Nice Premium: How does a green spaces monitor find themselves at the start of such a competition?
Stéphane Ravera: I am passionate about sports. When I was younger, I was on the French rowing team. I lived in Nice and when long-distance triathlons started, I said to myself: “One day, I will do it.” Later, I learned to swim long distances and in 2007 I made my first participation.
NP: What are the secrets to good preparation?
SR: I train daily. Ideally, it would be better to increase the frequency of sessions before the race, but my schedule doesn’t allow it. So, I focus on consistency. I work on each sport equally. That means 2-hour bike rides, 1 hour 30 to 1 hour 45 for running, and 1 hour or 1 hour 15 in swimming.
NP: The Ironman is an incredible effort, what drives you to surpass yourself?
SR: The effort gives me a lot of pleasure, and I rarely train dragging my feet. Sports are a big part of my life, I couldn’t live without them. An Ironman, well-prepared, is not so hard. What’s difficult is going fast.
NP: How are you approaching the 2010 edition?
SR: I am going in with a lot of hope but without great ambition. I got injured on May 22nd. My preparation was disrupted. I didn’t want to withdraw because I was looking forward to this event, and since it’s expensive: 380 euros to participate. My record goes back to 2007 with 10 hours and 29 minutes.
NP: What are the keys to the race?
SR: The first transition is tricky because after swimming for over an hour, your head spins a bit at the start of the bike. Then the 180 kilometers of cycling go rather well if you have scouted them before the event. Finally, the last transition is clearly the hardest. When you start a marathon with pain in your legs, it feels really strange! That’s where most withdrawals happen.
