Kévin Cembellin took his sneakers out of the closet about a year ago, with the somewhat crazy desire shared by one of his work colleagues, to take the risk of running marathons. At 32, this methods technician in aeronautics lives in Blanquefort, in Gironde, and trains up to four times a week for his participation. at the Paris Marathon (42.195 km), on Sunday April 2, alongside more than 60,000 runners.
With his colleague, they had challenged themselves to have a bib sent to them by one of the partners of the event. “I told in a letter to 20 minutes my passion for running and the fact that it had worked for me for a long time to embark on a marathon, says Kévin Cembellin. I was surprised and happy to be answered favorably. The 30-year-old Girondin will therefore compete wearing the colors of your newspaper, which will “boost” him a little. We wish him.
A personal challenge
After two marathons last year in Biarritz and in the Médoc, he retains a “great atmosphere and incredible self-transcendence to experience”. If he considers these times, 4:40 and 4:50 “not extraordinary”, he really takes the race as a personal adventure. “I set myself the goal of going under four hours,” he says. I would like to do a little record time for me, in the capital”.
As a teenager, Kévin Cembellin was part of an athletics club but to prepare for these marathons, he is his own coach. “I had a little girl [âgée de trois ans aujourd’hui] and during pregnancy and confinement I stopped sport. I gained a little weight during this period so I wanted to get a little back in hand. The 30-year-old does not do things by halves and begins to get back into the race intensely to participate in the Biarritz marathon in May 2022. “The first outings were difficult, recognizes Kévin Cembellin. When it’s cold, you think you’d be better off on your sofa, but then I got a taste for it and now it’s a need. »
Lifestyle and discipline
As he starts his work early, he finishes around 3:30 p.m., which gives him time in the late afternoon to go running in the forest, on the cycle paths and the paths along the vineyards, near his home. It runs about an hour and up to 1h50 for the longest outings. “I do interval running, short and long outings, but I don’t run more than 20 km, it’s not recommended, in order to preserve your strength,” he explains. This time in Paris, his family will not be able to be present but they sometimes come to encourage him during these training sessions, following him on a bicycle.
With Biarritz, he started with a race, deemed complicated because of the elevation. This will be less the case in Paris and he has the advantage of experience. “I will have to drink a little more regularly and in smaller quantities. If he already pays attention to his diet, rich in vegetables and fruits, a month before the start it will be a slightly stricter menu, and only water to drink. For his last meal before setting off, it will be wholemeal pasta to hold over the length.
Less than two months from the deadline, Kévin Cembellin does not seem at all stressed and even relaxed. “Professionals arrive in just two hours but it’s their job in a way, he relativizes. I will be about halfway through the journey by then. He hesitates to take a day off the next day. “The legs are a little tense after such an effort,” he says, smiling. No kidding.