How much does nutrition cost for a marathon, a 50 km, or a 100 km race?
There is a lot of talk about the price of shoes and registration fees, but rarely about the cost of nutrition. Yet, over a full season, carbohydrates represent a real expense, and it can vary by as much as three times depending on the product. Here is the calculation, event by event.
The assumptions
To compare, we use an intake of 60 g of carbohydrates per hour, a common benchmark for efforts lasting longer than 2.5 hours. Adjust according to your own target: our guide How many carbohydrates per hour based on your distance will help you set it.
- Marathon in 4 hours: 240 g of carbohydrates.
- 50 km ultra-trail in 7 hours: 420 g.
- 100 km ultra-trail in 16 hours: 960 g.
The costs per gram come from our price comparison of carbohydrates per gram, established using prices posted in Canada on October 7, 2026, before taxes.
The budget on race day
| Carbohydrate source | Cost per gram | Marathon (240 g) | 50 km (420 g) | 100 km (960 g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELIXYR Endurance Fuel | 5.3¢ | $12.80 | $22.39 | $51.19 |
| Maurten Drink Mix 320 | 6.3¢ | $15.21 | $26.62 | $60.85 |
| Upika Endurance | 8.0¢ | $19.20 | $33.59 | $76.78 |
| 30g Gels (Precision Fuel PF 30) | 13.7¢ | $32.96 | $57.68 | $131.84 |
| Maurten 160 Gels | 18.8¢ | $45.00 | $78.75 | $180.00 |
For a marathon, the difference between a powder and high-end gels exceeds $30. For a 100 km, it exceeds $125.
The real bill is racked up during training
Race day only represents a small part of what you consume throughout the year. If you train to eat like you do on race day—which is recommended to get your digestive system used to it—your long runs weigh much more heavily.
Example: a 16-week preparation with one 2.5-hour long run per week at 60 g/h. Total: 2,400 g of carbohydrates.
- With a powder at 5.3¢ per gram: approximately $128.
- With a powder at 8¢ per gram: approximately $192.
- With gels at 13.7¢ per gram: approximately $330.
This is where many runners cut back: they save their products for the race and train using only water. As a result, they arrive on race day with a stomach that has never handled 60 g per hour.
How to reduce the bill without skimping on carbohydrates
- Make powders your base. They cost two to three times less per gram of carbohydrates than gels.
- Save gels for what they do best: the end of the race, when you don't want to carry or mix anything else.
- Calculate by cost per gram, never by the price of the bag.
- Supplement with low-cost solid foods on ultras: potatoes, bananas, or sandwiches at aid stations.
- Train with the product you use on race day. An affordable product is one you can afford to use every week.
In summary
With the products compared here, a well-fueled marathon costs between $13 and $45 in carbohydrates. A full season costs between $130 and over $400. ELIXYR Endurance Fuel was designed for this reason: 30 g of carbohydrates per serving, 2:1 ratio with HBCD, 340 mg of sodium, at $39.99 for 25 servings.