Your Fixx Nutrition Raceday Guide to the 2026 Gold Coast Marathon

The 46th ASICS Gold Coast Marathon lands on 4-5 July 2026, and over 42,000 runners will line up across eight race distances on one of Australia’s fastest, flattest courses. Whether you are chasing a marathon PB, ticking off your first half, or tackling the Fixx Nutrition Gold Coast Double (63.3 km of coastal running), this guide covers the course, the conditions and the nutrition plan that will carry you from the start line to the finish chute.

What the Weekend Looks Like

The ASICS Gold Coast Marathon is Queensland’s biggest road-running event and one of the most respected marathon weekends in the Southern Hemisphere. It is also one of the flattest, which is why about 60 per cent of participants walk away with a personal best each year. AIMS-certified courses, mild winter temperatures, low humidity and barely any wind make it a genuine target race for runners chasing a Boston Marathon qualifier or a breakthrough time.

Eight race options spread across the weekend:

• Marathon (42 km): The flagship. Flat, fast and scenic alongside surf beaches and the Broadwater.

• China Airlines Half Marathon (21 km): Same coastal route, half the distance.

• Southern Cross University 10 km Run: A strong stepping stone for athletes building towards longer distances.

• Gold Coast Airport 5 km Run: Perfect for beginners, walkers and families.

• Fixx Nutrition Gold Coast Double (63.3 km Ultra): The ultimate test, combining the marathon and half marathon back-to-back. Sponsored by Fixx Nutrition.

• Australia Fair 2 km Junior Dash: For the next generation of runners.

• Wheelchair Marathon and Wheelchair 15 km: Elite wheelchair racing on the same course.

Before race weekend, the ASICS Sport and Leisure Expo opens with gear, nutrition products and race-pack collection. It is worth arriving early to browse without the pre-race time pressure.

Fixx Nutrition at the Gold Coast Marathon

Fixx Nutrition is an official event partner of the ASICS Gold Coast Marathon and the naming sponsor of the 63.3 km Gold Coast Double. For a brand manufactured in Burleigh Heads, just minutes from the start line, this partnership is personal. Founders Jan and Michelle Buchegger started Fixx Nutrition in 2017 with a single goal: to build endurance fuel that actually works in Australian conditions, tested by Australian athletes, on Australian courses.

Many Fixx products are  HACCP-accredited and Informed Sport certified, so you know exactly what is in the formula and that it meets anti-doping standards. The on-course products will be HASTA certified. The range is now stocked in over 1,000 Australian retailers (including Woolworths) and exported to more than 15 countries. You can also pick up products at the ASICS Sport and Leisure Expo over race weekend if you want to grab last-minute supplies or restock your race kit.

Know Your Course

All Gold Coast Marathon courses share the same DNA: flat terrain, coastal scenery and cool winter air. Here is what to expect at each distance.

Marathon (42 km)

The marathon runs north along the beach, loops through Southport and returns along the Broadwater before finishing at Broadbeach. Elevation gain is minimal, so pacing consistency matters more than climbing strength. The course is AIMS certified and regularly produces fast times. If you are targeting a Boston qualifier or a sub-3:30, this is one of the best courses in Australia to do it on.

Half Marathon (21 km)

The China Airlines Half Marathon covers the scenic northern section of the marathon route. You get the beach views, the Broadwater stretch and the flat profile without the full 42 km commitment. It is a popular choice for athletes stepping up from 10 km or runners using it as a marathon tune-up.

10 km and 5 km

The Southern Cross University 10 km and the Gold Coast Airport 5 km are shorter race options that still deliver the coastal atmosphere and crowd energy of the full event. Both suit runners building fitness, families racing together, or experienced athletes who want a fast short effort.

Fixx Nutrition Gold Coast Double (63.3 km Ultra)

This is the big one. You run the marathon on Saturday morning, recover overnight, then line up for the half marathon on Sunday. Combined distance: 63.3 km. It rewards athletes who fuel well, recover smartly and respect the second effort. If you are considering the Double, your nutrition strategy is not optional; it is the difference between finishing strong and bonking at 50 km.

Race Week Nutrition: What to Do Before Gun Time

Your race is won or lost in the days before you toe the start line. Here is the practical advice.

Carb Loading (3-4 Days Out)

Effective carb loading is a multi-day process, not a single pasta dinner. Start increasing your carbohydrate intake three to four days before the race, aiming for around 8-10 grams of carbs per kilogram of bodyweight per day. Rice, pasta, bread, oats, potatoes and fruit all work. Spread the intake across meals and snacks rather than trying to force it all into one sitting. Your muscles can store roughly 400-500 grams of glycogen when fully loaded, which gives you about 90 minutes of hard running before you need to rely on external fuel.

Hydration (All Week)

Steady sipping through the week is better than overloading on the morning of the race. Aim for pale straw-coloured urine as a practical hydration check. Adding an electrolyte drink (like Fuel X) to one or two of your daily drinks can support sodium and potassium levels without overdoing total fluid volume. Overhydrating carries its own risks, including hyponatremia, so drink to thirst and keep an eye on your urine colour rather than hitting an arbitrary litre target.

Pre-Race Dinner (Night Before)

Eat something familiar. This is not the night to try a new restaurant or experiment with a cuisine your gut has not rehearsed. A simple carb-heavy meal with moderate protein and low fibre works well. Think rice with chicken, a basic pasta with a light sauce, or a bread roll with peanut butter. Reducing fibre intake in the 24-48 hours before the race helps minimise gut distress on race morning.

Race Morning Breakfast (2-3 Hours Before Start)

Eat your tested pre-race meal two to three hours before gun time. The key word is ‘tested’. If you have not eaten porridge before a long run in training, race morning is not the time to start. Toast with jam, a banana, a bowl of rice, or a small serve of oats are all popular choices among endurance athletes. Sip on water or a dilute Fuel X mix as you eat, but stop heavy fluid intake about 60-90 minutes before the gun so you are not queueing for the portaloo at the start.

The Golden Rule

Nothing new on race day. Not your shoes, not your shorts, not your gel. Every piece of nutrition, every piece of kit, should have been rehearsed in training. Your gut is a creature of habit, and race-day adrenaline already makes digestion harder. Give it the foods it knows.

Your Fixx Nutrition Race Kit

Here is how to build your race-day fuel plan using Fixx products. Every product below is Informed Sport certified and designed for endurance athletes.

Fuel X Endurance Fuel (Drink Mix)

Fuel X is your in-race hydration and energy base. Each serve delivers 48 g of carbs, 200 calories, 468 mg sodium, 152 mg potassium, 64 mg calcium and 24 mg magnesium. The mild flavour (available in Tropical and Nude) is deliberate; strong flavours cause nausea over hours of racing, and Fuel X is built to avoid flavour fatigue across a full marathon or ultra.

How to use it: Mix Fuel X in your handheld bottle or vest flasks at your preferred concentration. Sip consistently every 10-15 minutes rather than gulping large amounts. For the marathon, one to two serves in your bottles should cover your liquid fuel needs alongside aid-station water. It is also recommended to drink 1-2 cups of Fuel X at every drink station, already mixed in Fixx-branded cups, with approx. 16g carbs per cup.

For the Double, plan three to four serves across the full 63.3 km and refill at your support crew points.

Gel X Pro (Energy Gel)

Gel X Pro packs 120 calories and 29.3 g of carbs per gel with 220 mg sodium and 400 mg alanine. It uses a dual-source carbohydrate formula with a 1:0.8 fructose ratio to support higher absorption rates and reduce gut distress. Choose caffeine-free options (Raspberry Fizz, Lemon Sorbet, Pear Cider) for early race gels, then switch to caffeinated flavours (Coldbrew Espresso, Vanilla Maple) in the second half when you need a mental lift.

How to use it: Take a gel every 30-40 minutes during the race, starting at about the 30-minute mark. Chase each gel with a few sips of water from the aid station rather than washing it down with a sports drink (stacking carb sources can overwhelm your gut). For a 3:30-4:00 marathon, that is roughly five to six gels total. Lay them out the night before and know exactly which pocket each one lives in.

CrampFix (Rapid Cramp Support)

CrampFix comes in 20 ml shots (Lemon, Raspberry, Espresso) and may help when cramping hits mid-race. It works through a neural pathway rather than replacing electrolytes, which is why the effect can be rapid. Many athletes carry a single CrampFix as insurance in their race belt, especially for distances beyond 30 km where fatigue-related cramping is common.

How to use it: Carry one shot in your race kit from the start. If your calves, hamstrings or quads start to cramp, take the shot and keep moving. It is not a preventative (keep your electrolyte intake consistent for that), but it may provide quick support when cramping strikes at the worst possible moment.

Fixx Cold Brew (Caffeine Boost)

Fixx Cold Brew delivers 150 mg of caffeine per 50 ml, the equivalent of a double espresso in a compact format. Available in Zero Cal Espresso, Espresso (with 16 g of carbs for a quick energy hit) and Mocha. It is 100 per cent natural, gluten-free and vegan.

How to use it: A Cold Brew 45-60 minutes before the start gives you a clean caffeine hit without the jitters of a pre-race coffee. If you are running the Double and need a second caffeine window between races, a Cold Brew after the marathon finish (alongside your recovery nutrition) can support alertness for the half marathon the next morning.

Putting It All Together: A Sample Marathon Fuel Plan

Here is what a race-day fuel timeline might look like for a runner targeting a 3:45 marathon. As a rough guide drink 1-2 cups Fuel X at every drink station, provided already mixed in Fixx branded cups with approx 16g carbs per cup.

• Race morning (5:00 am): Tested breakfast (toast, banana, oats). Sip diluted Fuel X.

• 45 min before start: Fixx Cold Brew (150 mg caffeine).

• Start to 30 min: Water only. Settle into pace.

• 30 min: First Gel X Pro (caffeine-free).

• 60 min: Second Gel X Pro (caffeine-free). Sip Fuel X from bottle.

• 90 min: Third Gel X Pro (caffeine-free). Top up Fuel X.

• 120 min: Fourth Gel X Pro (caffeinated, Coldbrew Espresso). Mental lift for the back half.

• 150 min: Fifth Gel X Pro (caffeinated, Vanilla Maple).

• CrampFix: Carry from the start. Use only if cramping occurs or use to prevent if history of cramping in previous marathons

• Aid stations: Water at every second station. Do not skip hydration in the final 10 km.

Adjust the timing based on your pace and your gut. Faster runners may need fewer gels but at shorter intervals. Slower runners may need more total fuel but can space gels further apart. The principle stays the same: practise the plan in training, then execute it on race day without changes.

Race Weekend Logistics

A few practical reminders for the weekend itself.

Gold Coast winter mornings sit at around 10-15 degrees Celsius at gun time, warming to the low 20s by mid-morning. Dress in a singlet and shorts, and bring a throwaway layer for the start corral. Sunscreen is still worth applying; the Queensland sun is strong even in July. Check Experience Gold Coast for accommodation, transport and things to do if you are making a weekend of it.

Arrive at the Expo at least a day before your race to collect your bib, browse the Fixx Nutrition stand and do a final gear check. Race-morning logistics are smoother when your bib, timing chip and fuel are all laid out the night before.

See You on the Start Line

The Gold Coast Marathon is the kind of race that rewards preparation. A flat course, winter conditions and a crowd of 42,000 runners create an atmosphere that pulls you to a fast time if you have done the work. Get your nutrition dialled in training, build your Fixx race kit before you travel, and trust the plan when the gun goes off.

Race hard. Fuel smart. Finish strong.