Name: Julien Chorier
Age: 31
Residence: Saint Thibaud de Couz (FR)
Occupation: Safety and Environment Engineer
Team: Salomon

Favorite trail?
I like ultra races in the mountains, for the aspect of discovery and the mental challenge. I think that I’m starting to really perform around the 80km mark.Variety is good. My weight (quite heavy) does not make it easy for me on snow.

Trail or race you want to run?
The next one coming up, I hope. I really enjoy discovering new regions as a runner. The change of scenery and being in the mountains, that’s what makes these adventures memorable.

Can you describe an ordinary training week?
I do 6 sessions, one of them on a bike. Out of the 4 running sessions, one of them is a ‘nature’ outing lasting from 1.5 to 2 hours, one is a track session (in the Spring it’s about 15x500m, more in the Summer) and one specific session (work on ascents: 30/30). I try to keep Mondays as my day off. The organisation in conjunction with my job is difficult, I train either at 6am, at midday or at 7pm…

What are your goals for 2012?
My schedule is almost finished the first half. February 12 Phoebus trail, trail citadels April 8, May 5 trail Nivolet-Revard, May 18 ultra trail of Mount Fuji, June 23 Zugspitz ultra trail. I should also go through Chamonix at the end of August for UTMB.

For hard mountain races like UTMB, what are your tactics?
My tactic is simple, try to concentrate on my own race. I go to my pace without experiencing the pace of others. Then I focus on the trail, my diet, my hydration …

For us living in the lowland, it is quite hard to achieve good mountain running techniques. It is possible to get strong for the uphills but the downhill part is hard. When reading about this topic you can see that there are two different approaches; either you do some long and hard quad burning downhills now and then to let the legs get used to it or you can develop a smooth technique with a fast turn over and short strides.
What is your opinion on this?
My opinion is that you have to train long downhills. We must be vigilant and make this type of training a long time before a race for recovering.

How do you train for good uphill/downhill technique?
I live near the mountain and makes a lot of jogging on difficult roads. I do not work specifically this type of effort.

What can you improve?
I hope to improve my velocity.

You had a great 2011 with two big wins in Hardrock 100 and Grand Raid Reunion,
are you in the shape of your life or is it increased experience in mountain running that makes the difference?
I think with experience I prepare better my objectives. This experience also allows me to run better.

You have a family, are they joining you on the trips?
Yes, on most of the races I’m moving the family. My wife and my daughters give me assistance, supplies. It’s was a great help.

How do you combine work, family and training?
It’s hard but with a lot of organization I manage to juggle my training, my work as an engineer and my family. Since early 2011 I work a little less to try to be better on running and have time with my family.

How do you compare UTMB, Hardrock and Grand Raid Reunion?
These three very different races have in common the same distance (100 miles) and the same ascent (approximately 10,000m). Otherwise the trails, climate, altitude, make the races completely different.

Thank you Julien and good luck!

Previous interviews:
Jez Bragg
Iker Karrera

Efter de senaste dagarnas plusväder och regn är naturen kontrastrik, solen har tagit hårt på snön i sydsluttningarna medan ett decimetertjockt is- och snölager täcker de mer skuggiga partierna.

En medioker träningsvecka räddades upp skapligt av en timme på lördagkvällen och 2.40h idag då Johan gjorde mig sällskap på fina stigar.

/Erik

Efter snart en månad av snö och is har vi nu hunnit testa Salomon Spikecross ordentligt. Detta är mer eller mindre en Speedcross 3 CS med 9 ståldubbar på varje sula. Vi kan inte säga att vi halkat omkull så mycket tidigare vintrar när vi kört odubbat men det är ändå en befriande känsla att nu köra med dubbar. Att slippa tassa fram och istället kunna trycka på ger möjlighet till en mer intensiv och varierande träning.

+ Bra grepp.
+ Komfort
+ Snabbsnörning
+ Bra skydd på framfoten mot snö och slask.

- Climashield i skon isolerar bra men det gör också att fukt kan ha lite svårt att komma ut. Märks på de längre passen.
- Det kraftiga tyget gör den inte lika mjuk och följsam som t ex Speedcross 2.

Totalt sätt en bekväm vintersko med mycket bra grepp.
Lästen är rätt smal så har du bred fot skall du gärna testa först.

/Erik och Jerry

Name: Jez Bragg
Age: 30
Residence: Dorset – south coast of England
Occupation: Construction Project Manager and member of The North Face Global Athlete Team.

Favorite trail?
The West Highland Way in Scotland.

Trail or race you want to run?
Race: Western States 100 in California. This year will be my third time. It lures me back each year….
Trail: This summer I hope to run the Tour de Monte Rosa through Switzerland and Italy as part of my race training for UTMB. I love exploring new long distance trails in the Alps.

Can you describe an ordinary training week?
I typically run 100-120 miles per week during peak training in preparation for a race like UTMB or Western States. I will run twice a day most days with long runs at the weekends, quite often on back to back days. Nearly all my training is off road, either along the spectacular Jurassic Coastline in Dorset, or in the mountains of Scotland or Wales. My training will be very specific to the race I’m preparing for – trying to replicate the trail conditions I will face.

What are your goals for 2012?
My long term goal is to continue to improve as runner. So far, in my 8 year career, I have got faster every year! Clearly I hope to maintain this in 2012. I will be focusing on the Western States 100 and UTMB races, both of which I will really be aiming to perform well at. The podium is a target for both.

For hard mountain races like UTMB, what are your tactics?
My approach to the really long races is to set off at a sensible, sustainable pace, and maintain it throughout. It’s how I’ve run my best races, and it’s the way I can bring out the best in myself as a runner. The UTMB’s field of elite runners is so deep that many of the top runners are racing hard from the start, which in most cases is not sustainable. The smart runner is the one who is most likely to succeed at UTMB.

For us living in the lowland, it is quite hard to achieve good mountain running techniques. It is possible to get strong for the uphills but the downhill part is hard. When reading about this topic you can see that there are two different approaches; either you do some long and hard quad burning downhills now and then to let the legs get used to it or you can develop a smooth technique with a fast turn over and short strides.
What is your opinion on this? How do you train for good uphill/downhill technique?
Efficient down hill running is obviously extremely important for UTMB. It is difficult to recreate the conditions without training on mountains with 1,000+ of vertical ascent/ descent. I personally don’t have those sorts of climbs close to where I live, so I travel to places to find the right terrain. My UTMB training will often just involve repetitions of 1,000m+ mountains in Wales or Scotland. Maybe four or five repetitions in a day. Quick footwork with short, fast strides, is very important for downhill running. You are likely to damage your leg muscles by prolonged overstriding. Weighted lunges from a raised step is a good core strength exercise to help prepare your body for the rigours of long, technical, down hill running.

What can you improve?
I am always trying to improve as a runner. This winter I’ve been focusing on core strength training and cross training to help build strength for the season ahead. I have taken around 6 weeks off running completely to help my legs recover from last season, and to recharge my body and mind. Ultra distance trail running is very tough on the body so it’s a way of helping to stay healthy and prolong my career.

What was your feeling before you got sick during last UTMB, were you heading for the podium?
I was in 12th place and was starting to move through the field. My legs felt great but I couldn’t breather properly due to a chest infection. I had trained really well for the race but it was something completely out of my control. It was very disappointing, but it has helped to re-motivate me and I can’t wait to get back to the big races this year.

Is it your turn to win UTMB this year?
I hope so – I’m due good year!

Thank you Jez and good luck!

De senaste åren är det främst Salomon som exponerat sig inom svensk trail running med bland annat tävlingsserien Salomon Trail Tour som snart går in på sitt tredje år. Det finns dock många andra märken med produkter inom området, i princip alla tillverkare av löparskor har någon terrängvariant i sortimentet. Ett företag vars löparsortiment helt riktar in sig på trail- och bergslöpning är The North Face. De ligger dessutom bakom några av världens häftigaste bergslopp såsom UTMB, Lavaredo Ultra Trail, Trans Gran Canaria och TNF100 Blue Mountains. För att höra hur de ser på utvecklingen av trail running träffade vi Camilla och Andy som jobbar med marknad och försäljning på The North Face.

The North Face är ett starkt varumärke med gott renommé inom “Outdoor” men utbudet är större än så. För oss som bevakar trail running ute i världen är deras trailskor och -kläder kända men nu verkar det hända saker även här i Sverige, marknaden och företaget är redo.

“Sakta men säkert” är något vi hör ett flertal gånger, de stressar inte ut produkter på marknaden utan vill kunna stå för sakerna samt ha kunskap om dem inom personalen. Utvalda butiker kommer att föra sortimentet och eventuellt kommer de också att synas i något större eller mindre tävlingssammanhang även här på hemmaplan.

Trailsortimentet kan sammanfattas som litet men genomtänkt. De har inte 100-tals artiklar att välja på men det är ändå ett komplett utbud med kläder, skor och ryggsäckar. Det som sticker ut mest vad gäller kläderna är “Better Than Naked”-serien med den höga ambitionen att vara vad den heter.
SingleTrack-skon som är en allround trailsko får i vår sällskap av SingleTrack Hayasa, en lättare minimalistisk sko med 10 mm “heal-to-toe drop”. Denna sko kommer helt rätt i tiden då detta är den hetaste trenden för tillfället.

The North Face har ett eget internationellt trail running team med bland annat Sebastien Chaigneau, Jez Bragg, Lizzy Hawker och Mike Wolfe. Förutom att tävla deltar de också i utvecklingen av nya produkter. Lizzy räknas nog som världens bästa kvinna inom bergslöpning medans herrarna ligger strax efter de bästa Salomonlöparna.
The North Face-anställda är också engagerade och uppmuntras deltaga i de olika tävlingarna.

Spana in produkterna och se de inspirerande “Get Ready For…”-filmerna här.
Vill du känna på sakerna finns de bland annat i konceptbutikerna i Göteborg och Stockholm samt på Stadium+ (de största Stadiumbutikerna).

Trail- och bergslöpning är på uppåtgående i Sverige, det märks med allt fler deltagare på allt fler lopp. Man kan också se på anmälningslistorna till de stora tävlingarna i Europa att många svenskar nu vill prova på riktiga alplopp. Med fler starka aktörer på den svenska markanden lär intresset öka ännu mer framöver.

/Erik och Jerry

Igår dök både Jerry och Johan upp för en eftermiddagstur. Vi sprang runt i Gunnebo- och Lackarebäcksskogarna. Det blev också ett varv på Hobo Hill-banan, underlaget var bättre än vi trodde så vi kan nog köra en andra tävling snart.

Totalt 2.00h, 465hm

/Erik

Name: Iker Karrera
Age: 37
Residence: Tolosa, Basque County
Occupation: Rural Development Technician
Team: Salomon

Favorite trail?
Anyone in Aralar or in the Pyrenees, (near my home).

Trail or race you want to run?
There are many, more than I could run in my life. Because the world is full of beautiful mountains and I would like to run at all.

Can you describe an ordinary training week?
It depends on the season of the year. In winter I can run less, I do other activities too as nordic ski and bike. More or less I try to training 6 days a week and the other day I do active rest. Not too many hours a day and in weekends running or skiing from 8 to 10 hours.
Spring and Summer season, with better weather, there is no snow in the Pyrenees and we are already in racing season. The workouts are longer lasting, more charge, more intense and still doing a day of active rest.
On weekends increases the volume of hours over the winter but also depends on my work as I can organize my week depending on it.

What are your goals for 2012?
My goals are to improve my quality, run better and have fewer physical problems (I have had not many injuries but,….). Enjoy running, the results come if I´m training well and enjoying the mountains. I have no specific target.

For hard mountain races like UTMB, what are your tactics?
Train very hard and prepare all the detail of the race as well as possible; the weather condition, food, clothing,…). Trying to read the race as good as possible. Being mentally flexible, making decisions, to go and have someone you can trust to follow during the race, which gives you support throughout.

For us living in the lowland, it is quite hard to achieve good mountain running techniques. It is possible to get strong for the uphills but  the downhill part is hard. When reading about this topic you can see that there are two different approaches; either you do some long and hard quad burning downhills now and then to let the legs get used to it or you can develop a smooth technique with a fast turn over and short strides.
What is your opinion on this?
It depends on the slope, the type of ground, if it is grass, loose stones, rocks, tree roots, if the way is straight or curvy, wet or dry,… according to this, you have to go for length and frequency of the past. There isn´t a technique-fits good to all. Also depends on how good is your technique, your physique, if you are big or small, heavy or light,… always looks for maximum energy efficiency with minimal physical effort.

How do you train for good uphill/downhill technique?
I have ran in the mountain in uphill and downhill from I was a child. I haven´t worked too much on the specific technique. I do it in a so natural way that I can.

What can you improve?
Everything can be improved.

2011 was the year of your big breakthrough, how come?
I want to think it is because the consequent of years of progression and a lot of work training in the mountain. Also because in the main races, from my viewpoint, the things went well with good results. The mass media do that people start to hear your name. Many circumstances that come together at one time.

During UTMB last year, Kilian increased the speed on the last section and took the first place 8 minutes ahead of you. Was it a team order to let Kilian win or was he just too strong?
Kilian won because he was the stronger. He was the stronger during the whole race. We could realize about this during the race.

Is it your turn to win UTMB this year?
In this moment, on the dates we are, I´m not thinking about that. I just think in train well, try do make good races before the UTMB and to be in the beginning of the UTMB in the best condition as is possible. Then the race will put each of us in our place.

Thank you Iker and good luck!

/Erik

Dagens GPS-klockor borde räcka för de flesta träningspass och tävlingar men om man skall tävla i 30-40h eller mer så räcker batteritiden inte till.
Suunto Ambit är en ny klocka där man kan ställa in en lägre frekvens på GPS-uppdateringen och på så sätt få ut 50h. Låter som en optimal klocka för UTMB, Iron Trail och liknande bergslopp.
Kommer till butikerna i början på mars.

/Erik

Det är nu drygt 7 månader sedan jag fick diskbråck i nacken och den är fortfarande inte helt återställd. Jag har vid ett flertal tillfällen trott att nu är det över och jag kan börja träna som jag vill, men drabbats av återkommande smärta.
Men skam den som ger sig, det är bara att bryta ihop och komma igen. I lördags var det dags igen för ett försök till nystart. Erik skulle visa mig en ny slinga från Gunnebo upp runt Delsjöarna och tillbaka, en runda på drygt två timmar. Mitt behov av långpass både fysiskt och psykiskt kan inte underskattas, dessutom närmar sig “Irontrail 201km”. Det var -16 grader när vi gav oss iväg på Bohusleden norrut mot Delsjöområdet, långkalsonger, trippla lager på kroppen och en buff runt halsen för att slippa drag i halsen (är nog bra att försöka hålla nacken varm) gällde för mig.

Erik på väg uppför.

Solen gnistrade på en molnfri himmel och skogen bjöd på härlig vinterlöpning, snötäckta singeltracks som till viss del var helt nya för mig. Erik var snäll mot mig och höll ett inte allt för högt tempo, jag känner att jag har en del kvar till toppform om man säger så men nacken verkar ok.
Det blev ett makalöst pass på ca 2,5h.

/Jerry