Cristofer Clemente ran an incredibly patient race to take second at the 2017 Trail World Championships in Badia Prataglia, Italy. In the following interview, Cristofer talks about when individual and team goals motivated him, whether he’s prouder of his fitness or smart race execution, where this places among his best ultra performances, and where he’ll be running this season.
For more on what happened at the race, check out our 2017 Trail World Championships results article, which includes links to additional post-race interviews.
Cristofer Clemente Post-2017 Trail World Championship Interview Transcript
iRunFar: Bryon Powell of iRunFar here with Christofer Clemente after his second-place finish at the 2017 Trail World Championships. How are you?
Christofer Clemente: I’m feeling very happy. I never thought about winning here. I’m also very happy because once we arrived here we made a really great team. We spent some days together where the big team could be even more stronger.
iRunFar: You built a real team and a real spirit together.
Clemente: Yes. There was never a strategy as a team, but we built a strategy for each one, and that made the team build even bigger.
iRunFar: Was your strategy to be the smartest runner in the race?
Clemente: That’s what I always try, but it doesn’t always work out. This time, it worked. I always work a lot with time and what I eat and what I drink and the strategy to make it happen. The thing is, it worked today. Sometimes you can never tell if will work or not.
iRunFar: Are you more proud of your level of fitness or your smart racing plan?
Clemente: I’m feeling very happy with both of them—the mental part and the physical part. If I have to choose one of those, it will be the mental part. It’s very hard when you go behind and you have to focus on going behind the race and thinking the part that’s going ahead is going six or eight minutes. You have to focus and concentrate because it’s going to take awhile that you have to run faster, but it worked today and I’m very comfortable with it.
iRunFar: How much of that motivation in making up that much time was for your own race and for the team race?
Clemente: First of all I was thinking of myself, but once I arrived to the 34k, I was thinking more of the team. First, I was going sixth, and then I was going third, and I knew I had to push to do the best for the team.
iRunFar: Do you think this is your best performance ever in ultramarathon?
Clemente: It’s a very good one, but I can’t tell which is the best because I’ve been running so many. I feel very good with it. I’m fortunate that I haven’t had any injuries before to arrive here. I’ve been in Madeira and The Rut, Ultra Pirineu, and if I had to choose one, I couldn’t.
iRunFar: What is next on your calendar? You’re very strong. Where can we see you next?
Clemente: In two weeks I will be at the Ultramarathon—we are sorry, Luis Alberto Hernando appeared after the doping test… after five beers—Mont Blanc.
iRunFar: After a rest, what is the focus of the rest of your season?
Clemente: My season has just begun, so I will come back to Italy and then will go to Tromso, Norway, and then I will go to the States.
iRunFar: Congratulations on your run today. Best of luck with your season. Thank you.
Clemente: Thank you.
