Canadian ultrarunner Mathieu Blanchard has become the first person on foot to complete the Montane Yukon Arctic Ultra’s insanely challenging inaugural 600-kilometere race. Starting on Feb. 2 in Teslin, Canada, Blanchard traversed the frozen wilderness, enduring temperatures plummeting to -40°C, and crossed the finish line in Faro after 7 days and 22 hours.
MYAU is already known as one of the coldest and toughest races on the planet, and before this year, it offered three distances: a marathon, 160K and 480K. This year introduced a new beast: a 600K course through Canada’s frozen north. When 37 runners set out from Teslin on Feb. 3, the temperature sat at -22. The runners pulled sleds packed with food and survival gear for 340K, then turned around and retraced their steps. Athletes had the option of running, fat biking or traversing by cross-country ski, and the overall winner (the only finisher ahead of Blanchard) was American Harm Faringa, who completed the race by bike.
By the time the race reached its final stretch, nearly 30 athletes had dropped out, succumbing to cold-related injuries, exhaustion or the brutal wear and tear that comes with dragging a sled through deep snow for days on end. Blanchard continued despite the conditions, and after seven days and 22 hours, he crossed the finish line in Faro, becoming the first person to complete the inaugural MYAU on foot.
A historic finish in extreme conditions
Blanchard, who holds both French and Canadian citizenship, known for his second-place finish at UTMB in 2022 and his victory at the Grand Raid de La Réunion just four months ago, had set his sights on this challenge for months. Training through the winter, he documented his preparation on Instagram, trading in his usual trail gear for more rugged equipment.
The race itself pushed him beyond his limits. “Pain, joy, madness, survival, achievement, fight, suffering, euphoria, fear,” Blanchard said on Instagram, summing up the emotions that came with running for over a week in temperatures that dipped as low as -40°F. Unlike other competitors who took on shorter distances, he pulled his own sled, relying entirely on his own strength and endurance to get to the finish line.
More than one success story
Blanchard wasn’t the only one to conquer the course. Since his finish, at least three other athletes—France’s Guillaume Grima, Belgian runner Kasper Vanherpe and Joaquin Candel of the U.S. have also completed the 600K. Even among the world’s toughest endurance athletes, simply finishing this race is an achievement.
“For over a week, he faced some of the harshest conditions on Earth,” organizers wrote of Blanchard on Instagram. “From the moment he left Teslin, Mathieu set a relentless pace, navigating the harsh conditions with experience, skill, and sheer determination.”To track the remaining competitors of MYAU, head here.
