Refreshments
When running in the mountains, managing your diet and hydration is essential if you are to cross the finish line in the best possible condition.
The Mont Blanc Marathon races are run semi-autonomously: each runner must be self-sufficient between two refreshment points, both in terms of food and equipment. This means they can deal with unforeseen circumstances such as weather, fatigue or injury.
What refreshment points are planned along the route? What will I find there? How often are they distributed? Should I bring my own nutrition? What nutritional plan should I adopt to avoid fatigue? How can I manage my waste while respecting the environment?
Here you'll find all the information you need to organize your refueling strategy, optimize your performance and adopt an eco-responsible attitude.
Everything you need to know about refreshments
Quality, variety and respect for the environment : the organization is committed to offering efficient and responsible refreshment points.
Every refreshment station at the Mont Blanc Marathon is designed to limit the organization's environmental impact, while ensuring a quality experience for runners. For several years now, the event has been implementing concrete, innovative practices:
♻️ Zero plastic bottles
Since 2021, all plastic bottles have been eliminated from the refreshment stands, thanks to an in-house system for producing still and sparkling water.
In 2024, the organization is going even further: Coca-Cola bottles are also disappearing, in favor of Coca-Cola syrup to be mixed with the sparkling water.
So no more plastic bottles are used at the refreshment stands!
🍏 Local and organic products
Sausages, tommes, beers, fruit, bread or sandwiches: the products on offer are mostly sourced from local producers and craftsmen, located as close as possible to Chamonix (Fermes de Montroc et de Vallorcine for tommes, Salaisons du Mont-Blanc for sausages, boulangerie Richard for bread and sandwiches, Brasserie du Mont-Blanc for beer, Maulet Primeurs for fruit).
In Emosson (supplying the Swiss side), we also work with local producers: Ferme des Lisats, Duay & fils, and Boucherie Chanson.
🗑️ Waste sorting and recovery
In partnership with the SITOM and Ecotrivelothe event sets up a rigorous sorting system for recyclable and compostable waste. Compost buckets are set out in large numbers at each feed station, and volunteers are on hand to ensure that the rules are observed. Any runner seen deliberately littering the course will be penalized.
85% of the waste generated is organic and composted in Chamonix.
Important : the Mont-Blanc Marathon does not accept waste from accompanying persons (picnics, bottles, etc.). Accompanying persons are responsible for managing and disposing of their own waste.
🧭 Refreshment station access and assistance rules
- Only runners wearing a visible race number and duly checked have access to refreshment stations.
- Individual assistance is only permitted 100 meters before and 100 meters after the feed stations. Outside these zones, assistance is forbidden, as is support during the race.
For over 10 years, Bertrand has been a committed and passionate employee of the Chamonix Sports Club. Among his many contributions, he devised and implemented an innovative tap systemto eliminate the use of plastic bottles at the Mont-Blanc Marathon. Thanks to this visionary initiative, over 70,000 plastic bottles were avoided at the event (300,000 in 5 years)!
The Club des Sports de Chamonix (Chamonix Sports Club), which shares the same ecological and sustainable vision, has entrusted the company with investing in this solution. A concrete and inspiring success, born of collaboration and shared values.
This year, Bertrand decided to take off and create his own company: Lokipic, to offer this solution to other events concerned about their environmental impact.
We are proud of his achievements, and happy to continue working together. A wonderful human and ecological story, which has only just begun.
90 km
7 full refreshment points + 1 liquid refreshment point + 1 finish refreshment point
Planpraz refreshment point (km 14)
Le Buet refreshment point (km 29)
Emosson refreshment point (km 45)
Belleplace chairlift refreshment point (km 52)
Tour refreshment point (km 64)
Les Bois refreshment point (km 74.5)
Montenvers refreshment point (km 80)
Refuge du Plan de l'Aiguille refreshment point(liquid only) (km 86)
42 km
3 full refreshment points + 1 finish refreshment point
Tour refreshment station (km 13.5)
Vallorcine refreshment station (km 23.5)
La Flégère refreshment station (km 35)
23 km
2 full feed stations + 1 finish feed station
Montroc feed station (km 11.4)
La Flégère feed station (km 18.4)
Star duo
1 full feed + 1 liquid feed + 1 finish feed
Montenvers feed station (km 7.6)
Refuge du Plan de l'Aiguille feed station(liquid only) (km 14)
The Young Race U20
1 liquid feed + 1 finish feed
Refreshment station(liquid only) at Refuge du Plan de l'Aiguille (km 7)
For the 10 km, Mini Cross, The Young Race U18 and KV races, a single feed station is provided at the finish of each race.
Located in the heart of Trail Camp, on Place du Mont-Blanc, the sample station offers runners the opportunity to discover and sample in advance the products and beverages that will be available at the aid stations during the various races of the Mont-Blanc Marathon.
This booth is designed as a space for discovery, advice, and interaction. Volunteers on site assist runners and provide information on the ingredients and proper use of the products.
What to expect at the test aid station:
- A dispenser for still and sparkling water, along with BAOUW electrolytes
- Coca-Cola syrup and mint syrup, to be mixed with sparkling water, just as they’ll be served at the race aid stations.
BAOUW products: purees, gels, bars, isotonic drinks, and electrolyte drinks at our partner BAOUW’s booth.
♻️ Raising awareness about waste sorting:
The test aid station also allows runners to familiarize themselves with the sorting system in place at all aid stations along the race course. Designated bins are set up for recyclable and compostable waste, and volunteers are on hand to explain how the system works.
This is a practical way to raise everyone’s awareness of environmental responsibility and make it easier to practice eco-friendly habits during the race.
The Mont Blanc Marathon races are run semi-autonomously. Semi-autonomy is defined as the ability to be self-sufficient between two refreshment points, in terms of food, clothing and safety equipment, enabling the runner to adapt to foreseeable or unforeseen problems (weather changes, physical problems, injuries, etc.).
It is up to runners to estimate their food and water requirements between two refreshment points. The quantity of water specified in the list of compulsory equipment is the minimum quantity required.
Composition of refreshment points
Two types of refreshment points are available:
During the race (slight differences depending on location or race):
- Food: Bread, tomme, sausage, sweet cakes, Tucs, oranges, bananas, apricots, peaches/nectarines, watermelon (if very hot), MX3 energy bars, MX3 broth. In addition, for the 90km only: röstis at the Emosson refreshment station from 11.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m., pizzas at the Les Bois refreshment station from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., pasta at the Montenvers refreshment station from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Drinks: Still water, sparkling water with MX3 electrolytes, sparkling water with mint syrup and Coca-Cola, tea (if bad weather), MX3 energy drink.
On arrival:
- Food: Hot dog diots (vegetarian variant possible), tomme, sweet cakes, oranges, apricots, nectarines/peaches, watermelon (if very hot).
- Drinks : Still water, sparkling water with mint syrup and Coca-Cola, tea (if bad weather), beer (except for Mini Cross and The Young Race).
BAOUW
Official Sports Nutrition Partner of the Mont Blanc Marathon
THE CONCEPT?
Baouw is a concept, a mission, and an adventure. An adventure that takes sports nutrition
off the beaten path, with a strong concept: creating (real) food, rather than
chemistry!
HEALTHY NUTRITION
Founded in 2017 in the French Alps, we develop healthy, all-natural
that are healthy and naturally derived. These products—ranging from purees and energy gels to
— as well as energy bars, isotonic drinks, and
— are made from the most natural and high-quality ingredients possible.
COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABLE NUTRITION
Baouw is B Corp certified, the world’s most rigorous standard for
social and environmental responsibility. It recognizes companies that go beyond
and are committed to continuously improving their impact on society and the planet.
HIGH-PERFORMANCE NUTRITION
Official nutrition partner of the French Athletics Federation and official partner of the
UCI World Cycling Championships 2027 in Haute-Savoie Mont-Blanc, Baouw’s recipes are designed to
provide you with the energy you need before, during, and after exercise. Developed
in collaboration with elite athletes and nutritionists, our recipes are designed to be
easy to digest and truly effective. From your first workout to the finish line, Baouw
supports you in performing with confidence, fueling you with what
best that nature has to offer.
All products are available on the Baouw website:
Discover the products
Our team will also be delighted to meet you and offer advice at the
Trail Camp in Chamonix!
After the race
After the effort, the comfort !
After the effort, the comfort! At the finish line, runners are greeted with generous refreshments, designed to recharge batteries, rehydrate... and savour the pride of having met their sporting challenge.
Atmenu : hot dogs (vegetarian option available), soup, tomme cheese, sweet cakes, oranges, apricots, peaches/nectarines, watermelon (if hot).
Drinks: Still water, sparkling water with mint syrup and Coca-Cola, tea (in case of bad weather).
Discover the beers of Brasserie du Mont Blanc, French top-fermented and balanced beers. They are brewed with unique, pure, untreated water from the heart of the Mont Blanc massif.
- French production
- 60 employees
- 50% returnable volumes (kegs)
- Mechanical capping for bottle reuse
- Effluent recycling
- 3500 tons/year of spent grain recycled as animal feed
- Social commitments with 2 associations: (Sylv'ACTTES / Ma Chance Moi Aussi)
- AFDIAG label, gluten-free beer
Mont Blanc Brewery
Discover the beers of the Brasserie du Mont Blanc, top-fermented and balanced French beers. They are brewed with unique, pure, untreated water, which finds its source in the heart of the Mont Blanc massif. The Brasserie du Mont Blanc employs 60 people in a French production facility near Chambéry.
Reduced CO2 emissions
Brasserie du Mont Blanc chose to locate in Chambéry to be at the center of a logistics hub, thus saving 600,000 liters of diesel or 1602T of CO2 compared to Chamonix, closer to Mont Blanc. Better for the environment.
Recycling and reclaiming waste
Co-products are recycled in short circuits: spent grains (a co-product of malt wafers and cereals) and yeast are recycled as animal feed, representing 3,500 tonnes/year. Effluent is recycled to limit waste. In terms of packaging, thanks to the sale of kegs, 50% of the brewery's volumes are returnable. For glass, France has a recycling rate of 80%, i.e. 3 bottles out of 4.
Social commitments to two associations
Sylv'ACCTES helps build the forests of tomorrow by financing virtuous forestry initiatives that systematically have a positive impact on the climate, biodiversity and landscapes. In the Mont Blanc massif, a major action: renewing softwood forests.
Brasserie du Mont Blanc is a patron of the Ma Chance Moi Aussi association. Its mission is to help the most vulnerable children in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Support is provided from the age of 5, in the evenings after school, on Wednesdays and during half the school vacations.
Salaisons du Mont Blanc's dry sausages, diots de Savoie, traditional hams, coppa, rosette and beef charcuterie are all made in the heart of the Haute-Savoie region, in accordance with 50 years of traditional know-how.
Our traditional dry sausages are made from 100% French pork, coarsely minced and stuffed into their natural casings with their natural flora: a traditional charcuterie recipe.
