William just arrived back in Switzerland and was kind enough to answer a couple of questions on the South Pole 100k. I hope that you will like this interview and stay connected on Facebook as well as the website for new articles coming very soon!

 

1) How do you feel after these 100k? How is your recovery going?

Quite well, my muscles aren’t sore which is normal since the race was on frozen snow and not on asphalt (like for the 100k in Bienne, Switzerland). Concerning my recovery, it will last two months and then I will have three months to prepare the Zermatt marathon taking place at the beginning of July 2016.

2) Which moment during the race was it harder mentally and physically?

To be honest, mentally, I did not have any problem. I was well prepared. Physically, the last 15k were hard because my legs refused to run and I had to walk at 6km/h at some moments.

3) What did you think of when you realized you were second? How did you handle the rest of the race from when you past two of the three first runners?

Right away, I knew I had to keep my second place. I thought about the race I did on the Great Wall of China, when I was second after three days before getting lost and finishing fifth. From the 20th kilometer, I was informed on how far I was from the second American (David) who at that point was third. Thus, i was able to control my body. I have to be honest, the last 10k were hard because of the stress I had of David passing me.

4) If you could change something regarding to how you trained for the 100k, would you?

Absolutely not. I am very happy of the way I trained both physically and mentally.

5) What about the experience of running 100k in the South Pole? How do you feel about it?

For me it was fantastic being able to run in the North Pole as well as the South Pole. How I feel about running the coldest 100k in the world can be summarized by the title of a movie: EXPERIENCE NEVER GETS OLD. Nobody expected a 61 years old runner to arrive second. I was not even an « outsider »!

6) Will you keep in touch with the other runners?

Yes with some of them and surely with Griff (first at the 100k) with whom I had long conversations. He impressed me with his availability, his good mood and his modesty even if he is one of the rare runners to have finished the hardest race in the world taking place in the Death Valley (California) with 217k (non-stop) and more than 40 degrees.

7) What is your next race?

Like previously mentioned, it will be the Zermatt Marathon, in July and then the Jungfrau marathon in September. These are two marathons taking place in the mountains. The scenery is breath-taking.

8) And finally… A little word for your supporter? They were really active on social media!

There’s no words to thank my family, my sponsors, supporters and my press officer! You all have been such a precious support to me both morally and mentally. A warm thank you for your trust and support.

 

 

Press officer: Melissa Gargiullo