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INTERNATIONAL. As the countdown to June’s 2012 Moodie Multi-National Marathon, in aid of Hand in Hand for Haiti, draws closer, The Moodie Report is pleased to present the latest edition of our feature series called Marathon Matters, in which well-known industry executives answer ten light-hearted questions about their running regime.
This week we talk to Tax Free World Association Managing Director Alain Maingreaud (left), whose sterling efforts in last year’s Moodie Multi-National Marathon helped the TFWA Flying Team to record a very respectable time of four hours and 13 minutes – and more importantly, raise over US$4,500 for the Hand in Hand for Haiti charity.
How often do you run?
At least once or twice a week. Running is not my number one sport, and besides my weekly rock-climbing and mountain bike training sessions I cannot really do more!
Why do you run?
Simply because I love it!
When and where do you usually run?
Whenever I have the opportunity. I live outside Paris and I can run for hours in the beautiful forests just next to my home.
What’s the furthest you’ve ever run?
I did Paris-Chartres (82kms) in two days many years ago, and more recently the Paris Marathon.
Where is the most exotic place you’ve ever run?
I try to run in every place I visit in the world. The most exotic place that comes to mind is a run in the Laponia forest at -28°C.
Do you run alone or with others?
Running with the family or with good friends is a must; however I enjoy running alone as well if I cannot find any team mates.
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The TFWA Flying Team, featuring TFWA MD Alain Maingreaud, cut a dash in last year’s Moodie Multi-National Marathon |
What’s your favourite music to listen to while running?
Birdsong and the wind in the trees.
What’s your favourite post-run meal?
A light and healthy meal. The good thing with sport in general is that the more active you are, the less you need to eat. At least it works for me”¦
What’s your target time for the Moodie Marathon?
The target this year is more about the number of participants. We will have a larger team this year including some of the TFWA Management Committee members, and we will be supported by a team of partners from the city of Cannes.
If you could invite any other five iconic figures (they can be living or dead, athletic or otherwise) to join your team, who would they be?
Marco Olmo who won the Mont Blanc Ultra Trail (one of the most difficult races in the world) at 60 years old; Fauja Singh, who ran the Toronto marathon last year in eight hours, 25 minutes at 100 years old; Haile Gebreselassie, because of his incredible career; [French sprinter] Christophe Lemaitre for his speed, and because we do not have very many good runners in France; and Remi Escoffier, an ex-top French mountain climber and a good friend of mine, who helped me to climb one of the most iconic routes in the Yosemite valley some years ago.
PREVIOUSLY ON MARATHON MATTERS
Dubai Duty Free Vice President – Operations Sean Staunton: “Earlier this month I ran in the Everest Ultra which was quite exotic. It starts in Gorakshep in Nepal which is at 5,164 metres altitude.”
Qatar Duty Free Senior Consultant Alan Edwards: “I run so I can eat fish and chips!”
LS travel retail ASPAC COO Emmanuel de Place: “[I run] either to clear my mind and release the stress of the day or to “pay the personal bill” after a good dinner and some fine wine”¦
Butlers Chocolates Sales Director Karl Marnane: “I run alone – Billy no mates! I find that I can solve all the world’s problems on a long run by myself.”
DFS Chairman & CEO Ed Brennan: “Our event will be held in Hong Kong along the South China Sea with hundreds of DFS employees. My objective is not time-related, and will be focused on saying thank you to all our volunteers.”
NOTE: The second Moodie Multi-National Marathon is the follow-up to the hugely successful global event in 2011 which raised over US$300,000 for Hand in Hand for Haiti. This year’s event will be conducted between 15 and 18 June. Teams of six from travel retail companies will each run one-sixth of a marathon (7.03km), with members being able to take part anywhere in the world. Participants can run on treadmills, track or any terrain of their choice.
Each team will seek sponsorship with all funds going to Hand in Hand for Haiti, a unique charity and educational project funded and run by the travel retail industry. A dedicated website has been created where teams can register and supporters donate.
While there is still plenty of time to start training and enter a team, The Moodie Report requests that everyone who has expressed an interest or intention to run officially signs up on the site as soon as possible.
On the 3 October 2011, Hand in Hand for Haiti opened the Lycée Jean Baptiste Point du Sable – a school funded and run by the travel retail industry – in the town of Saint Marc. The state-of-the-art facility offers a unique, all-encompassing approach to education – featuring accessible best-in-class, bilingual English-French instruction from kindergarten to (eventually) 13th grade. It is currently providing education for 152 children between 3 and 5 years of age.
All donations from this year’s Moodie Multi-National Marathon will go towards funding three crucial facilities: a computer centre, a library and a music centre.
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