How Maurten Fuelled Sabastien Sawe's Historic Sub-2 Marathon in London
How Maurten Fuelled Sabastien Sawe's Historic Sub-2 Marathon in London
Sabastien Sawe made history at the 2026 TCS London Marathon, becoming the first athlete ever to break the two-hour barrier in an official marathon race with an astonishing 1:59:30 performance.
Running at an average pace of 2:50 per kilometre for 42.2km demands more than world-class fitness, it requires a precise fuelling strategy capable of delivering energy efficiently, consistently and without compromise. That's where Maurten played a critical role.
Sawe trusted Maurten throughout both his preparation and race day strategy, using a carefully structured carbohydrate-loading and in-race fuelling plan to support one of the greatest marathon performances ever recorded.
Why Fuel Matters in the Marathon
At elite marathon pace, the body burns carbohydrates at an extraordinary rate. Even the most highly trained athletes only store enough glycogen for a limited amount of time, meaning energy intake during the race becomes essential.
For a marathon run at sub-two-hour pace, maintaining carbohydrate availability is critical to sustain high-intensity effort, delay glycogen depletion, maintain concentration and efficiency, prevent late-race fatigue and support consistent pacing.
Maurten's hydrogel technology allows athletes to consume large amounts of carbohydrates with reduced stomach discomfort, making it possible to fuel aggressively without compromising performance.
Sawe's strategy reflected exactly that.
Sabastien Sawe's Maurten Fuel Plan
The Carb Load: 48 Hours Before Race Day
Sawe began maximising carbohydrate intake two days before the race.
Two Days Before: 500ml Drink Mix 320 in the morning.
One Day Before: 500ml Drink Mix 320, Solid 160 and 500ml Drink Mix 320 in the evening.
This approach helped elevate muscle glycogen stores before race day while keeping digestion manageable. Maurten Drink Mix 320 delivers 80g of carbohydrates per serving, making it an efficient way to increase carbohydrate intake without excessive food volume.
Race Day: Precision Fuel for Historic Pace
Breakfast & Pre-Race
06:00 - Light Breakfast
Sawe kept breakfast simple and easy to digest to avoid gastrointestinal stress before the start.
06:45 - Maurten Bicarb System
He then used the Maurten Bicarb System, designed to help buffer acid build-up during high-intensity performance. This can help athletes sustain harder efforts for longer, particularly important when pushing the limits of marathon pace.
On The Bus To The Start: Maurten Drink Mix 320.
This topped up carbohydrate availability shortly before the race began.
5 Minutes Before The Gun: Maurten Gel 100.
A final rapid carbohydrate intake ensured glucose availability was high right from the opening kilometres.
In-Race Fuel Strategy
Sawe's fuelling during the marathon was remarkably aggressive, and perfectly suited to the demands of sub-two-hour running.
Total Intake: approximately 230g of carbohydrates, around 115g per hour.
That level of intake is only achievable when the gut is highly trained, and the fuelling products are specifically designed for high carbohydrate absorption.
Km 5-15
Every 5km: 160ml Maurten Drink Mix 320.
Rather than waiting until fatigue appeared, Sawe began fuelling early and consistently.
This is a key principle for marathon runners: fuel before you feel empty.
20km
At halfway approach: 160ml Drink Mix 320 and Gel 100 Caf 100.
The caffeine gel provided both carbohydrates and a caffeine boost to support concentration and effort as the race intensity increased.
Km 25-40
Every 5km: 160ml Drink Mix 320.
This phase is where many marathons are won or lost. By continuing to drip-feed carbohydrates deep into the race, Sawe maintained energy availability through the closing stages, allowing him to sustain history-making pace all the way to the finish.
What Everyday Runners Can Learn From Sawe
While most runners won't be targeting a sub-two-hour marathon, Sawe's approach highlights several important lessons that apply to every marathoner.
1. Start Fuelling Early. Don't wait until you feel tired. Begin taking carbohydrates early in the race to preserve glycogen stores.
2. Train Your Gut. High carbohydrate intake needs practice. Use long runs to rehearse your race-day fuelling strategy.
3. Consistency Beats Large Gaps. Small, regular carbohydrate intake is often easier to tolerate and more effective than infrequent large doses.
4. Carbohydrates Drive Performance. Modern marathon performance is increasingly linked to carbohydrate availability. Elite athletes now routinely target 90-120g of carbs per hour during races.
5. Fuel Is Part Of The Performance. Sawe's 1:59:30 wasn't just about fitness. It was the result of training, preparation, pacing and world-class fuelling working together.
The Maurten Difference
Maurten has become one of the most trusted nutrition brands in elite endurance sport because its hydrogel technology allows athletes to consume more carbohydrates with reduced stomach discomfort.
For marathon runners chasing performance, whether that's breaking two hours or breaking four, effective fuelling can transform race outcomes.
Sabastien Sawe's historic London Marathon performance was proof of exactly that.
