:18 | 1:29 | 1:40 |
| Mile 11.2 (18 km) | Water, Nuun Endurance | 1:30 | 1:43 | 1:55 |
| Mile 13.2 (21.3 km) | Water, Nuun Endurance, GU Energy Gel | 1:46 | 2:01 | 2:16 |
| Mile 15.1 (24.3 km) | Water, Nuun Endurance | 2:01 | 2:18 | 2:35 |
| Mile 17.1 (27.6 km) | Water, Nuun Endurance, GU Energy Gel | 2:17 | 2:37 | 2:56 |
| Mile 18.2 (29.3 km) | Water, Nuun Endurance | 2:26 | 2:47 | 3:08 |
| Mile 19.5 (31.4 km) | Water, Nuun Endurance | 2:36 | 2:58 | 3:21 |
| Mile 21 (33.8 km) | Water, Nuun Endurance, GU Energy Gel | 2:48 | 3:12 | 3:36 |
| Mile 21.9 (35.3 km) | Water, Nuun Endurance | 2:56 | 3:21 | 3:46 |
| Mile 23 (37 km) | Water, Nuun Endurance | 3:04 | 3:31 | 3:57 |
| Mile 23.9 (38.4 km) | Water, Nuun Endurance | 3:11 | 3:38 | 4:06 |
| Mile 24.5 (39.4 km) | Fruit, bananas, GU Energy Gel | 3:16 | 3:44 | 4:12 |
| Mile 25 (40.3 km) | Water, Nuun Endurance | 3:21 | 3:49 | 4:18 |
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 0:19 (Mile 2.3 (3.7 km))
- 600 to 900 ml fluid per hour
4:00 finish
9:09 per mile
- 50 g carbs per hour
- 8 gels, first at 0:21 (Mile 2.3 (3.7 km))
- 600 to 800 ml fluid per hour
4:30 finish
10:18 per mile
- 50 g carbs per hour
- 9 gels, first at 0:24 (Mile 2.3 (3.7 km))
- 600 to 800 ml fluid per hour
3:30 finish
8:01 per mile
- 75 g carbs per hour
- 10 gels, first at 0:19 (Mile 2.3 (3.7 km))
- 600 to 900 ml fluid per hour
4:00 finish
9:09 per mile
- 75 g carbs per hour
- 11 gels, first at 0:21 (Mile 2.3 (3.7 km))
- 600 to 800 ml fluid per hour
4:30 finish
10:18 per mile
- 75 g carbs per hour
- 13 gels, first at 0:24 (Mile 2.3 (3.7 km))
- 600 to 800 ml fluid per hour
3:30 finish
8:01 per mile
- 100 g carbs per hour
- 13 gels, first at 0:19 (Mile 2.3 (3.7 km))
- 600 to 900 ml fluid per hour
4:00 finish
9:09 per mile
- 100 g carbs per hour
- 15 gels, first at 0:21 (Mile 2.3 (3.7 km))
- 600 to 800 ml fluid per hour
4:30 finish
10:18 per mile
- 100 g carbs per hour
- 17 gels, first at 0:24 (Mile 2.3 (3.7 km))
- 600 to 800 ml fluid per hour
Race-day facts
- Date
- Saturday, 24 April 2027
- Start
- 7:33
- Distance
- 26.2 miles (42.2 km)
- Time limit
- 6 hours
Illinois Marathon fueling FAQ
Where are the water stations on the Illinois Marathon?
There are 19 aid stations, at Mile 2.3 (3.7 km), Mile 4.7 (7.5 km), Mile 5.5 (8.8 km), Mile 6.5 (10.5 km), Mile 6.8 (11 km), Mile 7.8 (12.6 km), Mile 9.7 (15.7 km), Mile 11.2 (18 km), Mile 13.2 (21.3 km), Mile 15.1 (24.3 km), Mile 17.1 (27.6 km), Mile 18.2 (29.3 km), Mile 19.5 (31.4 km), Mile 21 (33.8 km), Mile 21.9 (35.3 km), Mile 23 (37 km), Mile 23.9 (38.4 km), Mile 24.5 (39.4 km) and Mile 25 (40.3 km). 17 of them list water.
Are there gels on the Illinois Marathon course?
Yes, the organizer lists gels at Mile 6.8 (11 km), Mile 13.2 (21.3 km), Mile 17.1 (27.6 km), Mile 21 (33.8 km) and Mile 24.5 (39.4 km). Carry your own as well, so your plan does not depend on a single table.
When does the Illinois Marathon start?
The race is on Saturday, 24 April 2027, starting at 7:33 local time. Check the organizer's runner information in race week, since wave times can change.
How many gels do I need for the Illinois 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.