Words: Stéphanie Major, Altitude Sports writer

Mathieu Blanchard has achieved what most of us can only imagine: running 170km and finishing second on the podium.

This is what an ultramarathoner looks like. And the Mont-Blanc race, which stretches over miles of intense elevation changes through the Alps, is one of the most difficult and famous endurace races in the world. 

“5 Minutes Before" takes you inside the mind of someone like Mathieu, who pushes the limits of what is possible to the point of making us wonder if maybe there’s some kind of magic involved. The first episode discusses running, motivation, superstitions, equipment and above all else, nutrition, with a short, energetic, format that will make you want to lace up your shoes and try it yourself.

With his charming accent from the South of France, mixed with the Quebecois gems that he’s learned since his 2014 arrival in Montreal, Mathieu gives us a quick tour of his apartment, or, his Montreal “base camp." He shows us his wardrobe, made up of GORE-TEX, baselayers, shoes, pants and shells (all courtesy of Salomon), explains what he eats on an intense race day (between 4,000 and 6,000 calories, thank you very much), and lets us see his table of dinosaurs. 

Watch the video to go behind the scenes of the interview.