Grethen, directly in the deep bath

Après un mois de stage intensif en Afrique du Sud, Charel Grethen est de retour. Et vise déjà un record, samedi (16 h 30) à la Coque !

The pandemic had modified the plans of Charel Grethen.Indeed, the Olympic finalist had planned to go on an internship in South Africa after participating in the Sylvesterlaf de Trier, which had finally been canceled.

Suddenly, he had advanced his departure for Dullstroom, 250 km northeast of Johannesburg to join a small training group in order to do a lot of preparation for a season that promises to be very busy.

On the spot, as expected, even if the weather was in the game, no question of vacation: "We had the Park Kruger which was not that far, but we did not go there.It would have made a very long day.When we had a little free time, we stayed in the corner where we spent it with friends. ”

But these offsses were not legion.And the days were well filled: “Inevitably, we do a lot of land and not too much specific.The goal is not to be at the top in February, but rather in March, for the world championships in Belgrade, "said Miler Grand-Ducal.

And to do this, nothing like race, race, race: "We train twice a day, generally in running.Sometimes I do a little bike.And treatment with physiotherapy every day.Otherwise, it's a lot of recovery.Concretely, it can give a session of 10-15 km and another more intensive with rehearsals of one kilometer and also bodybuilding sessions. "

And just to vary the pleasures, we vary the surfaces: "Most of the time, we run on clay.We also have a budding track not too far and another in tartan a few kilometers to work on the specific. ”

Efforts without counting who seem to bear fruit.Even if, for the time being, he has not had a real mileage reference: "For the moment, I am satisfied.Last year, at the same time, the situation was very different.I was just coming back from a very long period of injury.This year, I have much more self -confidence.I know what I am capable of, "said the athlete, obviously already very sharp.

First objective: the 3000 m record, Saturday

He finally stayed a month there.At the start, the plan was to return for the CMCM on January 30, where it was to attack the old national record of the 3,000 m.So he had to change his strategy, but not really a date: “I want to plan at least one hull outing.We are still looking for a 3,000 m, "he explained a few days ago.

And everything was linked, since he will be this Saturday at the start of the Regio Meeting 3. Indeed, he set up a sacred race, with a hare like Pj Hannes, former record holder of Belgium (personal record in 7'47″ 55), the Irishman John Travers (7'50 ″ 40) or the presence of his New Zealand friend Hamish Carson (7'47 ″ 22) and the Belgian Michael Somers (7'52 ″ 67).

A real armada which should, if everything goes well, allow him to shatter the 8’06 ″ 6 of Justin Gluden in ... 1983: "This is the goal.I will aim for the record, ”explains Charel Grethen, who will also have national competition with the cream of the cream.

Indeed, Bob Bertemes, Pol Mellina or the young and promising Vivien Henz are also announced at the start of a race that promises to be spectacular.

Certainly, the highlight of a meeting of a meeting where Anaïs Bauer (200 m), Pol Bidaine and Olivier Boussong (200 m) or the European champion of triathlon Mara Krombach (3,000 m) are also registered.

But for Charel Grethen, it will only be a pleasant appetizer.A way to take its first marks and gain strength.Then he will have very few races before the deadline for the Serbian Worlds (March 18-20).

But very raised meetings: “I will be in Metz on February 12, on the 17th in Liévin and the 19th in Birmingham.The week promises to be busy.It will also start very hard, since Jakob Ingebrigtsen announced that he was aiming for the world record in Liévin (Editor's note: 3’31 “04 by Ethiopian Samuel Tefera, in 2019 in Birmingham).”

Charel Grethen, just descended from the plane, will quickly get to the heart of the matter!