I recently had the opportunity to meet Audrey, aka Koxinell on Instagram. A few years ago, she took up running and found a passion that led her to participate in the New York half marathon.
She agreed to tell me about her beginnings and the training that led her to the other side of the Atlantic.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN RUNNING?
I've been running "for real" since July 2012. I've always played sports (tennis, fitness), but running?? Uhhh… I signed up for "La Parisienne" as a Team Leader, and to avoid losing face in front of my colleagues, I was forced to run for real. Even though, frankly, it wasn't a sure thing. At the time, I didn't understand why people ran… (not sure I really understand it now) 
)
DO YOU RUN REGULARLY?
I run 3 to 4 times a week now: jogs, interval training, runs of varying lengths depending on my mood, plans, and the weather…
DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST RUN?
My first time? A disaster… 20 minutes of pure suffering… impossible to breathe, impossible to find a rhythm, my legs and especially my head were telling me “no, don’t do that! Whyyyyyyyy? :-/”
WHERE ARE YOU RUNNING TO?
I run along the banks of the Seine right near my home, but also in the Parc de Sceaux, my lunchtime playground… Bois de Boulogne, Vincennes for longer runs. It also depends on how I feel, the type of workout, and who I'm running with.
AN UNFORGETTABLE RUN?
An unforgettable run, I'd say my first marathon in the US, Chicago 2014… it was insane, so American… the atmosphere, the organization… pure madness. Then there were also unforgettable runs in the apocalyptic sense of the word, but the kind that build character… races finished on sheer willpower and willpower alone, when the body just wouldn't go on anymore, when it said, "Stop, we're done!"
WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT WHEN YOU RUN?
When I run I think about everything and nothing… I think about my day, about what I have to do, but sometimes I don’t think about anything, totally in my bubble appreciating the nature and the landscape around me… just putting one foot in front of the other and doing my kilometers.
YOUR FAVORITE RUNNING OUTFIT?
My favorite outfit: my Saucony shoes, capri pants and a tank top… a light jacket at the start sometimes, but as soon as I start running, I admit I get hot very quickly, so I'm not particularly covered up during my runs.
I believe you are currently preparing for a half-marathon, can you tell us more about it?
Today I'm preparing for the NYC half marathon, which I'm running for the 4th consecutive year… It's a pretty demanding race, especially the first 10 km (the roller coaster of Central Park), so I'm doing a lot of cycling and strength training.
HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE YOUR TRAINING?
I run at lunchtime in the Parc de Sceaux, on weekends and usually on Thursday mornings with my regular metronome.
I'm going to try to beat my time from last year, but no pressure... with the jet lag and the New York cold, anything can happen!
Sending lots of love to our Nolijette for her race on March 19, 2017!! And I'm eagerly awaiting her feedback, which I'll of course share with you in a future article 😉
