Abderrazak Charik: “It’d be a dream to represent France at Olympics”

Not many athletes get the chance to characterize their nation at a house Olympics.

Abderrazak Charik is hoping that he can add himself to that illustrious listing this summer season. The dream is to put on the French colors throughout the Olympic marathon.

To be thought-about for choice, Charik should run the qualifying normal of two:08:10 earlier than the closing date of Could 12.

He tried to get the usual at this previous February’s Seville Marathon however was agonisingly quick and clocked 2:08:42.

Final October, Charik ran his present private greatest of two:08:37 on the Amsterdam Marathon.

Morhad Amdouni (2:03:47), Mehdi Frère (2:05:43), Nicolas Navarro (2:05:53), Felix Bour (2:06:46) and Benjamin Choqeurt (2:07:42) are the 5 French athletes who’ve recorded occasions beneath the qualification normal.

It might imply so much to Charik if he’s in a position so as to add his identify to that roster.

The 26-year-old will race over 10km on the ASICS Paris Competition of Working on April 5.

AW chats completely to Charik beneath:

Abderrazak Charik in Seville (Albin Durand)

You ran a private greatest of two:08:37 ultimately yr’s Amsterdam Marathon. How do you mirror on that? 

It was very good and I used to be comfortable to supply this time in Amsterdam. I ran 2:10:33 on the Seville Marathon earlier on within the season [April 2023] and it was one other likelihood for me to beat my private greatest.

It’s not far now till the Olympics so I have to get the qualification mark for that forward of the Video games.

What wouldn’t it imply so that you can characterize France on the Paris Olympics? 

It might be a dream and massive alternative to run in Paris. I’d be so comfortable. Paris is an enormous metropolis with an enormous story.

Possibly I’m a little bit bit loopy doing the marathon! While you run the 5km, 10km or half marathon, you at all times work out what distance you’re greatest at. For me, it was the half marathon and it made sense to step as much as the marathon. I just like the longer distances.

After I made my debut marathon in Paris again in 2021 I ran 2:13. Then, in Seville, I ran 2:10 earlier than the two:08 in Amsterdam. So I’ve progressed and I hope to run 2:06!

What’s your view on the evolution of marathon operating? 

The shoe expertise has made a big effect in coaching, racing and restoration. It’s now higher to run the longer distances. It’s not the case with the marathon that you could simply practice for 2 weeks and go and run it as a result of it’s essential focus for months prematurely. It’s not straightforward for everybody however with the brand new footwear you may run extra marathons in a yr as a result of the restoration is faster.

Per week I’d run 160-220km in coaching and that’s a standard distance while you put together for the marathon. You might want to run lots of distance in coaching and if you happen to have been to run 100km per week then racing over 26.2 miles wouldn’t be doable. For me, a few of my mates will say it’s essential go as much as 250km per week and someday I’ll goal for the 220-230km mark.

What’s your final objective within the sport? 

To be on the European or World Championships is one factor however my final objective is to compete on the Olympic Video games. I simply hope to run sooner and hope to characterize each ASICS and France at Paris 2024.

How vital has ASICS been for you? 

They’re a fantastic model and I’m grateful for the help they’ve given me as an athlete. While you see the footwear, you may’t complain. We’re athletes so we’ll be competing on the elite degree for perhaps 20 years and also you want the help of a model like ASICS throughout that interval.

» Study extra concerning the ASICS Paris Competition of Working right here

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