In two weeks, the “Dream of Trail” Trailers, Patricia, Yvon and Seb will participate in the New Jersey marathon, more precisely on Sunday April 29 at 7:30 am. Before running the 42,195 km, they give us their impressions and advice.
WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND AS A SPORTSMAN (VE) AND WHAT DID YOU COME TO THE MARATHON?
Patricia: I have been running regularly for about 5 years. I started with short distances on athletics track (200/400 / 800m) then road races, 5 km like Saint-Martinoise * then 10 km then 15 km while trying to make a longer race at every time. I love road racing as much as trail running. I alternate the two, even if the training and preparations are different. I don't run fast, around 9km / h, because I like to get in shape and too bad for the podiums
Yvon: Being young I did athletics and especially football. Following a football accident, I had to undergo a big knee operation which involved a total stop. Then, I gradually started to run, starting with 5 km then 10 km then 21 km until the day I decided to make the queen and mythical race: the MARATHON.
Seb: I have lived sports intensely since my childhood. I even made it my job since I am an EPS teacher. I mainly practiced combat sports up to the international level before arriving in Saint-Martin. For lack of stimulation I turned from my original path and a year ago I discovered the trail. Another world surrounded by nature where I found a new fight but this time against myself. This year I am 40 years old and as I have always said that I will do a marathon, it is the moment to live this mythical test which leads to a rigor and a healthy lifestyle.
HOW MANY MARATHON HAVE YOU RUN, WHY NEW JERSEY?
Patricia: New Jersey will be my 2nd marathon after Paris in April 2017. The choice of the city was made after the passage of Irma with the search criteria, a large easily accessible city of Saint Martin. The date of April 29 can be easily called with the other race dates, notably the Trans Soualiga **. I like the idea of discovering a city by running a race. I often watch a TV show called "Marathon Man" where a Spaniard goes around the world running about 2 marathons a month. I love the concept!
Yvon: Many !!!! The last time was New York 4 years ago saying it would be my last, but by joining DREAM OF TRAIL, I got convinced to do the New Jersey marathon.
Seb: It's my 1st marathon. New Jersey, because it's the closest to Saint Martin and the cheapest. And the idea of doing it with members of Dream of Trail was much more engaging and stimulating. When Patricia spoke about it I said YES!
WHAT IS YOUR SPECIFIC AND HOW LONG TIME TRAINING?
Patricia: I am inspired by a typical training plan of the FFA (French Athletics Federation) without following it to the letter, because I listen to the advice of my friend and training partner Yvon who will celebrate his 30th marathon, nothing beats experience. In general we do 2 split sessions per week (on the Galion road in the absence of a stadium) and a long weekend outing of around 20/22 km. I add if I can a muscle building session with the cross fit.
Yvon: 12 weeks of preparation is the minimum so as not to subject the body too much by allowing recovery between sessions. It takes three training sessions per week including a long outing to get the body used to running for hours.
Seb: It's a 12-week program with 3 to 4 training sessions per week. In general S1: 1 hour, S2: 1 hour 30 minutes with long or short intermittent work. S3 is a long weekend outing between 1:45 am and 3:XNUMX am.
HAVE YOU TRAINED ALONE, COACHE (E)?
Patricia: With Yvon!
Yvon: I train with Patricia during the week and with all the Dream Trailers who want to come with us for a long weekend outing.
Seb: My programming was done by Julien Guignard, a friend who participated among other things in the French Marathon Championships, Sunday April 8 at the Paris Marathon where he was asked to be the race leader on the 3H30. In view of my performances (via Strava, Garmin Connect) he made some adjustments. I train alone, it may be harder but it forges the mind. It was a necessary choice since my "prog" is personalized. I don't have a problem with it.
HAVE YOU MODIFIED YOUR FOOD?
Patricia: So in theory yes, I limit sugars, fats, I eat a lot of quinoa and vegetables. In practice I am not very strict ... see a little greedy.
Yvon: Food is important for preparation and feeling good on D-Day, but that doesn't mean going on a drastic diet. We are not professionals so avoiding deficiencies (due to a diet) having a healthy diet and above all good hydration during preparation are the most important things.
Seb: No, I continue to cook everything. No prepared dish! I will be more strict the last week.
BEFORE THE RACE, WHAT IS EASY, WHAT IS DIFFICULT ?
Patricia: Before the race, keeping the pace of 3 training sessions per week is not always easy because of work, my family schedule ... And then the marathon training is specific, I cut myself a little from my club (Dream of Trail ) which is more trail and hiking. What is easy… ??? Uh… nothing !!
Yvon: Before the race there is nothing difficult, prepare your things well and try them during training. I recommend total rest the last week and the day before the race do 5 small km in slow motion to "start the machine".
Seb: Easy: Motivate me to train. Difficult: Get up early to have breakfast before 4 a.m. for long outings. But I have little choice if I don't want to endure the heat.
RUN 40KM IN TRAINING? WHY ?
Patricia: Never ! We never climb beyond 25 km according to my coach. This is advice that I followed with Yvon, but some plans, I know, plan outings of 30 km. In general, we do not race before the race. And 25 km with the unevenness and the heat in Saint-Martin is already not bad.
Yvon: No, it is not necessarily good to do 40 km because it takes several days to recover while you are in preparation. You have to train by alternating between long and short. Beware of the risk of injury due to overwork if you draw on the reserves you are creating.
Seb: No, it's useless, just once 3 hours. Long outings are important but should not over-solicit the body at the risk of arriving tired on D-day.
WHAT ERROR YOU HAVE COMMITTED DURING YOUR PREVIOUS MARATHONS THAT YOU WILL CORRECT IN TWO WEEKS?
Patricia: Honestly, I had a hard time knowing how to dress !! In Paris it was spring and I was afraid of being cold, so I ran long, having been a little hot in the last 10 kilometers, it was 28 degrees that day. I will try to be more comfortable this time but it will certainly be colder, I should not do the opposite.
Yvon: The biggest mistake for a first marathon is to set yourself a goal that is too high because you don't really know how long it will take you to complete it. Why ? Because there can be so much going on, whether it's a blister, a stomach problem, a cramp, or an unexplained stroke. Having a great experience of marathons, I made mistakes like, going too fast, going too slow, trying to make up for time in the second part, which puts you in over-speed and you end up tired and disgusted, a mistake not to not to do.
Seb: No idea ! Being a novice, I wonder more about the race strategy: negative split or regular or positive split *** ???
IN WHAT STATE OF MIND AND PHYSICAL ARE YOU, 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE BIG DAY?
Patricia: A little stressed because for a week I have struggled to train well for professional reasons but it will be better next week, it will reassure me.
Yvon: I am physically good but I think I will miss at least two weeks of training but I will do my best without stress, and above all my leitmotif will be to have fun.
Seb: Even if I have sequelae of the old competitions (herniated discs, cracks in the menisci ...) I'm going crazy! This beautiful objective motivated me in my recent practice of running. I am serene and I know that I will have fun by giving myself thoroughly in this test. Objective: 4H00 or LESS
AN ADVICE FOR A FUTURE MARATHONIAN?
Patricia: The feeling of crossing the finish line, whatever the time, is unique! We feel invincible (the sensation lasts for several weeks!) We went to look for the reserves of breath and will muscles at the bottom of ourselves. I wish everyone to live once in their life. A well prepared marathon is within everyone's reach, you just have to see the age categories at arrivals.
Yvon: My advice is to prepare well over a fixed period, not to set a goal too high, not to overeat and drink. The first marathon is a discovery of distance, so having fun is the best thing that can happen to you otherwise you will not enjoy the marathon and never come back. It would be a shame because the marathon is a great experience of life and humility. You will be carried by the number of competitors and spectators, be a “Finisher” and you will be proud to have run THE MARATHON.
Seb: Go ahead and go for it! The marathon seems out of reach for many, and yet it is within the reach of all those who will take the trouble and the means. This teaches you to know yourself better and to adapt your objectives according to your abilities. One should not underestimate oneself, nor presume too much of one's abilities. In short, I think this test has to be earned, it commands respect and teaches us humility.
* La Saint-Martinoise is an annual 5km race organized by Avenir Sportif Club de Saint-Martin in honor of International Women's Rights Day.
** The Trans Soualiga is an annual trail organized by Dream of Trail (postponed in April 2019, due to the passage of cyclone Irma).
*** To run in negative split is to run faster the second part of the race while in positive split you end your marathon more slowly than you started.
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