He feels ready. It must be said that he is used to it. On April 7, in Paris, he will complete his 100th marathon. “I was missing one to get to a complete count, I said it would be the last but you never know!” jokes Christian Jobert, 71 years old. It was my son Stéphane who registered us together. We’re aiming for 4 hours because he runs less than me. »
It must be said that it is difficult to love this sport more than Christian. He started when he was 17 years old. “I started marathons when I was 21 or 22 and I never managed to stop. It allows me to escape. I am capable of running 100 km without thinking about anything,” he smiles. His first, then? “It was in Cabriès,” he remembers. A small town near Marseille where I was working at the time. I signed up for the one in New York but I had never run that much. I was then told that I had to at least do one first. So I ran two marathons in one week! As they say, when you love, you don’t count! »
Christian, witness to the growing popularity of marathons
Since then, he has walked the streets of New York several times. According to him, it is there that there is “the best atmosphere”. But his best memory is in Berlin. “Because I achieved my best time there, 2h40! Afterwards, each marathon is different and has its charm. I loved Stockholm or Amsterdam. The one in Marrakech is magnificent for the landscape but hey, there are no supplies… When I do a race, I also go there, and above all, for the people. Those who run, because it feels something to be thousands on the starting line, but also those who applaud for hours to support us. I love going so far as to touch their hands to thank them for being there! “, he says.
He has also witnessed the enthusiasm for these events over the years. “During my first marathon in New York, there must have been 20,000 at most. Today, it brings together at least twice as many people. It’s the same in Paris, he notes. What has also evolved are the prices. I did shopping for free or for a few francs. Now, there is not a bib for less than 100 euros! But we only had water to refuel! »
But this great interest also proves, according to him, that “it is accessible to everyone”. “Anyone can access this sport. We buy a pair of shoes and we go! You just have to move forward and that’s it,” he says simply.
Running, the key to longevity?
So, when we ask him “why” he does this, the marathon runner immediately responds: “It’s a pleasure that cannot be explained. » Before assuring: “When you try the marathon once, you can’t do without it. It’s fabulous to finish the 42 km. We feel alive again. »
So running is the key to longevity? For Christian, there is no doubt. “Before, people told me: “Yes, at 40 or 50 years old, you will be dead if you continue like this!” And now, people say to me: “But you run at your age? You continue even at 70?! It’s not possible, you have to stop!” And I always say, “As long as I can run, I’ll keep going.” As long as my health and mechanics still hold up, I don’t see why I’ll stop. I have never been to the doctor in my life! I also wish everyone to reach my age and have my physical health. So, the race keeps going! »
The septuagenarian specifies that he does not smoke, that he does not drink and that he considers himself to have a healthy lifestyle. “I only have one vice: I run,” he laughs. Before continuing: “In reality, it’s like a drug. If I don’t run every two or three days, I’m not well. Even if I’m tired, I go home, I don’t ask myself any questions, I put on my shoes to go out straight away. It’s become a drug but I think it’s a good one. »
“The best memories stay in your head”
For his 100th, Christian has no “goal” time. This will be the third or fourth time he has completed this route in Paris. “The goal is to share a good time with my son, to look forward to it and to talk about it later with the grandchildren, saying that we did this together,” he says. He therefore has no “time to beat” but still trains “so as not to be ridiculous” four to five times a week. As training, he also participated in the one in Bangkok – where he lives. He finished in 3h20. “I also plan to do a few semis,” he smiles.
Our Paris Marathon file
It must be said that he is also used to arriving at the top in his age categories “since he was 50”. He no longer counts his medals. Before living in Thailand, he lived for twenty-five years in Reunion, where he was “around fifteen times champion of the island”. Does he have a room with all his trophies? “I gave everything to an association when I moved,” he explains. It would be too heavy in my coffin! And then, the best memories stay in your head when you are experiencing them. »
Before finishing the interview, Christian admits: “There are still marathons that I would like to do and that I have not done. The one from Japan is on my list. It seems that it is magnificent…”