What Elite Coaches Actually Tell Runners About Marathon Nutrition

Marathon season brings a familiar wave of conflicting nutrition advice, but coaches who work with competitive runners say the fundamentals rarely change.

Carbohydrate loading in the final 48 hours, consistent hydration throughout training and race-day fueling rehearsed well in advance are the three pillars most coaches return to.

The bigger mistake, several coaches noted, isn't what runners eat but when they stop experimenting: race day is not the time to try something new.