Oh boy! Hello everyone! Hope to love you all!
Robin Richard-Campeau is the 2019 field’s second fastest man by ENDURrun PB. Through the injuries we know he’s going to give it his best effort and we’re excited to have him back for 2019!
How is your training going? Because of plantar fasciitis and broken bones in both feet, it cannot be perfect. Could be worst. I do run 130 per week on average with week as high as 200+ and as not low as 90km. I do 3 session with intensity per week (one short and fast intervals, one of long tempo runs and one in the middle). I will simulate the Endurrun mid-July with a 8 days plan matching the Endurrun but 3/4 of each stage (for example, 15k insteand of 21, 12k hilly road instead of 16, 18k trail instead of 25)
How will your ENDURrun 2019 compare to previous years? Going there without the previous expectations. Focus is more on feeling it again with the people, taking the week as a glimpse of the perfect life, and not going there as focus on performance as I have been before. That said, I am still a goal-oriented guy, so I may still try to get some stages or overall PBs…
What are the key pieces of advice to Rookies that you’ve learned over the years? Warm-up and cool-down on each stage as you would for any other regular race; visit next day course every previous afternoon; don’t panic if you cannot even walk because of sore leg on the morning of stage 7
For someone who has never been to ENDURrun week, what should they expect? To discover that what everyone will tell you is true: it is a huge human, and social, experience. And that you are stronger than you think you are when people around you are so supportive and inspiring
What about ENDURrun keeps you coming back? Lloyd as a role model! (am I really doing a joke here? Not sure) Seriously, all the attractions around Waterloo/Kitchener: there is so few that it is perfect to live the life of a running monk and to bond with people
What are your ENDURrun 2019 stories? Well, that may sounds a bit cocky, but I am not… I got second place and the rookie award on my first try in 2012; then got second again in 2015. I don’t aim at the gold jersey since I am used to be being a Bob (either Jackman or Brouillette). For 2019, I don’t take at all for granted a second or third place finish. I will not toe the line with that kind of goal in mind. But I may have the male master award in mind since I am not turning 40. All that said, I will look for a third sub 11:30. But if all those small goals fall along the way or during summer, I will toe the line just for the sake of the experience to compete with so many inspiring runners.
What are you most looking forward to about ENDURrun 2019? People
What are you nervous about, if anything? Bechtel. It is already a love-hate affair between us
What is your runner profile? Started running 27 years ago; pushed my body a lot since then with track, cross, road with anything from 800m to ultras. Will toe the line in August with 90 000 km behind my belt since I started. I also did coach several athletes in the last 20 years (founded a running club)