As part of a nutrition plan for UTMB® preparation an important phase will be acclimatising to a specific diet, the discipline it requires, and the constraints of racing nutrition. Preparing your fuelling strategy for ultra trail is therefore fundamental to avoiding setbacks on race day.
A discipline to adopt
As soon as you begin your physical preparation for the UTMB® — several months in advance — you need to adopt an appropriate nutrition plan. Where possible, this should be guided by a nutritionist or coach, and should be precise about daily caloric intake and the balance between proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Your discipline in sticking to it will largely determine your ability to arrive in peak condition on race day, and above all to hit the training milestones your preparation demands. Don't neglect your nutrition in the months leading up to the event — it will also condition your ability to train effectively.
Simulating race conditions
Race-day fuelling is also a challenge to manage. It is therefore important to train your body to run on gels, energy bars and specialist drinks during all your training sessions — especially the long ones. Get used to the same nutrition you will find at the nutrition aid stations on race day. Respecting these fundamentals will help you avoid digestive issues or nausea during your final high-intensity sessions, your back-to-back weekends, or worse, on UTMB® race day itself. To find out more:
