Your Fixx Nutrition Guide to the 2026 Brisbane Marathon Festival

The 34th EVA Air Brisbane Marathon Festival is almost here, and whether you are lining up for your first 5km or chasing a marathon PB, race week is when small decisions can make a big difference. This guide covers everything from logistics and pacing to nutrition strategy, so you can toe the line on 7 June with confidence.

Fixx Nutrition is proud to be an official event partner of the 2026 EVA Air Brisbane Marathon Festival. As a Queensland-born brand, manufactured in our Burleigh Heads facility on the Gold Coast, supporting the state’s biggest road running event feels like home turf.

About Fixx Nutrition

Founded by Jan and Michelle Buchegger in 2017, Fixx Nutrition grew out of a simple frustration: endurance athletes needed fuel that actually worked mid-race without wrecking their stomachs. That mission led to a HACCP-accredited, Informed Sport-certified product range (CrampFix)  now distributed to more than 1,000 Australian retailers (including Woolworths) and exported to over 15 countries.

Being a local Gold Coast brand at an event run by Atlas Events in Brisbane is a genuine privilege. You will find Fixx HASTA certified selected products on course on course and at the event precinct, so you can test and refuel with hydration fuel built for Australian conditions. 

Event Overview

The EVA Air Brisbane Marathon Festival lands on Sunday, 7 June 2026. The start line sits on Margaret Street in Brisbane City, and all races finish at the City Botanic Gardens Event Precinct.

Major partners alongside Fixx Nutrition include EVA Air, Rio Tinto, Teneriffe Banks, Oaks Hotels, McDonald’s, Good Life Health Club, Runna by Strava, Sixt, Felons Brewing Co. and Glo House. The event also supports Ronald McDonald House Charities (South East Queensland) and Cure Cancer Australia, so your entry fee does real work beyond the finish line. Prize money is awarded equally to male and female winners, which is exactly how it should be. Entry includes your race bib, timing tag, finisher’s medal and event t-shirt.

Race Distances

EVA Air Marathon (42.2 km)

The full marathon starts at 6:00 am from Margaret Street. You have a 6-hour 20-minute cut-off, with intermediate checkpoints at 24 km near Story Bridge/Main Street (9:36 am cut-off) and 34 km at Lamington Street/Welsby Street (11:06 am cut-off). The minimum age is 17 years.

The course is one of the most scenic urban marathons in Australia. You will cross Story Bridge, run past Kangaroo Point Cliffs, wind through the tree-lined streets of New Farm and Teneriffe, and track alongside the Brisbane River for long stretches. Brisbane’s winter conditions typically deliver blue skies and comfortable temperatures, which is a genuine advantage over summer-calendar events.

Rio Tinto Half Marathon (21.1 km)

Sold out. If you missed this one, put it on the calendar for 2027.

Teneriffe Banks 10 km

Sold out.

Oaks 5 km Run

Still available and a solid option for newer runners, people returning from injury, or anyone who wants a race-day atmosphere without the ultra-early alarm. The 5 km Walk is also open for those who prefer a walking pace.

Macca’s 2 km Mini Marathon

A kids event covering 2 km. Great way to get younger family members involved in running culture.

Raceday Logistics

Before the Gun

Arrive at Margaret Street early. For the 6:00 am marathon start, plan to be in the precinct by 5:00 am at the latest. That gives you time to drop your gear bag, use the bathrooms (the queues are always longer than you expect) and settle into your corral without rushing.

Bag drop is clearly signposted in the start area. Pack only what you need for after the race: a change of clothes, your phone, a towel if you want one. Keep your nutrition and fluids on your body, not in the bag.

Warm-up

For the marathon, a gentle 5- to 10-minute jog followed by dynamic stretches (leg swings, high knees, walking lunges) is plenty. Save your energy for the race, not the warm-up. Shorter distances can push the warm-up a bit harder, especially the 5 km runners who will be hitting race pace from the gun.

Pacing Strategy

Marathon: go out conservative. The first 10 km should feel almost too easy. Brisbane’s course is relatively flat, but the return leg through New Farm and Teneriffe can feel long if you banked too much speed early. Aim for negative splits or even pacing, and remember that the Story Bridge crossing in the first half has a rise that will cost you a few seconds per kilometre.

Half-marathon and 10 km: you have more room to push, but the same rule applies. The first kilometre is always faster than you think because of adrenaline and crowd energy. Settle in, find your rhythm, and race the second half.

5 km: short enough to hurt from start to finish. If you have a target time, run the first kilometre at goal pace and then hold on.

After the Finish

The City Botanic Gardens Event Precinct is where everything happens post-race. Grab your medal and refuel properly (more on recovery nutrition below). Once your legs agree to cooperate again, Brisbane delivers. Howard Smith Wharves is a short stroll from the finish and sits right on the river; it is hard to beat for a post-race feed. South Bank, Fish Lane and West End all have great food and coffee within walking distance. For something different, catch the CityCat along the Brisbane River for just 50 cents; it is a cheap way to see the city from the water while your legs recover.

Weather

Expect a cool morning (Brisbane winter mornings can sit around 10 to 15 degrees) warming into the low twenties through the day. Dress for the start temperature with layers you can ditch at an aid station or tie around your waist. Sunscreen is still smart; Queensland winter sun can catch you out on a cloudless day.

Race Week Nutrition

Getting your nutrition right in the days before the race is just as important as what you eat on race morning. Here is a practical plan for the week.

Carb Loading (Wednesday to Saturday)

Start increasing your carbohydrate intake about 3 to 4 days before race day. This does not mean eating until you feel sick. It means shifting your plate ratio so that roughly 70 per cent of your calories come from carbs: rice, pasta, bread, potatoes, oats and fruit. Reduce fibre slightly in the last 48 hours to keep your gut comfortable. Keep protein and fat moderate; they are still in the mix, just not the stars this week.

Pre-race Dinner (Saturday Night)

Eat something familiar. Race-eve dinner is not the time to try a new restaurant or an adventurous cuisine. Stick with a carb-heavy meal you have eaten before: pasta with a simple sauce, rice with chicken, or a jacket potato. Keep fibre moderate (skip the massive salad) and finish eating by around 7:00 pm so your body has time to digest before an early bedtime.

Race Morning (3:00 am to 4:00 am)

With a 6:00 am start, your alarm is going off early. Eat breakfast 2 to 3 hours before the gun, which means somewhere between 3:00 am and 4:00 am. Choose foods you have practised in training: toast with honey or jam, a banana, porridge, or a small bowl of rice. Keep it simple, keep it familiar. Sip water or a sports drink, but do not overhydrate. About 500 ml in the 2 hours before the start is a sensible target for most runners.

A Fixx Cold Brew (150 mg caffeine per 50 ml serve) is a practical pre-race caffeine hit if you are a coffee drinker. The Zero Cal Espresso, Espresso and Mocha options give you a controlled dose without the volume of a full cup of coffee at 3:30 am.

Nothing New on Race Day

This is the oldest rule in endurance sport, and it exists because it works. Do not try a new gel, a new drink mix or a new breakfast on race morning. Everything you consume on 7 June should be something your gut already knows from training. If you have not tested a product in a long run, leave it for your next training block.

On-Course Fuelling Strategy

Hydration

Start sipping early and stay consistent. Aim for about 150-250 ml every 15-20 minutes, adjusting as needed. Brisbane in June is cool, so you will sweat less than a summer race, but do not skip fluid stations just because you feel fine. By the time you feel thirsty, you are already behind.

Mixing Fuel X Endurance Fuel into your handheld or vest bottles gives you 48 g of carbs, 200 calories, 468 mg sodium, 152 mg potassium, 64 mg calcium and 24 mg magnesium per serve. It is designed to be gut-friendly with a mild flavour (available in Tropical and Nude), so you can drink it across 4 or more hours without flavour fatigue. Drink 1-2 cups Fuel X at every drink station. provided already mixed in Fixx branded cups with approx 16g carbs per cup.

Gels

If you are running the marathon, aim to take a Gel X Pro every 30 to 40 minutes after the first hour. Each gel delivers 120 calories and 29.3 g of carbs from a dual-source blend with a 1:0.8 fructose ratio, plus 220 mg sodium and 400 mg alanine. Caffeine-free options include Raspberry Fizz, Lemon Sorbet and Pear Cider. If you want a caffeine boost in the back half, the Coldbrew Espresso and Vanilla Maple variants have you covered.

For the half marathon, 2 to 3 gels across the race is usually enough. For the 10 km, one gel at around 5 km (or none, depending on your pace and preference) is plenty.

Cramp Insurance

Muscle cramps are unpredictable, and once they hit mid-race, your options narrow fast. Carrying a 20 ml CrampFix shot (available in Lemon, Raspberry, and Espresso) may help you manage cramping if it strikes. It is small enough to tuck into a pocket or pin to your race belt. Many experienced marathon runners carry one as insurance rather than a plan; if you do not need it, it weighs almost nothing.

Putting It Together (Marathon Example)

Here is a practical fuelling timeline for the 42.2 km, noting that you should drink 1-2 cups from the drink station.

• Pre-race (3:00 am to 4:00 am): breakfast plus 500 ml water. Optional Fixx Cold Brew for caffeine.

• 0 to 30 min: sip Fuel X from your bottle. No gels yet (you should drink this every 5km, so every drink station try to drink at least a cup) 

• 30-40 min: first Gel-X Pro.

• Every 30 to 40 min after that: another Gel X Pro, alternating flavours if that helps.

• Fluid stations: top up water alongside your Fuel X bottle. Do not double up on electrolyte drinks; choose one source per station to avoid sodium overload.

• If cramps threaten: CrampFix shot. Use only if cramping occurs. 

• Last 10 km: if you are fading, a caffeinated Gel X Pro (Coldbrew Espresso or Vanilla Maple) can give you a late lift.

Post-Race Recovery

You just ran a long way. What you eat and drink in the first 30 to 60 minutes matters more than most runners realise. Aim for a mix of carbohydrates and protein within that window: a recovery shake, a banana with a handful of nuts, or a proper meal if your stomach can handle it.

Rehydrate steadily. You do not need to slam two litres of water immediately; just keep sipping over the next few hours. If you used Fuel X during the race, plain water or coconut water is fine for post-race hydration since you have already topped up electrolytes on course.

Resist the urge to skip food because your stomach feels off. Even a small amount of carbs and protein in the recovery window supports muscle repair and glycogen replenishment better than waiting until lunch.

See You at the Start Line

The 2026 Brisbane Marathon Festival is one of the best events on the Australian running calendar. The course is fast, the weather is reliable, and the city delivers a proper post-race atmosphere. Whether you are chasing a time, running for charity or ticking off a bucket-list marathon, get your preparation right and let race day be the reward.

Visit brisbanemarathon.com.au for the latest event information, and check out the full Fixx Nutrition range to stock up before race week. If you are visiting Brisbane for the event, Visit Brisbane has everything you need for accommodation and activities around the city.

See you on Margaret Street.