Athlete · The Collective

Mélanie DesAutels

Orford, QCMarathon

Fuel like Mélanie @melaniedesa Strava ↗

2nd

Mesa Marathon

Marathon · 2026

1st

Montreal Marathon

Marathon · 2024

8th woman

Los Angeles Marathon

2:42:22, personal best · 2024

2h42

Usual time

Marathon

The story

Meet Mélanie.

Mélanie DesAutels is an elite Canadian marathoner from Sherbrooke and a two-time winner of the Montreal Marathon, including 2024 in 2:46:16. She opened 2026 with 2nd place at the Mesa Marathon in Arizona in 2:47:13. She races everything from a fast 3k on the track to 42.2 km on the road.

Sports: Marathon
Home base: Orford, Quebec
Go-to distance: Marathon
Level: Elite
Favourite race: Running in Boston, whether at the marathon or on the BU track. The running vibes are truly next level at every single event.
Back Mélanie: Instagram ↗

Out there

Out there with Mélanie.

Highlights

Mélanie’s road so far.

2026
2nd at the Mesa Marathon in Arizona in 2:47:13. Source ↗
2024
Won the women's race at the Montreal Marathon in 2:46:16. Source ↗
2023
Won the women's race at the McGill Open cross-country (6 km) on Mount Royal for the Université de Sherbrooke Vert & Or, in 22:28. Source ↗
2023
Ran 2:49:24 in Ottawa, a time on Athlétisme Québec's top-50 women's marathon ranking. Source ↗
2022
Won the women's race at the Montreal Marathon in 2:53:02, her first of two wins there. Source ↗

Race day

Race day, Mélanie’s way.

From breakfast to the finish line, in Mélanie’s own words.

Race morning
Bagel ou gruau avec banane et café
Right before the start
1 h avant : gel PERFORMANCE au cassis. 15 min avant : gel abricot
During
Un gel à tous les 5 km
After
Boisson Immediate Recovery au chocolat

Off the clock

The real Mélanie.

Mélanie’s best advice

Focus sur l’alimentation avant/pendant/après chaque entraînement

Race-day ritual

Rien de nouveau avant/pendant une course

Hype song

AC/DC Thunderstruck

Outside of sport

Mon dalmatien Rocky m’accompagne souvent sur mes sorties faciles!

WHEN IT TASTES GOOD, IT’S GOOD.*

Mélanie’s words, not ours: “Avec XACT, chaque entraînement devient une occasion d’optimiser ma nutrition, de repousser mes limites et de maximiser ma performance le jour J.”

Mélanie’s picks

In Mélanie’s bag.

All of Mélanie’s picks in one go.

BEFORE · DURING

Mélanie’s flavour: Apricot

XACT Energy Fruit Gels

Apricot is sold out right now, so we started you on Blackcurrant.

$105 · box of 24That’s $4.38 a gel

AFTER

Mélanie’s flavour: Coconut

XACT Protein Wafer

$88 · box of 24That’s $3.67 a wafer

AFTER

Mélanie’s flavour: Chocolate

XACT Immediate Recovery

$56 · box of 12That’s $4.67 a packet

Rather try them in person? Also at your local shop →

In the media

Read, watch and listen.

VideoCes Deux-Là, episode 45: the athlete behind the performance (in French)Ces Deux-Là · 2026 VideoCes Deux-Là, episode 46: the nutrition behind the performance (in French)Ces Deux-Là · 2026 VideoCes Deux-Là, episode 47: the habits behind the performance (in French)Ces Deux-Là · 2026 InstagramWhat does a gel actually do? (Ces Deux-Là podcast)@cesdeuxlapodcast × @xactnutrition · 2026 InstagramHer favourite running event (not the one you think)@cesdeuxlapodcast × @xactnutrition · 2026 InstagramA few questions before the podcast@xactnutrition · 2026

Results

At the finish line.

Year	Race	Category	Result
2026	Mesa Marathon	Marathon	2nd, 2:47:13
2024	Montreal Marathon	Marathon	1st, 2:46:16
2024	Los Angeles Marathon	2:42:22, personal best	8th woman
2023	Ottawa Marathon	Marathon	2:49:24
2022	Montreal Marathon	Marathon	1st, 2:53:02