Just back from Réunion Island with a superb 4th place in the prestigious Diagonale des Fous trail race, Diego Pazos is more than one of the world’s best trail runners. Born in Lausanne and holding a master’s degree in forensic science, Diego is also the founder and organiser of the Montreux Trail Festival, whose first edition took place this year. In this interview, we get to know our favourite “bow-tie” runner better, and he shares his tips for succeeding on every front.
A: DIEGO PAZOS, WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
DIEGO: I was born in Lausanne and grew up in the Lausanne “suburbs”, in Chavannes-près-Renens – I have wonderful memories of it! I’ve been living in Lausanne for several years now, so I’m a genuine local product!
A: WHEN DID YOU DISCOVER TRAIL RUNNING?
D: I first discovered trail running online in the summer of 2011, watching Kilian at the 2011 UTMB with a magnificent sunrise over the Col de la Seigne. Seeing these “extreme adventurers”, as I called them, really motivated me to take the plunge and set myself this gargantuan challenge. Then, at the end of 2011, came my first trail race, the SaintéLyon – 70 km at night, a great experience – before my first real trail season in 2012. After that, the passion took hold: I discovered strengths I never knew I had, and I improved as my build changed, going from stocky to rather wiry. In 2016, getting to represent Switzerland at the World Championships was another highlight; it’s always a special moment to represent your country in a sport, whatever it may be.
A: WHAT’S THE STORY BEHIND THE BOW TIE?
D: The bow tie is a bit like having my wife and my loved ones running with me. I already wore bow ties a lot before we got married, but it’s become something of a symbol of us as a couple, and I decided to run in one after our wedding in June 2015. Fun fact: the bow ties I wear are the ones my friends gave me at my stag do, so they have a double meaning for me: love and friendship!
Over time it’s also become a lucky charm!
A: YOU’RE NOT JUST A GREAT ATHLETE. TELL US A BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU DO ALONGSIDE YOUR SPORT!
D: Alongside my job and my training, I’ve taken on organising the Montreux Trail Festival, a race like no other that truly combines music (Queen in particular, since Montreux was Freddie Mercury’s adopted home) and trail running. The best example is the festive format called Freddie’s Night, with entertainment and light shows along the whole route!
The aim is to bring fresh energy to trail racing and bring a whole region together – the long course, 164 km with 12,000 m of ascent, is a true Tour of the Vaud Alps – and to share my playground, where I spend most of my time when I’m preparing for international competitions. The Riviera, the Vaud Alps and our beautiful canton of Vaud deserved a showcase like this for lovers of outdoor sports. Our mountains are beautiful and much more technical than people think… This running festival (7 formats on the programme) is a bit like its organising committee: original, young and dynamic!
Come and experience this ultra-festive atmosphere at the second edition, from 26 to 29 July 2018 (www.montreux-trail.ch).
A: ANY ADVICE FOR JUGGLING EVERYTHING AT ONCE?
D: It’s a bit like a jigsaw puzzle: you have to fit all the pieces together correctly, but it’s really not easy. Between my trips to Bern for work, my working day and my lunchtime training sessions, my evenings were often taken up with the Montreux Trail Festival – but for me, the most fundamental thing is balance in my family life. So I stay as attentive as possible to my wife, so that we can set aside time for just the two of us; I need that for my balance as an athlete too! On top of all that, the arrival of our baby is going to turn everything upside down, but for the better, I’m sure… Setting priorities is the foundation of life – it’s what helps you move forward!
Read also: Interview with Yann Senjaric
A: HOW IMPORTANT IS YOUR DIET TO YOU? DO YOU FOLLOW A PARTICULAR NUTRITION PLAN?
D: Diet is extremely important in an athlete’s life. I’d go as far as to say in everyone’s life, but some people aren’t aware of it yet or don’t want to see it that way. And yet… As an athlete, I don’t follow any particular diet, but I do try to vary what I eat as much as possible, eat a balanced diet and stick to a few key principles. I’m not in favour of specific diets – I’m a “flexivore”, as Takinoa would say – and I’m convinced you can eat healthily and in a balanced way while really enjoying your food.
It’s all a question of habit: once you’ve found that balanced routine, you can allow yourself the odd indulgence, especially with all the festive meals coming up at the end of the year, but you’ll naturally return to your usual balance by getting back into good habits once those indulgences have been digested! I’ve always followed my own instinct – not a set method, but one inspired by a lot of fascinating reading about nutrition and its influence on our lives in general.
From now on, thanks to Algorigin, I’ll be able to monitor my nutrition a bit more closely, mainly to make sure I don’t develop any deficiencies given the hours of sport I do. Making sure your health is in good shape is essential if you want to last and, above all, if you want to reach your goals or achieve your dreams.
Read: Diego Pazos wants to cross Switzerland
A: SINCE ALGORIGIN STARTED SUPPORTING YOU, HAVE YOU NOTICED ANY CHANGES OR IMPROVEMENTS IN YOUR DAY-TO-DAY LIFE?
D: I take organic spirulina and, more recently, AFA Klamath – algae with remarkable properties. I feel these products help me meet my needs for essential nutrients. These nutrients are sometimes no longer present in shop-bought foods that are supposed to contain them, because those foods are no longer of good quality due to mass production, fruit and vegetables being picked before they are ripe, or the excessive use of pesticides.
Day to day, these supplements help me rebalance my needs, but it’s also during competitions that I feel the benefits. What’s more, results come in the medium to long term: you don’t see a difference overnight but gradually – unless you’re at a very low point when you start taking them, in which case you would see results fairly quickly. It’s an investment in your future health.
A: WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE ADVANTAGES OF ALGORIGIN PRODUCTS?
D: Well-documented production that is mindful of the environmental challenges of the years ahead and focuses not on mass production but on high-quality spirulina production for the well-being of consumers. It sounds obvious, yet in our society, and especially in the food industry, these principles are all too rarely respected! Plus, it’s a young, dynamic team that really listens!
A: WHAT ARE YOUR NEXT GOALS AND UPCOMING PROJECTS?
D: After this wonderful Diagonale des Fous, my last challenge of the year will be the Ultra-Trail Cape Town on 2 December in South Africa, followed by lots of new surprises in 2018, including a big personal project and some superb races. You’ll hear more in the coming months!
Read also: Interview with Maxime Grenot
MORE ABOUT DIEGO PAZOS:
– Age: 32, turning 33 on 28 November 2017
– Nationality: Swiss and Spanish
– Sport: ultra trail running
– Job: master’s degree in forensic science from the School of Criminal Justice at the University of Lausanne; currently a specialist at the Swiss Federal Police (fedpol) in Bern.
– Family: soon to be a dad, and the happy husband of the wonderful Maya
– Achievements:
- 4th in the Diagonale des Fous in 2015 and 2017
- 6th at the 2016 IAU Trail World Championships
- 1st at the 2016 Eiger Ultra
- 1st in the 80 km du Mont-Blanc 2016
- 4th in the 2015 CCC
- 11th in the 2014 UTMB
- 3rd in the Verbier St-Bernard in 2012
- Wins at the Trail de la Galinette, Ultra Trail do Marão, Trail des Paccots (27 km), Trail de la Vallée de Joux (35 km) and Humani’trail (27 km), plus numerous podiums
- You in 3 words: joie de vivre, smiley, perfectionist
Website: http://diegopazos.ch/
