They're both named Julien. They met on the trails of the Diagonale des Fous and have been inseparable ever since. Ten years apart, different paths… but the same beautiful madness: lining up at the start of the Marathon des Sables.
Julien Conte, a seasoned ultra-trail runner with two Half Marathon des Sables under his belt (Peru, Jordan), saw the MDS as the natural next step in his self-supported adventures. For Julien Dauplais, it was also a return to his roots: having lived in Burkina Faso and Namibia, the desert, the bivouac and the isolation speak to him deeply. They run together because running gives them what few other things can: freedom, self-surpassing, and human connection.
The Marathon des Sables is considered one of the toughest footraces in the world: 270 km, self-supported, over six stages through the Moroccan Sahara — carrying everything you need to survive on your back. And for its 40th edition, the field had never been stronger.
We sat down with the two Juliens to hear the whole story: how they prepared for this adventure from Montréal in the dead of winter, what they lived through in the desert, and what the MDS taught them about themselves.
Here's their story.
The Prep — It All Starts Before the Start Line
Marathon des neiges in Montreal - photo credit : julien conte
XACT NUTRITION : How did you prepare physically for this race?
Julien Conte : I kicked off the program on December 1st, in the middle of a Quebec winter. Snow mimics the same sensations as sand — that was intentional. We ran with backpacks from day one: 5 kg in December, building up progressively to 9 kg. 95% of our runs were loaded. Two test races punctuated the prep: the official Marathon des Neiges and an unofficial 60 km through Montréal, both with the race pack.
Julien Dauplais : I started on January 1st. We ran in every condition — wind, night, -25°C. The mind needs training just as much as the body.
XACT NUTRITION : What was your approach to gear?
Julien Conte : Go as light as possible, even if it means sacrificing comfort. No sleeping pad, no stove, no pillow. One concession: a good sleeping bag. Every bit of comfort you bring is weight you carry for hundreds of kilometres. The body adapts — that's proven.
Julien Dauplais : For the sand, the Raidlight gaiters were non-negotiable. Most of our gear comes from Quebec sponsors, and we're hoping to keep working with them for UTMB and the adventures ahead.
XACT NUTRITION : What was your nutrition strategy?
Julien Conte : TEverything was mapped out in a spreadsheet — every meal, every snack, every gram. 2,500 calories a day, 5 kg of food for 7 days, almost entirely freeze-dried. XACT products were at the heart of the strategy: energy gels, fruit bars, endurance bars and electrolytes throughout the stages. They hold up well in the heat — non-negotiable in the Sahara.
Julien Dauplais : My guilty pleasure? EKLOR freeze-dried meals — spring rolls and cheddar — for their excellent calorie-to-weight ratio. And tourtière (Quebec meat pie) for seven days straight. Zero regrets.
6 Days to Leave It All Out There
XACT NUTRITION : What was it like arriving in the desert?
Julien Dauplais : It was my first time in Morocco. I'd lived in Africa, but the Sahara is something else. The shuttle from Marrakech, hours on the road, and then suddenly — the red carpet, the camels, musicians welcoming the runners. Total culture shock, in the best way. A feeling of being cut off from the world that I hadn't felt in a long time.
The two Juliens, safely arrived in the desert to acclimatize to the heat before the start of the Marathon des Sables
XACT NUTRITION : What was the toughest moment?
Julien Dauplais : Stage 4 — the 100 km — no hesitation. I had two heat strokes. At 70 km, I was alone in the desert, deep in the pain cave. With 14 km to go, I crossed paths with another runner and we decided to finish together. We crossed the line in 10h38 — 12th overall.
XACT NUTRITION : A moment you'll never forget?
Julien Dauplais : I'd forgotten my flip-flops. I had to borrow Jean-Luc's, our tentmate. Then after the 100 km, Jean-Luc had swiped Lara's — so I inherited his. Desert solidarity, right down to the smallest details.
Julien Dauplais in the desert — Photo credit: Georges Ganemtore
XACT NUTRITION : Comment décririez-vous l'ambiance générale de la MDS?
Julien Conte : Le désert isole, mais le MDS rassemble. Huit personnes par tente, des cultures du monde entier, et une solidarité qui s'installe naturellement. Les bénévoles investis, le speech motivant chaque matin, les encouragements à chaque ravitaillement — c'est cette énergie-là qui te porte quand ton corps veut s'arrêter.
XACT NUTRITION : How did you manage nutrition during the stages?
Julien Dauplais : I ate every 45 minutes — every 30 minutes on the 100 km. I'd estimated about 30 hours of running for that stage, which meant 67 bars in total. Discipline around nutrition is what makes the difference when the body starts to give out.
XACT NUTRITION : How did you manage the course?
Julien Conte : Every morning, we got "Highway to Hell" by AC/DC with a collective dance party at the start line. We set off early, between 6 and 7 a.m., which meant arriving before noon, recovering, and getting less exposure to the heat. That worked well on every stage except the 100 km, where we were out there much longer.
As for reading the terrain, you have to do it constantly: the course is a mix of hard-packed and soft sand. You're always hunting for the firmest line to move more efficiently.
The Juliens' Must-Haves :
- XACT Nutrition energy fruit bars
- Raidlight desert gaiters
- EKLOR freeze-dried meals
- Face and lip sunscreen
Coming Home: What the Desert Taught Them
XACT NUTRITION : What did you learn about yourselves?
Julien Conte : The desert taught me that chosen discomfort is a philosophy. When you leave comfort at home, you rediscover what's essential — and everything takes on new value at the finish line.
Julien Dauplais : The desert got me seriously questioning whether to go professional in this sport. More performance means more sacrifices — more impact on your personal and professional life. For now, I run for self-surpassing, the thirst for adventure, and sharing it with others.
Julien Conte at the finish line — Photo credit: Florent Fournier
XACT NUTRITION : How did recovery go?
Julien Conte : Physical recovery went smoothly. In a race of this format, starting early and reaching camp before noon gives the body time to recover before heading out again. After the race, we stayed in Morocco for a week. All-you-can-eat buffets, good beer, rediscovering flavours!
Julien Dauplais : Mental recovery took longer. The feeling of emptiness after months of intense training is very real. But it's also a sign the adventure meant something.
XACT NUTRITION : What's next for you?
Julien Conte and Julien Dauplais: UTMB in Chamonix, August 28th !!!
The MDS Legendary finishers — Photo credit: Florent Fournier
XACT NUTRITION : Your advice for anyone thinking about taking the leap?
- It's more accessible than you think — some participants had never run more than 40 km.
- Take foot care seriously: anti-blister creams, Compeed, and test everything in training.
- Train with your race pack weight — or more.
- Test all your gear before the start. No exceptions.
- Go as light as possible if performance is the goal: every gram counts.
- Get your body used to the heat if you can.
- Enjoy the adventure before worrying about your ranking.
The Marathon des Sables: An Adventure That Changes You
Julien Conte and Julien Dauplais came home from the Marathon des Sables with far more than medals: an experience that marks you, makes you question things, and transforms you for good.
The MDS is not something you improvise. This race demands serious preparation, rigorous training, and a nutrition strategy planned down to the last gram. That's exactly what Julien Conte and Julien Dauplais bet on — and it's what we support every day at XACT Nutrition. Because good nutrition isn't a detail: it's the difference between surviving and performing.
Next up for the two Juliens? UTMB. Another monumental challenge — and we'll be right there following them.
What about you — what's your next challenge? Share this article and follow us on social media so you don't miss a thing from the XACT Nutrition family's adventures.
Follow their adventures:
Julien Conte - @julioconte
Julien Dauplais - @juliendauplais