Trail running
athletes in tune with nature
For some, hiking trails are synonymous with relaxation. But for others, they're more like a playground where pushing yourself to the limit is combined with the joy of racing through nature. Here you’ll discover three athletes whose hearts beat faster with every stride, especially as they explore forests and mountains with a tremendous sense of freedom!
Annie Wagner Bouthillier
The contemplative one
Trail running was a natural choice for Annie Wagner Bouthillier, a true lover of sport and the great outdoors,. "It's simple, it's varied, and I adore being outdoors. Plus I'm a contemplative nature lover," sums up the 43-year-old mother of two.
The woman who lives beneath Mont Sainte-Anne and works for Sépaq is a Jill-of-all-trades sportswoman who switches from road to trail, whether running or cycling. "I'm a girl who thrives on adventure," sums up this versatile athlete who dreams of donning an official bib for a run in the Ultra-Trail des Chic-Chocs competition. "It's on my bucket list!"
Although she says she only trains and competes for pleasure, she doesn't shy away from serious ultra distances, such as the 50 km Québec Mega Trail (QMT) or the 65 km Ultra-Trail Harricana (UTHC) - which cuts through magnificent Parc national des Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie - two challenging races she completed last year.
"My performance goal is to cross the finish line!" asserts the woman who has been running regularly for the past ten years. Finishing the race, yes, but also doing it with a smile and recovering (fairly) quickly. "I work on Mondays!" laughs the sportswoman about the intense weekends of running noted in her agenda.
Annie Wagner Bouthillier particularly appreciates the encounters and friendships forged on the trails. "It's amazing how you can make contact with strangers just by chatting while running."
In the midst of their efforts, runner make new connections that are both memorable and motivating, such as Annie established with the friend she met during a race, with whom she now likes to set new goals. And here they are, on their way to new starting lines where they'll set off together.
Geneviève Asselin-Demers
The gifted one
Since making the transition from road to trail running, Geneviève Demers-Asselin hasn't looked back. Literally! Quebec's current female trail sensation is winning every race she enters, even though she only hit the trails in 2021.
The woman who surprisingly won the Montreal Marathon in 2015 now only runs on the road "out of obligation" and much prefers to "escape to the mountains." She appreciates the beauty of the scenery, which replaces having her nose glued to her watch while burning up the tarmac between cars. "In the woods, you can run 14 times in the same place without getting the least bit bored!"
Ater exploring rowing and cycling, the sportswoman who turns 36 next August found herself in the world of trail running by a series of chance events. As a runner, she’s discovered a close-knit community and sincere friendships.
Thanks to the flexibility of her engineering schedule and an all-consuming love of physical activity, the Montrealer manages to train 20 to 25 hours a week. All this while working a 40-hour week and being a time-sharing mother of twin toddlers!
No coach, no precise program... and a lot of "gut feeling." In a nutshell that’s Geneviève’s script, which is working out particularly well for her, as in 2023 she won the women's 125 km UTHC in Charlevoix and her first international race in Mexico, the Ultra-Trail Puerto Vallarta (95 km).
At the time of our interview, after two fine international performances at the start of the year and a victory in the 46 km Trail du coureur des bois on the trails of Station touristique Duchesnay, she was about to set off for the 80 km Québec Mega Trail, a race she ultimately dominated in the women's category, as well as finishing fifth overall!
His big goal for the year? The prestigious Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc at the end of August, the world's premier trail running event, 171 km long and featuring a climb of nearly 10,000 metres. Nothing more; nothing less!
Jean-Sébastien Côté
The humble competitor
Talking trail running with Jean-Sébastien Côté never revolves around his results. You have to insist to discover that the 34-year-old future physiotherapy graduate and father of two young children has good legs. Really good legs!
"I'm somewhere between a serious amateur and a basic competitor," chuckles the Québec City resident, whose achievements include ninth place in the 100-mile (160 km) QMT in 2022. "I often finish in the top 25 per cent," he admits when pressed.
For him, racing is first and foremost a matter of pleasure. And a way of discovering his limits along the way. "It's like a drug. I like to test how far I can go. Could I go further?
So from his first ultra, the 65 km UTHC in 2018, where he said, "never again!" at the finish line, "JS" has tested his mettle on multiple occasions over increasingly challenging distances. So much so that now he's considering the possibility of doing a 200-miler.
Back at school at Université Laval, the future physiotherapist assures us that he's no role model, as he doesn't usually follow a precise training program.
"A shoemaker with bad shoes," he laughs. He did, however, see the benefits of relying on the monitoring of a kinesiologist in preparation for his first 100 miles. "I finished in better shape than I've been for shorter distances in the past."
For him, the secret of success lies above all in being active on a daily basis. "You have to be ready for the trail and know the environment like the back of your hand," adds the guy who’s particularly fond of training on the trails in Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier. "Over there, training options abound."
Comments on the run...
Favourite trail running shoes
AWB: Salomon Ultra Glide, of which she has a number of pairs. "I’m really attached to my shoes. They remind me of certain races."
GAD: Sponsored by the Swiss brand On, Geneviève has shoes galore. "I've got 32 pairs in rotation!" says the bubbly sportswoman. For her, the best trail running shoes are those that keep her close to the ground and give her the best feel for the terrain. "Above all, you have to feel good and not just follow trends and fashions."
JSC: Whether on the road or on the trail, Jean-Sébastien is always on the lookout for what feels best. Now an ambassador for the Mammut brand, he has previously tested a number of popular brands. He prefers lightweight footwear with fairly thin soles. "You really have to try out a number of models," he advises.
Tasty delights on the trails
AWB: Chips and Coke at the refreshment stands. "I don't usually drink Coke, but I do when I'm racing!" Maple syrup with salt in a soft flask. Otherwise a banana and peanut butter pancake, served up as a wrap. "Sometimes it ends up pretty mushed, but I like it all the same!"
GAD: An exclusive speciality discovered at the UTHC, grilled cheese sandwiches from Charlevoix refuelling stations are the champion's new favourite treat. "You slip the sandwich out of your pocket during a run when you're feeling sort of wiped out, and it provides a delicious hit of pep!" That’s what we call comfort food!
JSC: Eating is often a problem for "JS." To avoid running out of gas, "you’ve got to force yourself to fuel up." A fan of commercial gels, he tried several brands before settling on those from GU Energy. Otherwise, maple syrup is a safe bet. As are bacon slices, when available at refuelling stations.
When the body says no
AWB: "I'm a positive girl. I'm mentally strong," says the long-distance enthusiast. She knows how to divide up challenges and face each of them one step at a time. If need be, music or a tasty treat will give her the energy to keep going.
GAD: "I remember the compromises I’ve had to make. I think of a friend I lost recently. Another who is fighting cancer. I think of my friends' pride, my daughters' pride. When one thought doesn't work, I move on to another."
JSC: "When the going gets tough, I try to conjure up the feeling at the finish line. Once experienced, the rush is unforgettable. Otherwise, since I'm pretty analytical, I do some calculations concerning the time and distance of the race."
Racing anecdotes
AWB: In her trail debut, at the QMT 6K in 2015, Annie never had a chance to finish. As soon as she started, she found herself coming to the rescue of a runner who had suffered a triple fracture to her ankle. During the time that help was being summonsed until responders arrived on the scene, Annie stayed behind to comfort the unfortunate woman. "I had to keep her spirits up as best I could for at least an hour!"
GAD: "I'm a girl who needs to smile. So I tell myself jokes during races. And I always have the same repertoire!"
JSC: "People often talk about hallucinations in ultras. In my case, at the 125 km UTHC, after 8-9 hours of stress and strain, I was running and talking to myself out loud at the same time. But at one point I started to dissociate, engaging in a dialogue with a whole other entity. ‘I’ had become ‘we’! That was a whole other kettle of fish..."