Sylvaine CUSSOT - Ultra Trail
Can you introduce yourself (sport practiced, for how long...) ?
My name is Sylvaine Cussot, I am originally from Le Mans, in the Sarthe region, but I have been living in the south of France since the end of my studies (Toulouse then Uzès). I love the sun and the heat! 😊
I've been running since I was very young (my first track and field license at the age of 10). After trying my hand at a lot of different disciplines of track and field where I wasn't good, but I was having fun! Lol (even pole vault or steeplechase!), I finally came back to something simpler: road running!
My main motivation has always been to have fun and have a good time with my friends at the club! A few bibs for fun and pushing yourself too of course! 😊
Then I discovered trail running in 2013. And since then, it's all I've been doing!
Can you tell us about your passion? What makes you tick?
What I liked right away in trail-running is the playfulness, the fun, the discovery ... you constantly play with the terrain and you have fun all the time!
There are a lot of parameters to manage in order to optimize your performance: the preparation, the food, the sleep, the marking, the equipment, the management of the effort on the duration, the management of your emotions and your mental ... it's all that which is super interesting, in addition to discovering crazy landscapes and meeting beautiful people!
Well, of course, it is also suffering, but when you are well prepared, the pleasure can take over. You just have to remember that what pays off in training is regularity, variety, progressiveness, and pleasure of course (if there is no pleasure, it will be complicated to last in my opinion).
And then on the ultra, it's a real inner journey! You go through all the states, from the worst to the best ... you end up forgetting that you are in a competition. You don't fight against others but against yourself. And the others become precious allies! 😊
How do you manage your preparation?
How do you approach this new season?
I am lucky enough to be rarely lacking in motivation! Running, exercising, is necessary for my well-being and my life balance.
In general, I go out to train 6 to 7 times a week (I try to stick to a rest day, which is essential to last too). I alternate simple hilly jogs, split sessions, road cycling and long runs, trying to vary the playing field!
I love to explore: I plot a course, enter the GPX track in my Polar, and zou, I let myself be guided! 😊
This season, like the last one, is likely to be quite chaotic. We're going to take it step by step, and improvise depending on which races are maintained or not. But I have a big goal in mind: the Diagonale des Fous!
What is the best memory of your career?
In 10 years of trail running, I've been lucky enough to experience a lot of great moments! Some not so good ones too, but if everything was too simple, it wouldn't be funny 😉
Come on, even if it's not THE most beautiful, because it's beautiful in its own way, simply, I'm going to say the UTMB! Because I didn't think I would ever be able to finish a race like this one...170km and 10 000mD+! Like what, you have to believe in yourself! And above all, give yourself the means of your ambitions! 😊
Do you have a race that makes you dream?
Dreaming no, but wanting to yes: the Diagonale des Fous! I've heard so much about it, about this atmosphere, these landscapes, this particular atmosphere ... this construction site ! That I have to go and discover it by myself !
What about daily sports nutrition, how important is it to you?
I eat very simply, I try to balance as much as possible and to buy organic. I am very much into fruits and vegetables, and more into fish than meat.
After that I have no restrictions! Even if I have my preferences, I eat everything! And I never deny myself a little glass of red wine or a beer 😉
Fun remains the basis of everything anyway, but in moderation!
When training, I only bring food and drink on outings longer than 2 hours. And the ideal is to go 2/3h after the last meal. Otherwise, you can quickly be disturbed by your digestive system working!
How do you use Meltonic products and what is your feedback after a few weeks of use?
I use Meltonic products mainly on training sessions of more than 2 hours. So I tend to use it for long rides.
I love the hydration drink (not too sweet but energetic enough to provide the necessary pep and to last the effort!), and the bars which are both good tasting and rich in essential nutrients!
