MIUT — Madeira Island Ultra-Trail

Fueling strategy for 32 hours of technical mountain terrain

MIUT breaks down into 3 blocks. First 8 to 12h (night plus sunrise): 60 to 90 g/h on Maurten Gel 100/160 plus Drink Mix 320 at aid stations. Hours 12 to 24 (daytime at altitude): 60 to 80 g/h, with the gut compromised by altitude. Hours 24 to 32 (second day): 50 to 70 g/h plus a real-food focus at the major aid stations. Sodium 700 to 1000 mg/h (wind and humidity increase losses).

Pre-start meal Friday 19:30 to 20:30 (more than 3h before the 23:59 gun): a full meal with pasta or rice plus lean protein plus salt. Snack 1h before (22:30): 30 to 40 g of carbs (banana + 1 Maurten 160). Run an 8-week gut training block so you can tolerate the Maurten hydrogel. Caffeine timing: 100 to 200 mg around hours 4 to 5 (dawn, against the sleep low); repeat at every low point. Real meals at Chão dos Louros and Curral das Freiras aid stations: hot soup + bread + cheese.

MIUT Legend course: 110 km, 7,200 m D+ coast-to-coast

Technical Madeira singletrack: Laurissilva forest (UNESCO World Heritage) trails, centuries-old levadas, steep veredas, alpine ridgelines. Iconic points in order: Porto Moniz, Fanal (1,150 m), Vereda da Terra Chã, Paúl da Serra, Bica da Cana, Boca da Encumeada, Pico Grande, Curral das Freiras, Pico Ruivo (1,862 m, the highest point), Pico do Areeiro, Larano, Boca do Risco, Pico do Facho, finish at Forum Machico. Main climbs: 4 to 5 big ascents. Technical descents with stairs on the Vereda do Areeiro.

Climate: mild valley, hostile altitude

Funchal and the coast: 17 to 22C by day, 13 to 15C at night. At altitude (Pico Ruivo, Pico do Areeiro at 1,700 to 1,862 m) you can find 0 to 8C, strong wind, fog, extreme humidity and even possible hail. Moderate to high chance of rain on the north side (Porto Moniz, São Vicente). Hypothermia at altitude with wind plus rain plus fatigue is the leading cause of DNF.

Mandatory kit: race pack, 1 L reservoir, space blanket, waterproof jacket, phone, reserve food, whistle, reusable cup and bowl (no disposable cups are provided), 2 headlamps with spare batteries, red rear light, ID. Cold management: add a layer before each night-time climb, fuel before the cold hits, dial back gels and switch to hot solids at the major aid stations.

Aid stations: official Maurten and hot soup

Major aid stations on the MIUT Legend: Fanal, Estanquinhos, Chão dos Louros, Curral das Freiras (hot meal, drop bag), Pico Ruivo, Chão da Lagoa, Portela, Larano and finish. 8 to 9 aid stations in total. Official fueling brand: Maurten. Gel 100 and 160, Drink Mix 320. Real food: vegetable soup, sandwiches, cheese, cola, fruit. Hot broth at the high points. Reusable cup and bowl are mandatory (no single-use plastics).

Logistics: shuttle, expo and check-in

Check-in and packet pickup at Forum Machico, April 22 to 24, from 10:00 to 22:00. The MIUT Expo runs at the Forum Machico square through the whole week (April 22 to 26). Official shuttle to the Porto Moniz start: departs Machico at 21:30, Funchal at 21:50, arriving before the 23:59 gun. Drop bags managed at the finish. Awards ceremony on Sunday April 26 at 12:30 (Legend and Advanced) and 13:30 (Discover, Marathon and Starter).

Why MIUT: World Trail Majors and a true bucket-list race

MIUT is part of the World Trail Majors, the UTMB World Series 100M qualifier, the Western States qualifier and the ATRP Series 150. For an amateur Portuguese runner, finishing the Legend banks enough running stones to make the UTMB lottery. Vibe: "race by runners for runners", a global community with the family atmosphere of the Madeira villages. Unique selling point: a coast-to-coast crossing of the island via its highest peak, with volcanic scenery and UNESCO Laurissilva forest in a single race.