Interview. Aude Garnatz from Caen AC, high-level athletic walker who “hates to run”
By Clemence Pille
Published on
This may seem surprising coming from a high-level race walker. However, Aude Garnatz is not particularly adept at jogging sessions, which are essential to her training. At 23, the Caen AC athlete took part in his third French elite championships in June 2022 at Caen (Calvados). She has been practicing this atypical sport for 12 years at Caen AC.
How did you discover this rather marginal discipline?
From my first year at Caen AC, my trainer offered an introduction to Nordic walking. I accepted and made my first competition in the discipline by beating the club record, which motivated me to continue.
I think it’s always better to start this discipline in a club because it’s a technical sport with rules to respect in competition.
“It’s not brisk walking”
What are the rules to follow in race walking?
There are two rules that the walker must follow. First, the leg should be extended by attacking through the heel. Then, the athlete must always have a contact time with the ground and not have both feet detached from the ground. In competition, the appreciation is done with the eye of the judge and not by video. After three penalties received during the race, the walker is disqualified.
It’s not just a brisk walk, but a walk that requires athletic movement.
How does a walker train?
The competition distance is often 20km. The workouts are quite long. For example, a session can be an 18 or 20km at the same pace, or 15km with slightly faster competition paces.
My main difficulty is that I often train alone for long outings, my trainer Fabian Fesselier working in the Paris region. On the other hand, I do group technical sessions at Hélitas with trainer Denis Thiron.
“I hate running”
Why do you like this discipline?
I sometimes ask myself the question (laughs). I hate running so walking was a great alternative. It’s a different discipline so it’s good to democratize it. It’s a sport where you surpass yourself. It’s important to be strong in your head on the day of a lesson, but also for training.
What are your goals for next season?
Next year, I will be in Master 2 to pass the school teacher competition. It’s an important competition for me so I would probably be less performance-oriented and more recreational.
I would like to ask Fabian Fesselier who has been training me for years and allowed me to reach this level, as well as Denis Thiron, my training partners who brighten up the shared sessions, and my boyfriend who believes in me and sustained me.
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