Philadelphia Marathon fueling plan
Where every Philadelphia 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.
Philadelphia Marathon
Sunday 22 November, 7:00 start
- Distance
- 42.2 km
- Aid stations
- 17, all with water and sports drink
- Gels on the course
- Mile 11.8, 17.8 and 22.3
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 Philadelphia 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) | Columbus Boulevard south of Race Street - Water, DryWater Lemon Lime | 0:18 | 0:21 | 0:24 |
| Mile 3.7 (6 km) | Front Street & Washington Avenue - Water, DryWater Lemon Lime | 0:30 | 0:34 | 0:38 |
| Mile 5.1 (8.2 km) | 6th & Walnut Streets - Water, DryWater Lemon Lime | 0:41 | 0:47 | 0:53 |
| Mile 7.1 (11.4 km) | 31st & Walnut Streets - Water, DryWater Lemon Lime | 0:57 | 1:05 | 1:13 |
| Mile 8.5 (13.7 km) | 34th Street & Fairmount Avenue - Water, DryWater Lemon Lime | 1:08 | 1:18 | 1:28 |
| Mile 10.2 (16.4 km) | Avenue of the Republic at Belmont Avenue - Water, DryWater Lemon Lime | 1:22 | 1:33 | 1:45 |
| Mile 11.8 (19 km) | Lansdowne Drive at Sweetbriar Lane - Water, DryWater Lemon Lime, Crank e-Gel | 1:35 | 1:48 | 2:02 |
| Mile 14.4 (23.2 km) | Edgley Drive before Power Corps Headquarters Building - Water, DryWater Lemon Lime | 1:55 | 2:12 | 2:28 |
| Mile 16.2 (26.1 km) | Kelly Drive at John B Kelly Statue / Rowing Grandstand - Water, DryWater Lemon Lime | 2:10 | 2:28 | 2:47 |
| Mile 17.8 (28.6 km) | Kelly Drive & Ferry Street - Water, DryWater Lemon Lime, Crank e-Gel | 2:23 | 2:43 | 3:03 |
| Mile 18.9 (30.4 km) | Main Street & Ridge Avenue - Water, DryWater Lemon Lime | 2:31 | 2:53 | 3:15 |
| Mile 19.8 (31.9 km) | Main & Cotton Streets, Winnie's LeBus - Water, DryWater Lemon Lime | 2:39 | 3:01 | 3:24 |
| Mile 20.2 (32.5 km) | Main & Cotton Streets, Winnie's LeBus - Water, DryWater Lemon Lime | 2:42 | 3:05 | 3:28 |
| Mile 21.3 (34.3 km) | Main Street & Ridge Avenue - Water, DryWater Lemon Lime | 2:51 | 3:15 | 3:39 |
| Mile 22.3 (35.9 km) | Kelly Drive & Ferry Street - Water, DryWater Lemon Lime, Crank e-Gel | 2:59 | 3:24 | 3:50 |
| Mile 24.2 (38.9 km) | Kelly Drive at John B Kelly Statue / Rowing Grandstand - Water, DryWater Lemon Lime | 3:14 | 3:42 | 4:09 |
| Mile 26.2 (42.2 km) | Finish Line, Benjamin Franklin Parkway - Water, DryWater Lemon Lime | 3:30 | 4:00 | 4:30 |
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 0:30 (Mile 3.7 (6 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 0:18 (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 0:18 (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
- Sunday, 22 November 2026
- Start
- 7:00
- Distance
- 26.2 miles (42.2 km)
- Full guide
- Philadelphia Marathon fueling guide
Philadelphia Marathon fueling FAQ
Where are the water stations on the Philadelphia Marathon?
There are 17 aid stations and all of them have water: at Mile 2.3 (3.7 km), Mile 3.7 (6 km), Mile 5.1 (8.2 km), Mile 7.1 (11.4 km), Mile 8.5 (13.7 km), Mile 10.2 (16.4 km), Mile 11.8 (19 km), Mile 14.4 (23.2 km), Mile 16.2 (26.1 km), Mile 17.8 (28.6 km), Mile 18.9 (30.4 km), Mile 19.8 (31.9 km), Mile 20.2 (32.5 km), Mile 21.3 (34.3 km), Mile 22.3 (35.9 km), Mile 24.2 (38.9 km) and Mile 26.2 (42.2 km). All of them also serve a sports drink.
Are there gels on the Philadelphia Marathon course?
Yes, the organizer lists gels at Mile 11.8 (19 km), Mile 17.8 (28.6 km) and Mile 22.3 (35.9 km). Carry your own as well, so your plan does not depend on a single table.
When does the Philadelphia Marathon start?
The race is on Sunday, 22 November 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 Philadelphia 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
- Philadelphia 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.