Questions Pour Un Champion avec Alister Gardner

J’ai pratiqué plusieurs sports de manière compétitive et le trail m’impressionne  par la qualité des gens que j’y rencontre. Cette semaine j’ai décidé de faire une courte entrevue avec un acteur inspirant et important du trail au Québec, Alister Garder. Alister est entraîneur au Club De Trail de Bromont. L’an dernier il a terminé 5e au relevé North Face Endurance Challenge (80k) de Bear Mountain et 5e au Championnats canadien de course en montagne de Sutton. En 2012, il avait remporté le Hellgate 100 avec un nouveau record de parcours et terminé 2e ici au Ultimate XC.

Je n’ai eu la chance de courir avec toi qu’une fois à Bromont au printemps dernier. Ce fût suffisant pour savoir que tu es le genre de personne qu’on veut comme ami de trail. Et bingo, il semblerait que nous participerons tous deux à l’UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc) cette année.

Est-ce que ça fait longtemps que tu penses à participer à cette course? Pourquoi celle-là en particulier?

I found out about the UTMB in 2011, when I went looking for the biggest ultra race I could do. I had just completed the Ultimate XC 35 km in Tremblant and was looking to see how big the challenge of trail running could be. UTMB was a perfect fit as I lived in Chamonix long before I even knew trail running existed, but there was to get enough points to qualify, so in 2011 I ran my first ultra (Virgil Crest) to get the point to do CCC in 2012. Then with CCC, UROC and Hellgate I had the points needed to enter the draw for UTMB.

Je crois avoir compris que tu t’étais blessé en cours de saison. Des leçons à en tirer ou un simple accident de parcours?

I am pretty much injured all the time but yes last year was a bad one. At the NACAC Mountain Running Championships I broke the 2nd metatarsal in my left foot. My foot was aching a few days before and during the race by the second loop (3 loops up and down the mountain) it was pretty certain the bone was snapped. I did finish the race though, it was agony but it seemed a waste to not finish what was started. But that was my season officially over with. I am healed up now and pleased to say even recovering from a more recent issue.

Lessons learned?

I hope so, probably not the essential ones like ‘listen to your body’, but with the time off I was able to explore cross training options, from weight training in the gym to swimming and biking. I felt in great shape as a result and was able to come back strong.

Tu viens probablement de terminer ta planification de saison 2014. Que feras-tu différemment cette année?
À quelles courses prévois-tu participer?

With regards to training, this year I want to get out and explore a bit more. Last year I was hitting many of the same trails (even though I did find a bunch of sweet stashes around my local mountain, Bromont). I would love to go check out other places in Quebec and hopefully train more with guys like Jeff Gosselin and Florent Bougin. They’re truly inspirational as trail runners. As for races hopefully as many local races as possible; I love the race scene in Quebec and it is cool to see everyone going for it. UTMB does get in the way of a few big races though, I am still playing it by ear but if I am feeling fit enough afterwards then I am keen to do XC Harricana. And of course XTrail Sutton is high on my list, its where it all began for me.

Ça fait quelques saisons que tu fais du trail. Quelles seraient pour toi les 3 plus importantes leçons d’entraînement que tu en as tirées?

Number 1 : Hill climbs, they hurt but are rewarding.
Number 2: Downhill, this should be the fastest part of your race. As a coach, too often I see people holding back, when gravity should be their friend.
Number 3: Do some sort of muscular training; it helps with reducing fatigue on the long runs, sprint finishes and of course helps prevent injury.

En terminant, as-tu un conseil pour quelqu’un qui passe de la route à la trail cette année?

Haha, I have 2 actually: stop thinking in a straight line, use the terrain to the left and right to better climb and descend. More importantly, don’t be afraid to fall over. If you haven’t got grazed hands and knees you’re not trying hard enough. And 1 bonus advice would be when you get to the top of the hill remember to enjoy the view!

Posted by philgo20 in Entraînement, Entrevues On mars 6, 2014