Fuelling a Marathon des Sables Win: Anna Comet Pascua x Expedition Foods

January 27, 2026

Quick read: short on time? Here are the main points you need to know from our interview with Marathon des Sables (MDS) 2022 women's champion - Anna Comet Pascua. Learn the essentials on what she ate, how she fuelled 3,000 kcal a day, and the small nutrition tweaks that made a big difference in the Sahara.

Race‑ready calories: she carried ~3,000 kcal/day, including two 1,000 kcal Expedition Foods meals (lunch and dinner) to stay fuelled and strong.
Meals you’ll actually want to eat: “Some days I even ate them cold… they were left with a slightly crunchy mixture — very, very good.”
Top pick: Expedition Foods Chicken Rice with Vegetables (gluten free) — filling, easy to digest, and energising.
Nutrition as strategy: planning, testing and trusting your food is non‑negotiable: “Nutrition in MdS is key.”
What she’ll change next time: more breakfast variety to beat monotony and a light, high‑calorie afternoon treat to lift spirits during long afternoons.

Read on for the full interview: detailed meal choices, daily calorie planning, race‑day tips, and the mindset that carried Anna to victory.

INTERVIEW: Fuelling Victory at the Marathon des Sables with Expedition Foods

The Marathon des Sables (MDS) is one of the toughest foot races on the planet, a 250 km, self‑sufficient journey across the Sahara Desert where nutrition becomes a decisive part of performance. Expedition Foods (EF) caught up with elite trail runner and MDS champion Anna Comet (AC) to talk about fuelling strategies, favourite meals, and the mindset needed to thrive in multi‑day racing.

EF: Can you share what you ate during the MDS? Which Expedition Foods meals or snacks were your go-to choices in the desert?

AC: During my first MDS I ate a variety of Expedition Foods 1,000 kcal gluten free meals. Now I don't remember clearly which ones, but I do remember that they were good! I arrived to the meals wanting to eat them! Some days I even ate them cold because I was too lazy to heat water. I would soak them and leave them for a while and they would be left with a slightly crunchy mixture, very, very good.

EF: Looking back at your victory at the MDS, what role did nutrition play in helping you cross the finish line first?

AC: Nutrition in MDS is key. You have to be very clear about what you are going to eat, try it, know that you like it and that it will not give you gastrointestinal problems. I always told my coach: "I have to arrive very strong because I want to bring the necessary food in my backpack, I can't run out of energy." Therefore, nutrition and hydration are one of the key points without a doubt.

EF: How did you plan your daily calorie intake to meet your body's energy demands?

AC: Although the organisation asks for a minimum of 2,000 Kcal per day, I brought about 3,000 a day. For this reason, I always brought 1,000 kcal lunch and dinner from Expedition Foods and for breakfast I made baby porridge, but for the next occasion I want to try some breakfasts from Expedition Foods.

EF: What was your favourite freeze-dried meal in the desert, and why did it stand out to you?

AC: One of my favourites was Expedition Foods Chicken with Rice and Vegetables. I found it very tasty, it filled me up, I digested it very well and it gave me energy.

But I also liked the rest of what I brought. I bring everything gluten-free because I am coeliac and it gives me great peace of mind to know that the dishes I choose are safe for me. And good!

EF: When you prepare for your next Marathon des Sables, what changes (if any) will you make to your nutrition plan?

AC: I won't change too many things. I did very well in general. I want to try Expedition Foods breakfasts to have variety because otherwise the monotony of the food added to the tiredness, there comes a day when it's a bit hard to eat and that can't be me.

I also want to bring something extra good for the afternoons, something that weighs little and has a lot of kcal to distract the hunger and boredom of the afternoons.

EF: What first inspired you to take on multi-day races?

AC: I've been doing stage races for many years. I've won the Everest Trail Race 3 times, the Transrockies run in the USA 1 time, The Coastal Challenge in Costa Rica, Eurafrica Trail in Spain and Morocco... I like them. It's not just about running, you have to manage a lot of other things and I think I'm good at it. I also really like the contact you make with other people. It's brutal!

EF: "Brutal" sounds like a fair description! What was the most challenging moment you’ve had during a multi-day race, and how did you push through it?

AC: In a stage race you have all kinds of moments. Good and very good, euphoric! Bad, very bad. They all get better and leave each other behind! Both the good and the bad. Therefore, I always think that you have to enjoy the good without thinking too much about it and get through the bad as much as you can, without thinking too much about it.

What I am clear about is that to face a stage race you have to be very strong physically, but above all, mentally!

EF: You’ve balanced elite trail running with being a mother — do you have any advice for other parents aiming to do the same?

AC: For me, being a mother is natural and being an athlete is too. I don't understand, right now, my life without either of the two things. It is clear that combining it is not easy, you have to want it and be very organized to achieve everything.

When I train or travel and I am not with my children, I always think that it is another way to educate them. They have to understand that we all need our space and that living as a mother who does these things makes them grow with this naturalness, therefore, in the future when it is their turn they will also live it naturally.

EF: Do you have an adventure 'bucket list'? We'd love to hear what's on it!

AC: There are always so many things to do. I'm not a list person. I just keep my eyes and mind open to find things I like.

EF: And just for fun — if you could design and freeze-dry your dream Expedition Foods meal to enjoy after a long day in the desert, what would it be?

AC: How difficult! I would probably say a good pizza and a huge chocolate cookie soaked in a good coffee machine. They are not foods that I normally feel like eating, but there you spend so many kcal that your body asks for these things.

Anna Comet in the Marathon Des Sables ultramarathon

Final Thoughts

Nutrition is one of the most powerful tools an athlete can carry into the Marathon des Sables, and this interview highlights just how essential it is to plan, test, and trust your food. From 1,000 kcal Expedition Foods meals to gluten‑free peace of mind, Anna's approach shows how the right fuel can support both performance and enjoyment in the harshest environments on Earth.

Anna's reflections on mental resilience, the highs and lows of stage racing, and balancing motherhood with elite sport offer inspiration far beyond the desert. Whether you're preparing for your first MDS or your tenth, her advice is a reminder that preparation, mindset, and the right meals can make all the difference.

Are you taking part in the MDS or another stage race? Get in touch with us now for advice, support and exclusive offers - send us an email.

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