Congrats on signing up for the 2026 Marine Corps Marathon! Hopefully your training is going well. We can’t wait to see you out on the course. UnTapped is the official race fuel partner for MCM, and we’ll have UnTapped Energy Gels at all food station locations to help you Fuel Naturally.
To help you get ready, your fellow MCM runner, DMV native, and UnTapped athlete Jonathan Ladson (@fogell_mcloving) has designed a fueling plan for the race.
Training Runs
I consume one UnTapped Energy Gel 15 minutes before a training run, and then have another every half hour during the run. This helps me get the most out of every run and it gets me ready for the fuel that’ll be on the course during race day.
Pre-Race Fueling on Race Day
Race morning breakfast: Eat a good meal early (this might mean eating between 2-4 a.m. depending on your wake-up time).
Waiting time: Expect travel, security lines, and time waiting in the Runner’s Village, so bring some snacks in addition to what you plan to consume while racing.
My Golden Rule: Stick to the nutrition that you’ve trained with. No surprises on race day.
Pack extra: I like to pack extra UnTapped Waffles and Mapleaid for fuel and hydration. You can just mix the Mapleaid with water from the Runner’s Village. I bring a tossable water bottle with me, in case other containers aren’t available during the wait.
UnTapped Waffles
They’re light, pocket-sized, and ideal to eat about one hour before start.
UnTapped Mapleaid
You can just mix these with water from the Runner’s Village to stay hydrated.
During the Race
Eat your first Energy Gel within the first few miles, then eat one Gel every 30-40 minutes. The best part of UnTapped’s Gels is they go down so smoothly, so there’s no need to chase them with water.
UnTapped Energy Gels will be available on course at all food stations. There are three delicious varieties, including Maple, Coffee, and Salted Cinnamon Spice.
Food station locations:
Mile 14: Hains Point after the Blue Mile
Mile 18-19: After passing the Capitol Building
Mile 24: Long Bridge Park in Crystal City
Remember, food stations don’t begin until after the halfway point (mile 14) so fuel up before the race begins, and carry a couple of extras with you for the first half of the race.
UnTapped will be selling our entire lineup at our expo booth, so you can stock up ahead of time, or find a local retailer here.
You can also still order the MCM Training Pack for $14.95 (with free shipping!).
Have a great race!
