Marathon specialist Mélody Julien is on a preparation course in Lozère until Monday November 18, 2024. She and her coach hope to find partners who will allow them to train in the Pays des Sources several times a year.
Athlete Mélody Julien, who ran the marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, is training until Monday November 18 in Lozère, thanks in particular to the Éveil mendois athletics. A course planned to prepare for the winter season and, above all, the Carhaix-Plouguer Cross-Country Festival (Finistère). Sunday, November 24, she will start the Elite women's race, 8,210 m long, qualifying for the European Championships.
If Mélody Julien landed in Lozère, it is because she became friends with Anne Moulin, one of the department's standard bearers in terms of running. The two women met during a race in 2015, the year of Tarnaise's athletics debut.
A pure local product
Usually, the 25-year-old young woman trains in Montredon-Labessonnié (Tarn), a small village, located between Castres and Albi, where she is from. The club where she started only has 30 members. His coach, Max Lesauvage, founder of the club and former sports lifesaving champion, is his lifelong coach. “We were looking for a place to prepare for competitions. At home it's complicated. Here, the conditions are ideal. The environment is magnificent. The track was recently resurfaced. In the Tarn, our track is 21 km away… All the infrastructure is far away. It's a waste of time. There, we have everything on site”he explains.
“We have a cinder greenway that’s great, but it’s not next to it,” adds the winner of the last Eiffage race over the Millau viaduct (1 h 27' 47'')who also struggles to keep up with the pace imposed by the high level. “When I have school, I have to cut down on training. I struggle to do two a day”. Mélody Julien does not make a living from her sport. Since this year, she has been a kindergarten teacher, while benefiting from flexible part-time work.
This stay in Lozier therefore allows him to catch up. But to be able to benefit from weeks without teaching, she had to work full time until the fall holidays and, therefore, eliminate training sessions…
For the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, the runner plans to not work and, thus, accept not being paid for two years. “It's not an easy situation. In places like Lozère, you have less to think and worry about. We're cutting out all that.”puts the coach into perspective.
Sustaining internships in Lozère
Here, the 2024 French half-marathon champion trains twice a day. In “very good conditions, assure Max Lesauvage. We were very well received by Anne Moulin. There is always someone to open the stadium for us. Sometimes there is an athlete or two who joins our training.”
“We are looking for partners in the region, to be able to sustain these courses. They last between two and three weeks, two or three times a year”says the coach. Mélody Julien and her coach particularly need help with accommodation. An internship like this costs them between €2,500 and €3,000. For this first stay in Lozère, they are staying at the Colombier gîte village, in Mende.
If he manages to obtain subsidies, Max Lesauvage wishes to carry out all the major preparations in the land of Springs. On the other hand, due to the champion's job, they will have to take place during school holidays. If they can, they will come back next April to prepare for the track competitions.
Many advantages
“I discovered quite a few paths including one to prepare for cross country. I enjoy mountain training. Lthe track is nice”, rejoices the woman who is also French 10,000m champion. “It's not just nice places, everything is nice here.”estimates the coach. “There is also the climate and the altitude, which are assets.” concludes the athlete.
In the near future, the duo hopes to return for “prepare properly. OWe will also be able to organize activities with the city's athletes. We would like to work with the tourist office to organize a meeting with runners on a Saturday morning…”the coach projects, cheerfully.
