2023-10-14 12:00:00
But why do they run so much? So what can motivate these extreme athletes to tackle extraordinary races, such as the 171 kilometers of the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) and its 10,000 meters of elevation gain? This is the question the documentary attempts to answer. Through hills and through evils d’Interior Sport on Canal+, broadcast Saturday October 14 at 7:35 p.m.
Director Anthony Wolfstyn chose to follow one of the best French ultra-trailers, Mathieu Blanchard (36 years old), who finished second in the legendary race around Mont-Blanc, in 2022. The 40-minute documentary begins in in June in California, where Mathieu is training on another ultra-trail classic: the Western States, in California. We can sometimes be surprised by the distress of this extreme athlete, often on the verge of breaking down, on the verge of breaking down both physically and psychologically. Like when he was dropped off, in the middle of a climb, by Courtney Dauwalter, without being able to do anything. He will finish seventh in a race he expected to win.
Extreme suffering
It’s even harder on the steep slopes of Mont-Blanc. After a dizzying training in the region, along a ledge with, on its right, a 1,000 meter ravine – the images are sumptuous and worth going through the documentary in themselves – Mathieu Blanchard takes the start of the race whose arrival took place on September 2, 2023.
Blanchard knows this UTMB well having completed it under 20 hours during the previous edition. But this year is more difficult. We see him and we begin to suffer with him, especially when he comes to seek comfort in the arms of his partner and his closest collaborator, Alix. A great way to show that ultra-trail running is far from being a solitary practice but indeed a team effort.
Through hills and through evils, Interior Sport x Mathieu Blanchard, Saturday October 14 at 7:35 p.m. on Canal+
#dive #ultratrail #hell