Two months after taking third place at the Western States 100, Nathalie Mauclair earned a third-place finish at the 2014 The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc. In the following interview, Nathalie talks about why she went out with the women’s leaders, why she’s happy with her third-place finish, and which race she’ll run next.
Read our results article for the full story on how the 2014 TNF UTMB unfolded.
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Nathalie Mauclair Post-2014 TNF UTMB Interview Transcript
iRunFar: Bryon Powell of iRunFar here with Nathalie Mauclair after her third-place finish at the 2014 The North Face Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc. Great work, Nathalie!
Nathalie Mauclair: Good morning.
iRunFar: Good morning. These 100 milers are tough, yes?
Mauclair: Yes, it was a difficult race for the longer [distance] and the [makes up down, up down signs].
iRunFar: Much desnivel?
Mauclair: Yes, and the rain. But it was beautiful, and I’m very happy to be third.
iRunFar: You went out with the leaders, yes? At Western States you were not up as much at the front early. At UTMB, you went with the lead. Why was that?
Mauclair: Yes, but I look at my chrono to not be faster. I ran with the girls since Les Contamines. After, I go faster in the climbing because I know that I go slowly in the descent. They arrived in the same time at the climb and after, they go faster when they go down. After, I don’t see them.
iRunFar: So until Les Contamines, you don’t feel that you were pushing the pace? You were just running easy?
Mauclair: At Western States, answer me and started slowly and it was a ballade, a footing.
iRunFar: So not like at Fuji?
Mauclair: At Fuji, it was early in the season and I was not very well in the race, I think. I think I’m better in the second part of the season.
iRunFar: You get stronger and stronger.
Mauclair: Yes.
iRunFar: Maybe not only physically but mentally you know better what you have to do in terms of your placing and your pacing?
Mauclair: I work with visualization. Every time I say to me, to do a longer hundred and the place it’s better but it’s not the finality.
iRunFar: So Rory [Bosio] and Núria [Picas] left you after the climb to Les Contamines, so at what point did Rory and Núria leave you?
Mauclair: Col de Bonhomme.
iRunFar: So going down to Courmayeur. Did you think you could catch them again?
Mauclair: No. Maybe Núria. She was a half hour in front of me, but when I wanted to go faster it was difficult.
iRunFar: What was the most difficult? What was the part that limited your speed later?
Mauclair: It’s the first time recently that my legs were hard. It was difficult. After, it was easier and after, difficult—so I don’t know. Maybe the altitude. I don’t know.
iRunFar: Was it more difficult to climb or to descend?
Mauclair: Descend. In Sarte, it’s flat where I live.
iRunFar: Very flat where you live. Are you happy with your result?
Mauclair: Yes, yes, very happy. I don’t hope to be on the podium. I hope to be in the top five. Podium, I don’t know, there is Fernanda [Maciel] and other women I don’t know. The race is longer, so there is a lot of events that can arrive during the race. So three is very good.
iRunFar: Very nice. I know this is probably the wrong time to ask, but are you still thinking about Diagonale des Fous?
Mauclair: Yes.
iRunFar: You think you will run it if you can?
Mauclair: Oh, yes, yes, yes.
iRunFar: You are strong or you are crazy.
Mauclair: I don’t know the result, but I know that I can run. I’m sure. I have no injuries. I’m well
iRunFar: No injury—and for running 100 miles your body is okay?
Mauclair: Yes.
iRunFar: Well, congratulations on your great run at UTMB. Good luck at Grand Raid Réunion.
Mauclair: Thank you. Thank you very much.
