Eating / Drinking during Marathon

Taylor St. is around mile 18 or so. You could stop at someplace like Bar Louie or Hawkeyes and get something to eat or drink along the way. I'm sure they have Sunday specials on beer or burgers or something like that.

Depends on what time you are looking to run.

I usually drink at least something at every water station. I also drink gatorade first then some water, because the gatorade can leave an undesired after taste. Then a gel at or around every 45 minutes is what has worked for me.

If you are going to run 3:30 or longer you may want to take gels more often.

Good Luck.

Best time to take in fuel is the 3 days before the race.

Drink water by the gallon too in that time, Gatorade as well.

A swig of gatorade right before the gun, and a little of both over each mile of the race.

Some people believe in GUs and other such stuff, but it disagrees with my stomach.

I was looking at sub 2:30. I ran 231 at NYC last year and only did the gu at 18m and some gatorade at about 6 & 12. Felt good until I got to central.

Burger and beer sounds good. When do the bars open on sunday?

I can't speak for your digestive system, but I do not think you can drink or eat too much at the markers. It might make the difference of a couple of minutes tops if you stop too often, but it might be much more if not enough. Personally, take it in when it is available (gatorade first then water).tops

I have only run 2:44, but it is my opinion a gel at 18 is little help at that pace. It takes ~45 mins to digest.

I've done only small drinks every 3 miles from 7 miles..with a goo or cookie at 13 if necessary, and again at 20 if I'm not feeling really good....2:35 P.R.

I agree. I would limit intake to just water and gatorade after 18, and just water after 22.

And I also have found I cannot just have gatorade- I need to wash it out of my mouth and eliminate the stickiness.

It feels like it drys out my mouth.

It depends if you can handle Gatorade. I personally can, and usually alternate it and water at the aid stations until mile 12, then both the rest of the way.

My personal experince with gu is it takes about 15 minutes to have an effect. I take one around mile 8, mile 12, 16, and 20. Sometimes even one at 22.

Gatorade is a bit thick and sugary to be optimally absorbed on the run. This is why I try to get a bit of water as well, if the aid stations are long enough to allow you to grab one of each. A lot of people I know seem to have good success taking about half a Hammer Gel (more complex sugar, I believe) at every other aid station, again with lots of water. Trouble with that is you have to carry them with you.

Human beings are not camels. They cannot retain water for days.

While you don't want to be dehydrated in the days leading up to the race, excessive water consumption will basically dilute your electrolytes and screw you up. Drink water at the same time as you eat lots of carbs in the last 3-4 days, but don't drink excessively in between meals. Drinking while you're eating helps you retain the carbs.

One wise tip that I think I learned from Pfitzinger's writings was this: drink a litre/quart or a little water between 3 and 2 hours before the gun. Then stop drinking until about 10 minutes before the gun when you can swig a little more (10oz/300ml), perhaps with a pre-race gel if you're partial. Drinking in the two hours before the race will just make you stop to pee at mile 8, which you don't want to do.

A medium Giordano's Tropic Delight at about half way. MMMM, Canadian bacon.

I try to follow, "Hydrate Early, Feed Late"

Make it a point to take in as much water early in the race.

After 15-20km, feed. GU, Gatorade, whatever. Your tank will run low starting at 30km, and you want to start adding before then.

Does taking cafine during the race help?

From the posts it seems about halfway seems like a good point re-fuel?

You should ask Henry. Per my Dictionary of Athletics "in 1986 he ran the NY Marathon taking more than 4 hours to finish after stopping at 20 miles for a meal and to watch live coverage of the race on television."