UTMB® aid stations are among the most crucial services of the event: they help you stick to your race nutrition strategy. Here is what is provided on-site and how to effectively manage your nutrition throughout the course.
How many aid stations are there on the UTMB®?
The number of aid stations depends on your specific race. For the UTMB®, there are sixteen checkpoints, fifteen of which offer full aid stations. They are listed in the runner's guide with exact kilometre markers and associated assistance zones. Find the complete list, along with menus and allergen information, in our article UTMB® Aid Stations. Only runners wearing a visible bib, timing chip on their pack, and identification wristband can access them.
What you will find at aid stations
A core selection of items is available at all full aid stations:
- Drinks: water, sparkling water, cola, coffee, tea, and the official nutrition partner's energy drink
- Hot food: vegetable broth, complemented at most checkpoints with noodles, rice, or pasta
- Sweet: biscuits, fruit cake, gingerbread, energy waffles, chocolate, dates, sugar
- Savoury: local bakery bread, savoury biscuits, cheese, and charcuterie from the three host countries
- Fruit: bananas and watermelons everywhere, apples and lemons at most checkpoints
Two points worth clarifying. First, hot meals are not limited to two or three life bases: broth is served at every station, and rice or pasta at most. Second, only one sports nutrition brand is distributed on the course, and its gels are available at just five checkpoints. If your nutrition plan relies on them, bring your own.
Finally, a refill rule to keep in mind: only still water and energy drinks can be used to fill your flasks and hydration bladders. Other drinks—cola, sparkling water, coffee, or tea—must be consumed on-site.
Managing your nutrition during the race
Skipping aid stations to save time might be tempting, but it is rarely a winning strategy: inadequate fueling always catches up with you over this distance. It is better to take proper breaks, however brief, at each aid station to hydrate, eat, and recharge.
These stops supplement the personal energy gels and bars carried in your running pack, offering variety to prevent flavour fatigue over such a long race. Keep in mind: most runners underestimate sweet flavour fatigue after fifteen hours on the trail. That is when savoury aid station food—cheese, bread, broth—becomes invaluable.
Frequently asked questions
Can you bring your own food to aid stations?
Yes, you can complement official aid stations with your own nutrition carried in your pack (gels, bars, familiar foods). This is strongly recommended to avoid relying solely on the on-course supplies.
Is hot food available at all aid stations?
Vegetable broth is served at every station, and most also offer rice, pasta, or noodles. The misconception that hot food is limited to just two or three life bases is incorrect.
What to do if you have specific dietary requirements?
The organisation provides an item-by-item allergen list. Gluten-free vegetable broth is available everywhere, as well as rice, cheese, and fruit. However, if you have strict dietary requirements, plan to carry a significant portion of your own race nutrition. Full allergen details can be found in our article on aid stations.
