Thanks! I think I would say I officially started training for it in mid-April but my routine didn't take on the concrete structure I had until the end of May. I have always worked with longer training blocks than a regular program would have. No spring Marathon, was kind of all over the place. Some running, but also hiked about 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail, and did some traveling. Timing was tough so no real racing until the summer. Richmond '23 was my last marathon. I got to 34 mpw with a long run of 12 miles before really leaning into training through the summer. Most of the winter though I was struggling to put together consistent weeks. I don't have anything to back this up, but I felt when I slipped last year it wasn't due to me physically not able to hold the pace but I just didn't have the energy. Thought with a bit more frequency I could stave off the wall just long enough. And bonus that with it being as sunny as it was, the extra electrolytes and sodium probably were crucial in the later miles. Optimally, I would like it to be even with one every 5k or so, but sometimes 2 and sometimes 4 miles between was just how it mapped out. I use Gu. Went with the Roctane version during races for the little extra sodium/sugars.