Champion Shares Tips for Marine Corps Marathon 2026 Prep

"Marine Corps" marathon champion Tessa Barrett advises runners focusing on hydration and carbohydrate intake rather than additional fitness training. She recommends consuming electrolytes, water, Gatorade, or liquid IVs as the top priority before race day. For fueling, she suggests aiming for 400 to 500 grams of carbohydrates daily in the days leading up to the event to maximize glycogen stores. If a runner must exercise on the final preparation days, they should limit efforts to short distances not exceeding twenty or thirty minutes.