How to optimize your energy for the 42 kilometers of the Zurich Marathon of Seville, by TotalEnergies

At TotalEnergies we know a lot about saving and energy efficiency. That’s why, as a Gold sponsor of the Zurich Seville Marathon, we want to share with you some key tips to help you maintain your maximum power throughout the entire course. Because in a flat and fast marathon like this one, the real challenge is knowing how to manage your energy so you don’t run out of it when you need it most.

The well-known “wall” at kilometer 30 is, in most cases, an energy consumption issue. When the body exhausts its main reserves, performance drops dramatically. In Seville, where the course encourages runners to maintain steady and ambitious paces, poor management from the start can take its toll in the final kilometers.

How your body uses energy during the marathon

Throughout the 42.195 kilometers, your body obtains energy mainly from glycogen and fats. Glycogen is the fastest source and allows you to sustain high performance paces, but its reserves are limited. Fats, on the other hand, provide energy more progressively and for longer, as long as the pace is controlled.

Starting too fast leads to accelerated glycogen consumption and increases the risk of emptying reserves too early. Keeping a steady pace helps balance the use of these sources and delay fatigue. At TotalEnergies we apply this same principle in daily energy management: it’s not about using more energy, but using it better to maintain performance sustainably.

Filling the tank and keeping balance

Energy management starts before the starting gun. Proper carbohydrate loading in the days prior allows you to reach the start line fully charged and face the race with greater confidence. During the event, in addition to pacing, maintaining proper hydration is essential. Drinking regularly helps the body continue functioning efficiently and allows muscles to better use available energy.

Along the Seville Marathon course, runners will find 14 aid stations, a key opportunity to replenish fluids and maintain energy balance. Making planned use of these stations helps avoid dehydration and reduce progressive fatigue.

Additionally, consuming energy bars or gels during the race helps provide extra carbohydrates and delay glycogen depletion. Integrating these intakes into your personal race strategy is especially important in the second half of the marathon, when accumulated effort starts to show.

After the finish line, keep the energy supply going

Crossing the finish line doesn’t mean the work is done. Recovery is an essential part of performance and must be taken care of with the same attention as pre-race preparation. Replacing fluids, carbohydrates, and other nutrients allows the body to restore its reserves and begin the adaptation process after the effort.

Just as a stable energy supply guarantees the proper functioning of a home, well-planned recovery helps the body return to balance. Having a “continuous service” of energy after the race is key to reducing fatigue, preventing injuries, and assimilating all the work done over the 42 kilometers.

The Seville Marathon is an opportunity to put into practice smart energy management before, during, and after the race. If you manage it well, you’ll be able to sustain your performance through the final kilometer and recover better after the finish line. At TotalEnergies we believe that efficiency is the best ally to go further, both in sports and in daily life.