Regardless of not discovering out he positively had a spot on the beginning line of the 2013 Hardrock 100 till lower than two weeks earlier than the race, Frenchman Sebastien Chaigneau received this 12 months’s Hardrock, breaking Karl Meltzer’s counterclockwise document of 24:38 with a time of 24:25. Within the following interview, Seb talks about working with fellow competitor Joe Grant in addition to his pacer Scott Jurek, his animal encounters on the path, utilizing trekking poles, and whether or not or not he’ll come again to defend his title in 2014.
[Editor’s Note: We also interviewed Seb Chaigneau before the 2013 Hardrock 100 and captured his finish on video.]
[Click here if you can’t see the video above.]
Bonus: Seb Chaigneau’s Publish-Race “Press Convention”
Sebastien Chaigneau, 2013 Hardrock 100 Interview Champion, Transcript
iRunFar: Bryon Powell with Sebastien Chaigneau after his win on the 2013 Hardrock 100. Congratulations, Seb.
Sebastien Chaigneau: Thanks lots!
iRF: How was your journey yesterday and the day earlier than?
Chaigneau: It was an incredible day. Unbelievable. I handed 80k with Joe Grant. After, he had slightly drawback and he stopped in Ouray. I picked up my younger pacer (Scott Jurek). After, he make superb pacing. It’s unbelievable. I end in nice time. It’s nice.
iRF: I do know earlier than the race you had been speaking about the way you had been wanting ahead to spending time with different runners within the race. You probably did spend 80k with Joe. What was that like? He speaks French. I assume you spoke in French.
Chaigneau: It’s crucial as a result of he proposed to find the nation—his nation. He defined in numerous perspective with the animals—the wild animals. I see a whole lot of animals. While you move them it’s less difficult to have a look at the animal. It’s nice second as a result of it’s fusion with one other racer. On this second I clarify to Joe that I don’t make a race, I make a jog.
iRF: You two, collectively, typically one in all you’d exit of an help station slightly earlier than, however then you definitely would wait. You’ll keep collectively.
Chaigneau: Sure. Collectively about 80k. I take the time when he determine to cease to talk with Joe and I wish to take an amazing choice. After I make my race.
iRF: What sort of animals did you see on the market? Deer? Elk?
Chaigneau: Wonderful. And moose.
iRF: You noticed moose? Was it shut?
Chaigneau: The infant. Sure, at three meters off the path. Joe says, “Cease, don’t transfer.” Since you take a look at left and also you look proper and you progress slowly as a result of if the mother comes, it’s a really dangerous second for us.
iRF: That will need to have been thrilling. Scary.
Chaigneau: Sure.
iRF: You picked up your pacer, Scott Jurek, at Ouray at 90k. What was it like having him as a pacer? He is aware of and has received the race earlier than.
Chaigneau: Sure, I feel if I win and I made the brand new document it’s too Scott’s document as a result of it’s superb the facility and he is aware of the world and he stated, “You eat and drink! Go! Go! It’s good time! Go! Go!” It’s very superb. It’s a great likelihood for me and good excuse for make a run with Scott. For the whole lot it’s extra higher.
iRF: Not solely did you may have his data whilst you had been on the market, however I noticed you and him in help stations collectively and also you had been relaxed within the help stations and Scott was able to go. “Two minutes! Go!”
Chaigneau: Sure. I says the primary time he stated, “One minute, then cease!” “No, please, two minutes. Two minutes?” “No, one minute and cease. It’s a race.” “Ah, shoot.”
iRF: So there was a distinction between how lengthy you wished to spend there and the way lengthy he allow you to spend there. Is that the distinction between breaking Karl’s (Meltzer) document or not?
Chaigneau: Sure. I feel if I make a pacing earlier than, I feel it’s doable to make 23:50 or 23:58. I feel it’s doable.
iRF: Within the route you went yesterday.
Chaigneau: Sure, on this route. For the opposite route and the opposite document, it’s not the identical.
iRF: No.
Chaigneau: Kyle Skaggs made 23:23 and it’s an incredible time.
iRF: Do you assume you’ll come again right here subsequent 12 months and go for it?
Chaigneau: Sure. I feel sure. It’s within the different method. It’s a unique race. Yearly it’s a unique race.
iRF: Interested by your race this 12 months, you had Joe with you to Grouse Gulch at 80k. You then picked up your pacer, Scott Jurek, round 100k. You solely had that one part alone. How was it from Grouse to Ouray?
Chaigneau: I stayed with Joe from Grouse to Engineer. I made 7k in solo. Simply.
iRF: That’s it? All race. It’s superb.
Chaigneau: It’s superb. After, it’s a really nice route for me as a result of the target of this race once I take the bib is to run with the opposite. With the end result, I run with the opposite.
iRF: You probably did. How had been the flowers on the market? Wonderful?
Chaigneau: Unbelievable. Unbelievable.
iRF: Congratulations on the market. I’m so pleased you’ll be coming again subsequent 12 months.
Chaigneau: Thanks lots. See you subsequent time.
iRF: I’ll see you in Chamonix.
Chaigneau: Sure, UTMB. Thanks.
iRF: One further query for Seb. At many races like UTMB you employ poles (sticks). You didn’t at Hardrock. Why didn’t you employ them?
Chaigneau: I used them. To the final half to Sherman to the end line I take the poles within the final descent in my bag.
iRF: Not earlier than that. Why not?
Chaigneau: I feel I had extra energy. After for the final half it’s less difficult through the night time for kind of help for the final half to Chapman to the end, Scott used the sticks. He says it’s to not the American spirit, however…
iRF: However some have them… I feel Karl did one 12 months and I feel it might have been the 12 months he ran quick.
Chaigneau: Sure, and extra individuals use slowly time after time and it’s a good assist.
iRF: Will you employ them at UTMB?
Chaigneau: Sure.
iRF: Thanks very a lot.
Chaigneau: Thanks.
Sebastien Chaigneau’s Publish-Race “Press Convention” Transcript
Press: Who was your pacer?
Sebastian Chaigneau: With Scott (Jurek). He is aware of the race. At the entire checkpoints I see Anton Krupicka, I see Dakota Jones, Krissy Moehl.
Press: They’re all on the market. That is your first time working Hardrock.
Chaigneau: Sure, I attempted the lottery for the primary time.
Press: What number of instances have you ever put your title within the lottery? That is your first time? And you bought in?
Chaigneau: Sure, after a very long time as a result of I received the bib and it’s very difficult (waitlist). I keep on the waitlist in fourth place from December 16. The waitlist didn’t change till the primary day of June.
Press: So that you didn’t know till June that you just’d be working this race?
Chaigneau: Sure, six days in the past I obtained the bib quantity.
Press: That’s superb. Wow.
Chaigneau: Sure. However I stayed in June within the first place of the waitlist and no motion. I take the danger.
Press: Did you purchase your aircraft ticket prematurely? So that you had been hoping…
Chaigneau: Sure. If I’ve no bib, I could tempo for one of many racers. However I wish to make this race a very long time in the past, however I didn’t take the time to ask for entrance, however now I’m a Hardrocker.
Press: Any issues with the climate on the market? Lightning? Fairly loopy?
Chaigneau: Sure. After I climbed to the highest of Handies Peak with Joe Grant, Joe stated (He speaks French. It was improbable.) that the dangerous climate comes if the wind activates high of Handies and it’s not straightforward. The wind didn’t flip, however after and through the night time. Whoooosh! On the summit, nothing however very chilly. However on the ft (valley), rain. Rain, no rain; rain, no rain.
Press: Who had been your pacers?
Chaigneau: My pacer was Scott Jurek. He received in 2007. He prepares for the race in Leadville and it’s good acclimatization. 80k at 4,000 meters.
Press: So that you solely had the one pacer, Scott? When did he be a part of you?
Chaigneau: Sure, sure. Ouray to the end line.
Press: Oh, wow. That’s nice. He’s conversant in the course.
Chaigneau: Sure, and it’s very fascinating as a result of I’ve the chance to talk with the opposite racers and one of the best racers that Scott referred to as me in France and say, “You make Hardrock?” I say, “No, for a second I didn’t know (him) no less than.” I say, “I feel you run Hardrock. I make you pacer.”
Press: Okay.
Chaigneau: After, he posted a message, “What number of kilometers?” “80k?” “Okay.” It’s not straightforward.
Press: At one level, it seemed such as you would set a course document. Have been you considering of that in any respect? You had been very quick.
Chaigneau: No. The target for the race was only one goal is the loop and working with the others. After, the document and the nice place is only a consequence with the race and with preparations, however it’s not an goal. It’s unusual as a result of I’m 41 years outdated, and through final two or three years, three years in the past, I modified my imaginative and prescient of the race. Now I desire to make the race or the run with the others racers with out goal as a result of I feel it’s one goal… it’s within the spirit of the path. In ultras, if you’re not a quantity or a bib…
Press: You set objectives? Run as exhausting as you’ll be able to and that’s it? You simply don’t wish to put stress on your self?
Chaigneau: No. I come and if I end 5 or 10, it’s the identical. I run with the others.
Press: Do you assume that mindset is liberating and makes it simpler for you?
Chaigneau: After… I’m so outdated now for making a contest with the opposite. It’s very difficult.
Press: In Hardrock, age doesn’t appear to matter as a lot, it’s extra about psychological toughness.
Chaigneau: Sure. I wish to come to the end line to see completely different pals. One was Hans(-Dieter Weisshaar). As a result of if Hans makes the loop—73 years outdated—it’s a purpose.
Press: A Frenchman (Julien Chorier) received the race three years in the past? 4 years in the past? Are you pals?
Chaigneau: Sure, sure, however I don’t make the run of the race with the identical spirit. He has an goal of the competitors and really concentrated and really… however it’s not me to place there. It’s very difficult.
Press: Tomorrow it’s Bastille Day?
Chaigneau: Sure!
Press: What was the toughest a part of the race—probably the most troublesome half?
Chaigneau: The ascent of Handies Peak. It’s not straightforward. The primary half is tough since you keep very excessive.
Press: The altitude?
Chaigneau: Sure, throughout very long time, and after my descent.
Press: Did you are feeling sick?
Chaigneau: Sure.
Press: From the altitude—headache.
Press: Did you may have any hallucinations?
Chaigneau: Sure.
Press: What did you see?
Press: What in regards to the stretch after Ouray to Governor Basin. After Ouray it’s such a protracted, gradual climb.
Chaigneau: You shut the eyes and also you run. It’s not straightforward. It’s very lengthy with the vehicles.
Press: You’re on the street for a very long time. You favor to be on the steep.
Chaigneau: I feel if Scott was not right here, in the midst of that I’d come again to Ouray, and I cease.
Press: Did you concentrate on stopping in any respect? Dropping out of the race? The place did you concentrate on stopping?
Chaigneau: No.
Isabel Levionnois (Seb’s spouse): No… He defined that it was actually exhausting within the mountains. However he by no means felt the feeling to cease. That’s a part of the pacing, within the second a part of the race, the primary a part of your physique is drained. His pacer Scott helped with that. However he by no means stated he wished to cease.
Dale Garland (race director): You’ll be able to sit so long as you need.
Press: Did you say that you just and Joe Grant had been talking French collectively?
Chaigneau: Sure.
Press: That’s cool.
Chaigneau: I do know Joe very long time in the past. I feel he has a great really feel of me. I feel it’s crucial to talk lots with Joe and to clarify completely different ideas for the U.S. and for the nation… [obscured by background noise]
Press: Totally different mentalities?
Levionnois: It’s a unique mentality… [obscured by background noise]
Press: Did you bonk a lot?
Chaigneau: Sure, within the final half.
Press: On the downhill.
Chaigneau: Sure. I don’t know why as a result of it’s not excessive altitude, however little or no, however had that sensation. I wished to go down that final descent, however I ate little or no. I feel with the power merchandise over the day, over 24 hours…
Press: How about gels? What number of did you may have?
Chaigneau: I don’t know, 40, 45? In Japan (at UTMF) I consumed 45 gels for 100 miles.
