I'm racing a winter trail marathon tomorrow morning. I spent the last 12 weeks dedicated to training for this race, and I couldn't be more excited to put my training into action. This post is a gear & nutrition check-in before the race. I plan to follow up on this post after the race to share how it all plays out.

The 26.2-ish mile trail marathon course weaves alongside the Meramec River through some of the best of the Ozark's rocky and rooty trails. It's also conveniently located just outside of St. Louis, Missouri, about an hour from my house. It's always fun to run local races.

The course features somewhere between 1,500 and 2,500 feet of elevation gain. I've pulled a few different GPX files for the course, and they can't seem to agree on the total elevation gain. We'll see what my Garmin reports as the total elevation gain after the race.

Like any good winter trail marathon, it's freezing outside.

I woke up to a brisk 15°F morning. Fortunately, tomorrow looks to be warmer, with the starting line's temperature around 30°F and plenty of sunshine throughout the entire day.

Like any good Midwestern winter trail marathon, it's hard to know exactly what to wear.

It'll be below freezing at the starting-line, but the temperature will rise to around 50°F as the morning progresses. Should I wear tights or brave shorts? I lean towards the cold start - it's incentive to get moving. With the sun shining and temperature rising, I'll be sweating either way.

Winter Trail Marathon Nutrition Strategy

Running a winter trail marathon requires a tailored nutrition approach. I’ve planned my race-day fueling strategy based on what’s worked -- and more importantly, what hasn't worked -- during the last 12 weeks of training on cold, dark mornings and long, hilly trail runs.

I focused on dialing in my nutrition strategy on each long run during my training plan. On some runs, handling the GI distress proved harder than the hill repeats. On other runs, I the hours melted away and I recovered quickly the next day.

Nutrition is a finicky thing. What works for one person might not work for another. I'm sharing my strategy in case it helps you dial in your own nutrition strategy for your upcoming race. Take it with a grain of salt (pun intended)

Pre-Race Nutrition

All salt, no chaser

Not pictured - my usual morning breakfast (sans turkey bacon):

• A bagel
• A banana
• Yogurt
• Chia seeds

My body is adapted to run on a bagel and a couple of eggs in the morning - it's what I ate before my weekend long runs during my training build.

I plan to get up at 3:30 - 4:00 AM to make sure I have time to eat and digest a decent breakfast. Depending on how I feel, I may also drink a cup of coffee.

15 minutes before the race, I'll drink the Precision Hydration 1500 electrolyte drink. It's basically salt, and it doesn't actually contain 1500mg of sodium per serving - each individual packet contains 750mg of sodium.

I'm a heavy sweater, and with an expected time of 4 hours, the packet is a pre-load electrolyte.

Race Nutrition Strategy: On the Course

I’ll focus on consistent energy intake throughout the event. I'm using a mix of easy-to-digest energy chews and electrolyte mix for hydration.

I plan to consume 10 chews per hour, roughly 1 every 6 minutes. This provides a steady source of fuel while reducing the risk of GI distress by distributing the intake.

The strategy does require more mental energy than popping the occasional energy gel. It can also be hard to constantly want to consume sugary gummies after a few hours. I love gummies, but they're not for everyone.

I'll be chasing the gummies with Tailwind hydration mix. As photographed in the post's main image, it's in the double serving packet. I chose this as it's easy to jam into my bottle when refilling at aid stations.

Each packet contains 200 calories - 50g of carbs & 630mg of sodium.

The hydration mix is my primary source of electrolytes on the course. I've responded to it well in training, and I'm able to tolerate it for hours on end. I've managed this strategy for up to 3 hours during training, so it shouldn't be too much of a stretch to apply it during the race (though, digestion is more difficult at higher intensities).

With that said it can be hard to consume this much liquid on a cold day. As I mentioned earlier, I'm a salty sweater, and the weather will warm up as the morning progresses. I'm hoping the combination of warm weather will make it easier to remain on target with my liquid calories.

Post-Marathon Recovery

Not Pictured: complimentary sandwich courtesy of the race director

The winter trail marathon that I'm running is a small race. The field includes ~30 marathon and ~60 half-marathon runners. The registration includes a post-race sandwich from a local butcher, of which I'm already a big fan.

I have no doubt that the organizers will do their best to make sure everyone is fed. Of course, some races don't go as planned.

You don't want to be caught without some post-race nutrition.

I have first-hand experience finishing a race only to find the post-race rations depleted. The race featured two distances, and both started at the same time. By the time the long-course runners finished, the short-course field had already eaten all the food. I was left scrounging up some snacks from my car. Lesson learned!

To make sure I'm not left in a lurch, I always keep some post-race nutrition nearby. Sandwich or no sandwich, I want to avoid a post-race crash. I've found that immediately following long efforts with protein improves my recovery speed.

I use Ascent's 100% Whey Chocolate Protein Powder. I'd tell you it's the best, but to be honest, it's the only one I have ever tried.

I started using it years ago, based off the recommendation of a coach. It taste good, mixes easily with any temperature of water, and it agrees with my stomach. I can pound a full scoop mixed in water in seconds after a good session.

Winter Trail Marathon Kit

Galena Running hat, a Buff, running gloves

Running's popularity has exploded on social media over the last few years. I'm a huge proponent of introducing people to the sport, and that's a positive of the trend.

Algorithmic content marketing is the downside. As influences show off their latest and greatest gear, it raises the bar for what new runners think they need to hit the trail.

Running's beauty is in its simplicity. Humans are quite literally "Born to Run." You don't need much to do it.

I've tried to keep my gear list simple during my recent training. I'm running in a near hat, new shoes, and new hydration belt.

I'm running in my favorite shirt. It's seen hundreds of workouts - literally. I'm running in a quarter zip that I purchased 6 year ago. It still looks great, washes well, and is perfect for a cold winter trail marathon.

During my training, I have experimented with different hydration tools.

I ditched my hydration vest after a two-hour run. It left me with a blister on my chest that has taken weeks to heal. In the time since, I've been running in the Naked Running band. It's flexibility makes it great for short and long-runs alike. I've taken it out on roads, hills, and trails. I'm liking it so far, and I think it's going to be a good fit for the marathon.

I plan to write a full detailed review of the Naked Running band to help anyone looking for an alternative to hydration vests. Stay tuned!

Finding the right pair of trail shoes took a bit of trial and error. I ran in low-drop Altra Lone Peaks for years. They started putting too much load on my calves during the recent volume build, and it felt like the right time to switch things up.

I've wanted to run in Hoka's for a long time, and I've tried a few pairs of the last couple of years. This time, I found a pair that fit well (with a runner's loop*). They have enough room in the toe box, good cushioning, and put a tad less strain on the calves than the Altra's. I have about 50 miles on my current pair of Speedgoats, and I'm hopefully they'll work well during tomorrow's race.