The NYC Marathon

One of my most beautiful challenges

I wanted to share my first 20 km + Marathon experience and especially explain how I prepared myself daily.

First of all, I did not think this kind of preparation would take me so much time and energy. It is an almost daily effort and especially to be taken very seriously if you don't want to be dying during the run. A race of this kind is long, very long, but it is especially huge for your body, physically and mentally.

So you have to adapt your training, your meals, your sleep, your types of races, because such a long race will require a minimum of preparation and sacrifices. This is a big challenge and if you are a competitor, you want to do more than an act of presence.

I was with Paco Rabanne on this project with a group of influencers (Sergio Carvajal, Carl Cunard, Marvin Shrekler & Elbio B) to run the New York Marathon with the perfume face, Nick Youngquest. We went to encourage him for his first marathon (finished in 3 hours and 53 minutes, which is really good). First of all because we ran for the Team For Kids association, then because I had never run a marathon in the past and especially because it is in New York!

Meanwhile, I focused on another challenge with the Elite team. Since Asics has been a partner of Elite (especially for the Elite Model Look competition), two agents and two models (Valentin and myself) took part in the 20 km race in Paris (both a small challenge and a good preparation for the marathon!).

So that you can understand a little better how I trained, the key points of my preparation and especially the objectives that I set myself, I made a small summary.

The Training

Before starting such intense training, it is important to think, ask questions and set goals. Be able to know your abilities. It is useless to want to run above these performances and especially to plan training that is too intense. I never ran as long before, but being a sportsman and amateur runner, I knew where I was going. Having done athletics aptitude tests in the past and already knowing my abilities on short distances (8/10 km), I knew where to start my training plan.

I started on a 12-week program by spreading 3 races a week.

Set the right goals

Choose a good pair of shoes and an adapted outfit. It is very important to choose a pair of shoes suitable for long runs immediately. The lower trunk is going to be subjected to harsh tests: cramps, aches and sometimes contractures. The feet may also get blisters, but you have to prepare your body for this kind of small detail. I chose the NIMBUS model from Asics and took a classic sports outfit (running leggings, shorts, and t-shirt).

Start gradually and do not hesitate to do tests upstream (VMA, stride, etc.) to facilitate your grip on training.

Track your performance! With connected applications, it's very easy to follow your runs and see how you progress. I used Nike Running & Strava (on iPhone), which are two excellent applications that allow you to see the pace you go through the sessions.

My Maximum Aerobic Speed (VMA) is 15 km/h. It is imperative to know this data because it allows you to regulate your sessions. The VMA is the speed of travel from which we consume our maximum oxygen. Below this limit, oxygen consumption increases with the intensity of the effort and most of the energy comes from aerobic metabolism. Above it, oxygen consumption remains constant and additional power is provided by the lactic anaerobic sector.

To test myself, I chose to enter a first competition with the Elite team. Asics decided to accompany us on the 20 km of Paris. After 2 weeks of training together, we took up the challenge of the race. Everything went well! Photos of Elite preparation by Nicolas Baisin.

The experience was both fun and constructive. I was able to test myself in a competition format and we all improved our training times.

Meals

It is important to adapt your diet. The secret of the marathon does not lie solely in food, but it helps greatly. The body needs reserves, healthy foods, and care. As you approach the race date, it is best to reduce alcohol, fast food, and late nights.