The Marathon Running Kit gives you energy, electrolytes and a recovery drink for a 3–4-hour marathon, at a better price than buying them separately: Hammer Gel and HEED during the race, Endurolytes for electrolyte replacement, and Recoverite after the finish. You choose the flavours of the gel, the HEED and the Recoverite – you focus on running, we’ve put your fueling together.
What’s in the kit:
4 × Hammer Gel single-serving pouch (flavour of your choice)
4 × HEED single-serving packet (flavour of your choice)
3 × Endurolytes sample pack (4 capsules per pack)
1 × Recoverite single-serving packet (flavour of your choice)
The Marathon Running Kit brings together the products we think you’ll need for a 3–4-hour marathon: energy and electrolytes during the race and a recovery drink once you cross the finish line – at a better price than buying them separately. You choose the flavours of the gel, the HEED and the Recoverite.
What’s in the kit?
4 × Hammer Gel (single-serving pouch, flavour of your choice): maltodextrin-based energy gel, 90 kcal per serving (100 kcal for the Nocciola and Peanut Butter flavours), with no added refined sugar.
4 × HEED (single-serving packet, flavour of your choice): electrolyte sports drink powder, 110 kcal and 28 g of carbohydrate per serving, with 150 mg of sodium – no added sugar.
3 × Endurolytes sample pack (4 capsules per pack): 12 capsules in total of full-spectrum electrolyte replacement – sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, magnesium and manganese.
1 × Recoverite (single-serving packet, flavour of your choice): recovery drink with complex carbohydrates and whey protein in a 3:1 ratio, for after the finish.
What we had in mind when putting it together
You can focus on running: the kit contains everything we think you’ll use in a 3–4-hour marathon, together with the exact timing – so you don’t have to worry about fueling along the way.
No added refined sugar: the energy in the gel and the HEED comes from maltodextrin, a complex carbohydrate. HEED is made with no added sugar and Hammer Gel with no added refined sugar – without an overly sweet, cloying taste.
Easy on your stomach: stomach problems are the most common issue with marathon fueling. In our experience, the main cause is too much and too concentrated fuel, so we recommend a moderate calorie intake – 120–180 kcal per hour for most athletes – and you drink your fluids separately, as plain water.
Electrolytes all the way – on the topic of cramps: muscle cramps are one of the most common topics of marathons. Several factors play a role in them: fatigue, pace, heat and the minerals lost through sweat. In our view, it’s not worth waiting for cramps before replacing electrolytes – the goal is continuous, steady replenishment, which is why the kit contains 12 Endurolytes capsules. Magnesium and calcium contribute to normal muscle function.
The gel and the HEED provide energy, Endurolytes provides the electrolytes, and you drink water at the aid stations. That way you can adjust each one separately to your pace, the weather and how much you sweat.
The kit is mainly designed for a 3–4-hour marathon. If you’ll be out on the course longer than that, Perpetuem should be the basis of your fueling – write to us and we’ll help you put it together.
On the product page, you can choose the flavours of the Hammer Gel, the HEED and the Recoverite before adding the kit to your cart. The 4 gels come in one flavour, and the 4 HEED servings also come in one flavour.
Is the kit enough for a full marathon?
For a 3–4-hour marathon, yes. The 4 gels and 4 HEED servings together provide about 800 kcal – at 120–180 kcal per hour, that’s enough for around 4 hours, and the 12 Endurolytes capsules also last that long at 2–3 capsules per hour. If you’ll be out on the course longer, you may need Perpetuem or extra gels – write to us and we’ll help.
Why do you recommend so few calories per hour?
Because while you’re running, your body can only process a limited amount of calories, no matter how many it burns. Too much energy puts a strain on your stomach and often leads to digestive problems. If you feel it’s not enough, increase it gradually – it’s always easier to top up a little than to deal with the consequences of taking in too much.
Does Endurolytes help with cramps?
Yes, that’s one of the things it’s for. A lack of the electrolytes lost through sweat is one of the common causes of cramps in long races, and Endurolytes replaces exactly these – sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium and magnesium – in balanced proportions. Magnesium and calcium contribute to normal muscle function.
It’s important to know that cramps can have several causes: fatigue, an unusually fast pace, heat, and too little or even too much fluid can all play a role, so no single product is a 100% solution. The best thing you can do is not to wait for cramps: take your first dose before the start, then replace electrolytes steadily every hour. If you’re prone to cramping, run in very hot weather or sweat heavily, Endurolytes Extreme may be the better choice.
Why shouldn’t I eat in the three hours before the start?
In our experience, this allows your body to make the best use of the glycogen stored in your muscles. If you do need a little energy, have a Hammer Gel 5–10 minutes before the start – but not earlier.
Do I need water as well?
Yes. Drink plain water with the gel and the Endurolytes capsules at the aid stations; HEED needs to be mixed with water. We generally recommend 0.5–0.75 litres of fluid per hour, and up to 0.8 litres in hot weather.
When should I drink Recoverite?
Within 30 minutes of crossing the finish line. That’s when conditions are most favourable for your body to refill its glycogen stores; Recoverite provides complex carbohydrates and whey protein for this.
Are Hammer Nutrition products tested by an independent laboratory?
Yes. Our products are manufactured in accordance with US manufacturing regulations (21 CFR 111): every raw material used is tested for purity, potency, identity and integrity, and they are checked at every stage of production before they go on sale.
HOW TO USE
Before the race
If possible, don’t eat in the three hours before the start.
15–30 minutes before the start: 2 Endurolytes capsules.
5–10 minutes before the start: 1 Hammer Gel.
During the race
Energy: about 120–180 kcal per hour – for example 1 serving of HEED mixed with water, or 1 Hammer Gel every 30–45 minutes, or a combination of the two.
Electrolytes: 2–3 Endurolytes capsules per hour; in the heat or if you sweat heavily, you may need more (1–6 capsules per hour for most athletes).
Fluids: about 0.5–0.75 litres of water per hour at the aid stations, up to 0.8 litres in hot weather.
After the finish
Drink the Recoverite within 30 minutes.
Try the servings in a long training session first, not on race day.
Good to know
Caffeine: the Espresso (50 mg) and Tropical (25 mg) Hammer Gel, the Cherry-Bomb HEED (25 mg) and the Caffe Latte Recoverite (25 mg) contain caffeine: not recommended for children or pregnant or breastfeeding women.
Allergens: Recoverite contains milk (whey protein); the Peanut Butter Hammer Gel flavours contain peanuts, and Nocciola contains hazelnuts and milk. Some of the products are made in facilities that also process other allergens – you’ll find the details on the product pages.
HEED and Recoverite contain xylitol – do not give them to your dog.
If you have high blood pressure, kidney or heart disease, or follow a low-sodium diet, consult your doctor about electrolyte replacement.
