Case Study: Nutrition Planning and Intake for Marathon des Sables—A Series of Five Runners
Abstract
This case study describes the nutrition plans, intakes and experiences of five ultra-marathon runners who completed the Marathon des Sables in 2011 and 2013; age 37 (28–43) y, height 184 (180–190) cm, body mass 77.5 (71–85.5) kg, marathon personal best 3:08 (2:40–3:32). MdS is a 7-day, six-stage ultra-running stage race held in the Sahara Desert (total distance of timed stages 1–5 was 233.2 km in 2011, 223.4 km in 2013). Competitors are required to carry all equipment and food (except water) for the race duration, a minimum of 8,360 kJ/day and total pack weight of 6.5–15 kg. Total food mass carried was 4.2 (3.8–4.7) kg or 0.7 (0.5–1.1) kg/day. Planned energy (13,550 (10,323–18,142) kJ/day), protein (1.3 (0.8–1.8) g/kg/day), and carbohydrate (6.2 (4.3–9.2) g/kg/day) intakes on the fully self-sufficient days were slightly below guideline recommendations, due to the need to balance nutritional needs with food mass to be carried. Energy density was 1,636 (1,475–1,814) kJ/100g. 98.5% of the planned food was consumed. Fluid consumption was ad libitum with no symptoms or medical treatment required for dehydration or hyponatremia. During-stage carbohydrate intake was 42 (20–64) g/hour. Key issues encountered by runners included difficulty consuming foods due to dry mouth, and unpalatability of sweet foods (energy gels, sports drinks) when heated in the sun. Final classification of the runners ranged from 11th to 175th of 970 finishers in 2013, and 132nd of 805 in 2011. The described pattern of intake and macronutrient quantities were positively appraised by the five runners.
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There are several reports of runners complaining of the unpalatability of sweet foods, particularly energy gels and sports drinks, both in the heat and in ultra-marathons >60 miles contested in thermoneutral environments.
“There are several reports of runners complaining of the unpalatability of sweet foods, particularly energy gels and sports drinks, both in the heat [114] and in ultra-marathons > 60 miles contested in thermoneutral environments [115, 116].”
From International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: nutritional considerations for single-stage ultra-marathon training and racing (2019) · cites this paper as [114]
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Physiology and Pathophysiology in Ultra-Marathon Running
Knechtle, B., & Nikolaidis, P. Τ. (2018) · Frontiers in Physiology · doi:10.3389/fphys.2018.00634 · Cited by 329 · see citing works
“For example, a study on the “Marathon des Sables” showed that runners had major nutritional problems due to the dry mouth and inability to consume highly sugared energy gels and sports drinks when the products were heated due to the ambient heat (McCubbin et al., 2016).”
BackgroundTiller, N. B., Roberts, J. D., Beasley, L., Chapman, S., Pinto, J. M., Smith, L., Wiffin, M., Russell, M., Sparks, S. A., Duckworth, L., et al. (2019) · Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition · doi:10.1186/s12970-019-0312-9 · Cited by 164 · see citing works
Nutrition for Ultramarathon Running: Trail, Track, and Road
Costa, R. J. S., Knechtle, B., Tarnopolsky, M., & Hoffman, M. D. (2019) · International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism · doi:10.1123/ijsnem.2018-0255 · Cited by 118 · see citing works
“been observed in successful semisupported and self-sufficient multistage ultramarathon finishers (Costa et al., 2013a; McCubbin et al., 2016).”
BackgroundInfluentialNutrition in Ultra-Endurance: State of the Art
Nikolaidis, P. T., Veniamakis, E., Rosemann, T., & Knechtle, B. (2018) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu10121995 · Cited by 70 · see citing works
“The CHO intake has been reported 31 g·h−1 in an ultra-marathon race [108], 42 g·h−1 in the Marathon des Sables [109], 56 g·h−1 in 4254 km ultra-marathon over 78 days [110], and 83 g·h−1 participating in seven open water swimming races of 15–88 km distance and 3–12 h duration [111].”
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Williamson, E. (2016) · Extreme Physiology & Medicine · doi:10.1186/s13728-016-0054-0 · Cited by 53 · see citing works
Real-Time Observations of Food and Fluid Timing During a 120 km Ultramarathon
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“Food and nutrient intake during ultra-marathons has often been self-reported using a questionnaire or recalls (15, 18, 19, 25).”
MethodAlcock, R., McCubbin, A. J., Camões‐Costa, V., & Costa, R. J. S. (2018) · Wilderness and Environmental Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.wem.2018.06.004 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
“As such, compromised energy (and nutritional) intake, respective to task, has consistently been observed throughout MSUM participation.(6,7) Energy (and nutritional) deficits, within an endurance exercise model, have been linked to stress hormone (eg, cortisol), immune (eg, neutrophil function and cytokine profile), a…”
BackgroundResultSelf-citationIncidence of Hyponatremia During a Continuous 246-km Ultramarathon Running Race
Seal, A., Anastasiou, C. A., Skenderi, K., Echegaray, M., Yiannakouris, N., Tsekouras, Y. E., Matalas, A., Yannakoulia, M., Pechlivani, F., & Kavouras, S. A. (2019) · Frontiers in Nutrition · doi:10.3389/fnut.2019.00161 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
“Although other ultramarathons feature harsher ambient conditions and steeper terrains (24, 25), the Spartathlon is considered one of the toughest ultramarathons.”
BackgroundFactors influencing ultra-endurance athletes food choices: an adapted food choice questionnaire
Blennerhassett, C., McNaughton, L. R., & Sparks, S. A. (2019) · Research in Sports Medicine · doi:10.1080/15438627.2018.1530999 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
“With respect to ultra-endurance competition, event specific rules and the topography of the race can pose considerable logistical challenges, which add to the difficulties in meeting the extensive energy demands (McCubbin et al., 2016; & Williamson, 2016).”
BackgroundExercise-Associated Hyponatremia during the Olympus Marathon Ultra-Endurance Trail Run
Arnaoutis, G., Anastasiou, C. A., Suh, H., Maraki, M. I., Tsekouras, Y. E., Dimitroulis, E., Echegaray, M., Papamichalopoulou, D., Methenitis, S. K., Sidossis, L. S., et al. (2020) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu12040997 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Total Energy Expenditure and Nutritional Intake in Continuous Multiday Ultramarathon Events
Best, A. W., McGrosky, A., Swanson, Z. S., Rimbach, R., McConaughy, K., McConaughy, J., Ocobock, C. J., & Pontzer, H. (2023) · International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism · doi:10.1123/ijsnem.2023-0063 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Carbohydrate intake and ketosis in self-sufficient multi-stage ultramarathon runners
Edwards, K. H., Elliott, B., & Kitic, C. M. (2019) · Journal of Sports Sciences · doi:10.1080/02640414.2019.1702269 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Wardenaar, F. C., Hoogervorst, D., van der Burg, N., Versteegen, J. J., Yoo, W., & Tasevska, N. (2019) · Nutrients · doi:10.3390/nu11102391 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
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Energy Balance During a Self-Sufficient, Multistage Ultramarathon
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“However, the efficiency of this anticipatory method and the degree of convergence between expected and actual intake have been insufficiently assessed [16].”
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Athletes’ medical preventive behaviors: the case of oral health and ultraendurance trail runners
Doré, A., Jacq, R., & Bas, A. (2024) · BMC Oral Health · doi:10.1186/s12903-024-04492-3 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
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Schalt, A., Coker, R. H., Gunga, H., Kienast, C., Mascarell-Maricic, L., & Steinach, M. (2026) · Frontiers in Nutrition · doi:10.3389/fnut.2025.1691771
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- Authors
- McCubbin, A. J., Cox, G. R., & Broad, E. M.
- Venue
- International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism
- Publisher
- Human Kinetics
- Published
- 2016-12
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 581-587
- ISSN
- 1526-484X (ISSN-L)
- 1543-2742
- OpenAlex
- W2341454328
- Cited by
- 25
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2013: 1
- FWCI
- 3.21
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
- Keywords
- ultramarathon, energy intake, carbohydrate intake, protein intake, energy density, fluid intake, dehydration, hyponatremia, xerostomia, palatability, energy gels, sports drinks, race performance, diet planning, macronutrient balance
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Body Height, Body Weight, Energy Intake, Dehydration, Dietary Carbohydrates, Dietary Fats, Dietary Proteins, Drinking, Humans, Hyponatremia, Male, Physical Endurance, Running, Water-Electrolyte Balance, Nutrition Assessment, Body Mass Index, Sports Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
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