Caption: Marc Souben was brilliant on the Coray strides, he did not run, he flew 45 minutes, for a landing without turpitudes on the Coray arrival runway. Photo credit: DR
“I’m an average runner across a broad spectrum of races”Marc Souben confided to Adèle Le Berre (another QA master who is aging well) on Côté Quimper. An average runner who is still worth 8’41 in the 3000 meters, 30’50 in the 10,000 meters or 2h 26 in the marathon and can boast a few departmental cross-country titles in Masters or a 25th place in the French.
His preference is for cross-country, which probably suits his profile even better – a clever mix of power and lightness – and is his absolute priority. He has not enjoyed the track much this season, due to a persistent calf contracture. The Master from Quimper has nevertheless made a point of taking part in the inaugural meeting in Penvillers on Friday 21 June in conditions that are not conducive to big performances. Marc Souben seems to have learned to deal with the injury. “It’s when everything is going well and your body leaves you alone that you have to know how to enjoy it.”
With age, it is rather the way of approaching running that has changed for the ex-footballer of AS Gars de Poullan.“I played there in the district D3. D4 did not exist.”jokes the fifty-something.) In terms of training volume, it is today more quality than quantity that the QA licensee favors. “The driving force is the pleasure of training with friends, with Marc’s (Cornec) group.” Marc Souben now wants to focus his priorities on his time and share it with his loved ones, first and foremost his children. “I have a son who rides a bike, a daughter who plays football. I can’t run on every terrain. I still have a permit to go out for the cross-country season.”laughs the Guengatais.
For the rest, don’t ask him what his goals are… The pleasure of running, by feeling, that’s all he came to Coray looking for. “As I didn’t have much of a reference point, I wanted to start quickly right away. Also to sow doubt in my opponents’ heads…”
The Quimper cross-country rider finally offered himself a long solo ride, beating the event record in the process, far ahead of Erwan Richard and Michel Nédélec, two serious competitors in the field. “Who was the runner who crashed the race again?” asks me in passing the vice-world champion of long-distance triathlon Xavier Le Floch, who came as a neighbor with his son Quentin… ” He is impressive !” Marc Souben, for his part, has just crossed the line with complete serenity. “I need to regain my confidence”he whispers to me again. In Coray, he will have filled up. For at least 10 years!
CORAY’S TOP 10 STRIDES.
1. Marc Souben (Quimper Athletics) the 13.3 km in 45’33; 2. Erwan Richard (Running Conseil Châteaulin) 47’06; 3. Thibaut Le Cam (Concarneau) 47’23; 4. Frédéric Tellier (Clohars Carnoët) 47’38; 5. Michel Nédélec (Quimper Athletics) 48’19; 6. Gurvan Flécher (SCO Angers Athletics) 49’40; 7. Nicolas Buffet (ALCP Carhaix) 50’10; 8. Tom Dupuy (Quimper) 50’55; 9. Thomas Vergnault (Impulsions Nutrition/Gourin) 51’11; 10. Antony Quehen (S/L SC Surgeres) 52’09.
CARTE BLANCHE SECTION FOR MARC FEREC
 IS STILL ROARING – quimper – athletics){kind=link}