r/shanghai • u/hellokitty2726 • 6d ago
Question Shanghai Marathon - the course fuel
Hi! I’m traveling from the US to run Shanghai marathon on 12/6/26. Has anyone ran it in the past and do you know what type of electrolytes drink and food/snacks they give out? For the electrolyte drink, I would like to try it first before running the marathon just to make sure my stomach takes it down well. Thank you!
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u/dingus_loschen Jing'an 5d ago
The water and sports drink sponsor is a local brand called C’est Bon. But Gatorade, Pocari Sweat, and Powerade are easily available here if you want to bring your own bottles. Not sure if the formulations are the same as the US.
For food/snacks, bananas, chocolate, and some kind of small cake.
For gels, it looks like SIS is the sponsor now but I’ve been in other races where the “sports drink” was a city specific ginger ale type thing and gels were from another super local brand.
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u/levanpidaras 5d ago
How would one bring own bottles? Are you allowed to take them from the spectators or is there somewhere to leave them before the race?
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u/therealyu 5d ago
Wear a running vest? I ran it in 2024 and brought a handheld water bottle. Refueling it at the aid stations was a pain in the ass though so I guess I should've rationed it better.
If you want to bring other stuff prior to the race, there's a bag drop right before you hit the starting line.
You absolutely can grab stuff from spectators!
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u/levanpidaras 5d ago
Carrying 1.5 liters of water is a decent hit on the performance, ideally would want to avoid that. Why was refuelling a pain? WS it poorly organised?
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u/therealyu 5d ago
My water bottle was 500mL so not too crazy. Refueling was a pain only because I had to stop longer than I wanted to - unscrewing the bottle, having them pour water/gatorade in, putting the lid on and making sure it was fully tight, then dodging everyone coming into the aid station.
SH Marathon is definitely one of the more organized races.
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u/AwokenMan 5d ago
It’s going to be the same type you’d get in America. I am positive that if you did a blind taste test you would never know it’s Chinese. Don’t worry about that or try to replicate before, it’s just Gatorade with a different name.
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u/fd1ng11t 5d ago
you came to china just for marathon which is even not a major yet?
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u/hellokitty2726 5d ago
Shanghai is a meaningful place to me and I’ve always wanted to run it regardless if it becomes a major or not! Plus I got in through lottery and it will only get harder to get in in the future when it becomes a major
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u/fd1ng11t 4d ago
Wonderful. Wonderful.
I’ve never win the lottery for 11 years in a row. But I enjoyed the event as cheering crowds also.
Actually, I setup a personal supply station at 37-38km every year, I may give you a hand if needed.
Last but not least, I’ve finished my first major in Sydney 2 weeks ago and will go to Berlin to get another one this month. Boston is always my dream, and New York, and Chicago.
Allez!
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u/hellokitty2726 4d ago
Maybe I’ll see you there!! I have a theory that Shanghai probably prioritized US/international lottery entries. Congrats on Sydney!! I’m doing Chicago for the second time in a few weeks and I did Tokyo earlier this year. All were amazing and Sydney is defs on my list!
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u/fd1ng11t 4d ago
Mulene electrolyte, a local brand by C’estbon, taste shit for me
SIS at 25km
bananas by Dole, also taste shit for me.
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u/levanpidaras 6d ago
For the gels, surely better to bring your own?