Interview Yosi Goasdoué French half-marathon champion

How do you manage your training during these periods of constraints?

Paradoxically, quite good! Unlike the confinement of last March, the government is this time giving authorization to high-level professional athletes to train wherever they want, when they want.

With this we have the feeling of being privileged compared to the rest of the population, so we really take advantage of this opportunity to train seriously and effectively.

Had you observed differences in level between athletes from different countries after the confinement of March 2020?

Spanish athletes have had a very difficult confinement, without temporary sports authorization. But overall, I don't really feel any difference in the results... but we have few results at the moment, with the few races since the summer that followed.

You were staying at the Château de la Bourdaisière last March, I think. What was the reason?

The Château de la Bourdaisière wanted to highlight its know-how in permaculture in sports practice. I was offered to collaborate on the creation of a sports course within the estate, and it was during the health crisis at the beginning of the year that I asked the owner of the premises to accommodate me for to be able to continue training outdoors rather than on a treadmill, even though we did not have any authorization. Which he accepted!

What are your next sporting goals?

The Paris half-marathon in September 2021 is on my radar... Despite the current situation regarding the health crisis, I want to believe that the race will be maintained...

In general we look for a period of eight months to benefit from a peak of form in professional competition, and the Paris half-marathon will take place in… eight months! This will therefore be an opportunity to test yourself at your best.

The objective would be to do under 1h03. But there is a lot of unknown, after this absence from competition for several months, the knowledge of your body and its performances...

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How do you explain your preference for the half marathon over the marathon?

The two do not require the same preparation at all! When I prepare for a half marathon, I run on average between 160 and 170 km per week. For a marathon, you should rather aim for 200 or even 220 km per week; it’s a whole different physical investment.

I personally feel like I can still learn things about the half marathon. Going straight to the marathon would of course mean gaining endurance, but also losing speed. You must be sure to have optimized your performance before moving from one discipline to another, otherwise you risk losing capacity.

You have to know how to appreciate this chronological process of 5000 m, 10,000 m, half then marathon, to fully benefit from your physical fitness. The marathon, for a long-distance runner, is the summit, so it also potentially means the end of your career!

More specific question than the previous ones: how to combine running and Mardi Gras pancakes?

That's the question ! But these moments are important to share, especially this year after the impossibility of really seeing each other for several months...

If you are training at the moment, take the opportunity to push yourself to the level of kilometers covered, without necessarily increasing the intensity, to burn calories which will come back quickly with the pancakes. My advice: let yourself go, but maintain a good sports and eating routine during this period.

I also advise you to run on an empty stomach, after your night's sleep. Your workout will directly burn calories stored in the body and not yet used. A run of 20 to 40 minutes, without straining, will be perfect for your form!

Many French people started running during this first confinement... unfortunately many have stopped since. What advice would you give to budding athletes to take up sport and above all to continue practicing?

It must be admitted that, during this confinement, sport was mainly appreciated as an outlet. We were out of time, we had all this free time... After May 11, the pace of work resumed, and sport was no longer really a priority.

But sport, ultimately, is like going to the doctor: you make an appointment, and you go. To be consistent in your sporting practice, you must include this new activity in your schedule, and stick to it! Even just one meeting during the week will make all the difference in continuing the sport in the long term.

Some advice for good sports resolutions that last in 2021?

We were talking about “appointments” to make with yourself. In 2021, meet at the start of each month for a challenge or a race.

This will allow you to stay on track with good resolutions, and after several weeks of regular and frequent training, the body will normally follow: it will be used to it.

If possible, try to train in a group, run with friends.

One last piece of advice: don’t think too big from the start. Want to run three times your first week? Only go running once: a minimum threshold below which you will not go. This is another technique for maintaining your activity!