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Ahead of Dubai’s marathon weekend, a limited-edition pasta collaboration from adidas is putting the spotlight on one of running’s oldest nutritional rituals.
As thousands of runners enter their final days of preparation for the Dubai Marathon, the conversation inevitably turns to carbohydrates.
The practice of carb-loading, increasing carbohydrate intake in the days before a long race, remains one of endurance sport’s most enduring rituals, and this year, adidas is turning it into a city-wide moment.
The sportswear brand has partnered with local Italian pastificio Sagra to create Adizero Pasta, a limited-edition ravioli inspired by the Adizero EVO SL racing shoe.
Available for one day only on January 31 at the Adizero House of Fast at Kite Beach, the complimentary pasta will be offered to registered marathon runners presenting their bib or runner ID.
Through a partnership with Careem, the collaboration extends across Dubai for wider access.
“Marathon week is about more than race day itself; it’s about the preparation, the routines, and the moments runners share in the lead-up,” says Bilal Fares, GM of adidas EM. “With Adizero Pasta, we wanted to tap into a ritual every runner relates to and reimagine it in a way that feels relevant to the city.”
Carb loading and the physiology behind it.
The timing is deliberate. Sports science continues to support carbohydrate loading as an effective strategy for marathon performance, although the approach has evolved significantly from the extreme depletion-and-reload methods once popular.
Dr Nivine Hanach, clinical dietitian and PhD in Health Promotion at the University of Sharjah, explains the physiology behind it. “Your muscles store carbohydrates as glycogen, which is the main fuel used during long runs. When glycogen runs low, fatigue sets in and pace drops. Research now shows that in the final 36 to 48 hours before a marathon, reducing training and increasing carbohydrate intake helps fill these fuel stores and improves endurance.”
Dr Hanach says current guidelines recommend consuming around 8 to 12 grams of carbohydrates per kilogram of body weight per day during this period. In practical terms, that means meals centred on pasta, rice, potatoes, bread, fruit and dairy.
Runners often notice slight weight gain before race day, something Dr Hanach says is normal. It reflects stored glycogen and the water that binds to it, not fat gain.
On race morning, a carbohydrate-rich meal eaten one to four hours before the start provides a final energy top-up. Individual tolerance varies, which is why she stresses the importance of practice.
Dr Hanach advises that carb-loading strategies should be tested during training to find what feels comfortable. “When done properly, it can make the final kilometres feel noticeably more manageable.”
The adidas activation also reflects a broader shift in how brands engage with running culture, focusing less on pure performance messaging and more on shared behaviours and community moments.
By anchoring the idea around a familiar pre-race habit, carb-loading becomes less about solitary meal prep and more about a collective experience.
For runners descending on Dubai this weekend, the takeaway is straightforward: fuel well, run strong, and enjoy the ritual.
The Adizero Pasta activation takes place at the Adizero House of Fast, Kite Beach, Dubai, with limited citywide availability via Careem.
Running events in the UAE in February
Sunday, February 1
Dubai Marathon – full marathon (42.2 km), 10 km, 4 km fun run
Sunday, February 8
Burj2Burj Half Marathon – 21.1 km, Dubai
Saturday, February 14
Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Half Marathon – half marathon, 10 km, 5 km, 2 km
Wednesday, February 18
Skechers Performance Night Run, Dubai – 10 km, 5 km, 3 km
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