Phoenix Marathon fueling plan
Where every Phoenix 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.
Phoenix Marathon
Saturday 12 December, 7:00 start
- Distance
- 42.2 km
- Aid stations
- 12, all with water and sports drink
- Gels on the course
- Aid Station C, Aid Station F, Aid Station H and Aid Station K
- Fruit
- Aid Station E and Aid Station I
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 Phoenix 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 3 (4.8 km) | Mile 3, Gatorade Endurance, Water, Biofreeze, Basic First Aid | 0:24 | 0:27 | 0:31 |
| Mile 5.5 (8.9 km) | Mile 5.5, Gatorade Endurance, Water, Biofreeze, Basic First Aid | 0:44 | 0:50 | 0:57 |
| Mile 7 (11.3 km) | Mile 7, Gatorade Endurance, Water, Carbs Fuel Gel, Biofreeze, Basic First Aid | 0:56 | 1:04 | 1:12 |
| Mile 9.7 (15.6 km) | Mile 9.7, Gatorade Endurance, Water, Biofreeze, Basic First Aid | 1:18 | 1:29 | 1:40 |
| Mile 11.8 (19 km) | Mile 11.8, Gatorade Endurance, Water, Fruit, Biofreeze, Basic First Aid | 1:35 | 1:48 | 2:02 |
| Mile 15.4 (24.8 km) | Mile 15.4, Gatorade Endurance, Water, Carbs Fuel Gel, Biofreeze, Basic First Aid | 2:03 | 2:21 | 2:39 |
| Mile 17 (27.4 km) | Mile 17, Gatorade Endurance, Water, Biofreeze, Basic First Aid | 2:16 | 2:36 | 2:55 |
| Mile 19.2 (30.9 km) | Mile 19.2, Gatorade Endurance, Water, Carbs Fuel Gel, Biofreeze, Basic First Aid | 2:34 | 2:56 | 3:18 |
| Mile 20.6 (33.2 km) | Mile 20.6, Gatorade Endurance, Water, Fruit, Biofreeze, Basic First Aid | 2:45 | 3:09 | 3:32 |
| Mile 22.2 (35.7 km) | Mile 22.2, Gatorade Endurance, Water, Biofreeze, Basic First Aid | 2:58 | 3:23 | 3:49 |
| Mile 24 (38.6 km) | Mile 24, Gatorade Endurance, Water, Carbs Fuel Gel, Biofreeze, Basic First Aid | 3:12 | 3:40 | 4:07 |
| Mile 25 (40.2 km) | Mile 25, Gatorade Endurance, Water, Biofreeze, Basic First Aid | 3:20 | 3:49 | 4:17 |
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
- 50 g carbs per hour
- 7 gels, first at 0:24 (Mile 3 (4.8 km))
- 600 to 900 ml fluid per hour
4:00 finish
9:09 per mile
- 50 g carbs per hour
- 8 gels, first at 0:27 (Mile 3 (4.8 km))
- 600 to 800 ml fluid per hour
4:30 finish
10:18 per mile
- 50 g carbs per hour
- 9 gels, first at 0:31 (Mile 3 (4.8 km))
- 600 to 800 ml fluid per hour
3:30 finish
8:01 per mile
- 75 g carbs per hour
- 10 gels, first at 0:24 (Mile 3 (4.8 km))
- 600 to 900 ml fluid per hour
4:00 finish
9:09 per mile
- 75 g carbs per hour
- 11 gels, first at 0:27 (Mile 3 (4.8 km))
- 600 to 800 ml fluid per hour
4:30 finish
10:18 per mile
- 75 g carbs per hour
- 13 gels, first at 0:31 (Mile 3 (4.8 km))
- 600 to 800 ml fluid per hour
3:30 finish
8:01 per mile
- 100 g carbs per hour
- 13 gels, first at 0:24 (Mile 3 (4.8 km))
- 600 to 900 ml fluid per hour
4:00 finish
9:09 per mile
- 100 g carbs per hour
- 15 gels, first at 0:27 (Mile 3 (4.8 km))
- 600 to 800 ml fluid per hour
4:30 finish
10:18 per mile
- 100 g carbs per hour
- 17 gels, first at 0:20 (Mile 1.9 (3.1 km))
- 600 to 800 ml fluid per hour
Race-day facts
- Date
- Saturday, 12 December 2026
- Start
- 7:00
- Distance
- 26.2 miles (42.2 km)
Phoenix Marathon fueling FAQ
Where are the water stations on the Phoenix Marathon?
There are 12 aid stations and all of them have water: at Mile 3 (4.8 km), Mile 5.5 (8.9 km), Mile 7 (11.3 km), Mile 9.7 (15.6 km), Mile 11.8 (19 km), Mile 15.4 (24.8 km), Mile 17 (27.4 km), Mile 19.2 (30.9 km), Mile 20.6 (33.2 km), Mile 22.2 (35.7 km), Mile 24 (38.6 km) and Mile 25 (40.2 km). All of them also serve a sports drink.
Are there gels on the Phoenix Marathon course?
Yes, the organizer lists gels at Mile 7 (11.3 km), Mile 15.4 (24.8 km), Mile 19.2 (30.9 km) and Mile 24 (38.6 km). Carry your own as well, so your plan does not depend on a single table.
When does the Phoenix Marathon start?
The race is on Saturday, 12 December 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 Phoenix 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.