Charles Philibert-Thiboutot looks ahead to Grand Prix d’Athlétisme de Montréal

"I think the pursuit concept is good because some athletes might want to try to go for the easy money in the first few laps, making the race fast" - Charles Philibert-Thiboutot

The Grand Prix d’Athlétisme de Montréal takes place Saturday, February 18 at Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard. Over the next few weeks we will profile some of the top athletes. The event is run in conjunction with the 2017 Hershey Canadian Indoor Youth and Junior Championships.

Charles Philibert-Thiboutot of Quebec will race in the men’s 1200-metres pursuit on Saturday February 18. A talented middle-distance runner, Charles represented Canada at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and is the current national 1500-metres champion.

AC: Now that you've had a few months to reflect, how would you sum up the Olympic year of 2016?

CPT: I have to say that the experience in itself was a very nice one. It is quite something to take part in the biggest sporting event in the world, and to live the whole hype that surrounds the Olympics. On a more track related point of view, it was definitely a humbling learning experience, which at first was hard to swallow right after my semifinal race. You show up with the best fitness of your life and it’s such a big event, the goals are set very high. The race experience was incredibly emotional, whether it goes well or not. After a while though, I was able to take a step back and reflect on what I had accomplished. I feel like the race experience gained will be very useful in the future and that there are some positives to draw from it.

AC: You've been a semi-finalist at the World Championships in 2015 and last summer at the Olympics, what lessons did you learn that will help you at the next global championships?

CPT: Being quite inexperienced in races that are that competitive, I can definitely say that I will be working on two things. First, the strategic aspect of the race can play a major role on the outcome. I learned the hard way that it is not by running extra distance on the outside that I can expect to outkick the best runners in the world. Secondly, whether it is in the prelim or in the final, in the end, it all comes down to a strong, fast last 100-metres. I think I need to work on my top end speed and turnover to keep up with the top guys.

AC: How has your training been going this past fall and now winter?

CPT: Training has been very good! I have been 100% healthy since the Games. I think that is key moving forward and keeping the ball rolling after a strong 2016 summer. Quebec (City) was very nice all fall and I was able to reconnect with the group at Université Laval, while they were on their campaign to their first ever USports cross-country title. It was good to have such a motivated group pull me out from the off-season lack of fitness! I then went to Vancouver at the start of December and stayed there through part of January. I plan on going back in March after indoors to prepare for the summer.

AC: What role does the indoor season play as you prepare for the outdoor season? 

CPT: I am a fierce competitor and for me the training is not worth anything unless I can race and test myself. I think it is important to keep the competitive fire alive and indoors provides good opportunities to test your fitness over various distances. It also serves as a good transition season between cross-country/general preparation and the summer racing season.

AC: You're taking part in the 1200-metres pursuit in Montreal. That’s not a typical track and field event, what are you looking forward to most about it?

CPT: It will be interesting because we will have to rely on tactics, which is a lot like we would do in a major championship race. While we tend to think it may go slow at first, I think the pursuit concept is good because some athletes might want to try to go for the easy money in the first few laps, making the race fast. One thing is for sure, it will be my first race of that style and I can't wait to see how it turns out!

AC: What specific elements of your race or fitness are you focusing on this winter and this year?

CPT: In the winter, we are mostly working the opposite ends of the running spectrum: Speed and endurance. While not necessarily doing really specific 800-metres and 1500-metres workouts, we will work on endurance with a high-volume program, long tempos and long distance intervals, and on speed with hill sprints and sprint workouts. Workouts get gradually more specific and intense as we approach the summer racing season. The 1500-metres requires strength, endurance and speed, so we play with these components in training all year long.

AC: You’ve competed a lot and run some fast times in Montreal. Do you have any memories of a Montreal competition that you'd like to share?

CPT: I love running in Montreal in the indoor season because it is where I first bloomed as a CIS athlete and ran Quebec records over 1000-metres and 1500-metres. I have raced many times at the McGill Team Challenge and I have always loved the interaction and intensity between the runners and the crowd in these indoor meets. Now, being a higher profile athlete, the opportunities to race at home are very rare which makes it even more exciting for me this year to come Grand Prix d’Athlétisme.

AC: What are your goals in 2017?

CPT: I want to be more competitive on the world stage. Whether it means being in the mix at the front in Diamond League races or making the world final and placing well there, I think it's the next logical step for me to go after at this point in my career.

For more about Charles and other Canadian Olympians competing at #MTLGP17, be sure to follow @AthleticsCanada on  Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, & Snapchat.

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