Maxime Grenot has always been sporty. Tired of “going round in circles” on athletics tracks, he hung up his spikes and swapped them for trail running shoes. A physiotherapist and soon-to-be osteopath, he draws on his knowledge of physiology, especially sports physiology, to recommend our products to his patients.
If you often run around Annecy, you may well have crossed paths with him! Read on to find out more about him.
Algorigin: Tell us a bit about your background! Where are you from? Where did you go to school and university?
Maxime: I come from a small village in the Vosges. I did a science baccalaureate at a small secondary school in the Vosges, then went to the Université Libre de Bruxelles to get a master’s in physiotherapy and rehabilitation. After that I went straight on to an osteopathy degree, which I’ll finish next year. Alongside that, I’ve done several evidence-based certifications (dry needling, neurodynamics, the runner’s clinic, return-to-sport training and strength training, shoulder rehabilitation…) that help me treat my patients as effectively as possible.
A: When and how did you discover trail running?
M: I actually came to trail running quite naturally. I went through athletics, but I got fed up with going round in circles on the track. So I moved on to mountain running, which appealed to me much more… and the logical next step was trail running!
A: Did you do other sports as a child?
M: At secondary school I dabbled in a bit of everything. I tried pretty much all the team sports, but in the end I stuck with running.
A: What are your favourite places for trail running?
I have lots… the Bauges, the Aravis… but since I live on the shores of Lake Annecy, I’d say the peaks overlooking the lake are still fantastic spots.
A: What is your best memory from your trail running career?
M: I don’t have one in particular in mind; I love winning or getting a good result when my parents are there at the race. But if I had to name a few, I’d say the Grand Trail du Lac in Aix-les-Bains and, more recently, the CimasaRun on Réunion Island.
A: For someone who doesn’t know trail running, how would you explain the appeal of running ultra trails?
M: Trail running is first and foremost about being out in nature – you feel free… You find your motivation by looking up and around you. When the scenery is incredible, you don’t want to go home! And the atmosphere on trails is often really friendly: whether you finish first or last, you’re happy to grab a beer with your mates at the finish!
A: You’re not just a great athlete. Tell us a bit about what you do alongside your sport!
M: Alongside it, I work as a physiotherapist in France (and soon in Switzerland, as I’ll be joining a sports clinic in Geneva at the end of the year). It’s my second passion, and I think I’m even more demanding of myself at work than in my trail running.
A: What do you enjoy most about your job?
M: The relationship with my patients! I treat a lot of athletes, and it’s always a challenge to get them back on their feet as quickly as possible and, above all, in good condition!
A: Any advice for juggling everything?
M: I’d say you need to set aside dedicated time slots, whether for work or for training, and not mix the two. And remember to recover – apparently work is tiring!
Read also: Interview with Diego Pazos
A: This year your trail season was interrupted by a sprained ankle, but lately we’ve seen you back on the podium – how did you recover so quickly?
M: It’s true that the first half of my season this year was a struggle… I slipped on a patch of ice in my comeback race in March. It took me 15 days to get over it… In the next race I badly sprained my ankle, and then I got a bone bruise in my femur after hitting the edge of a low wall when I slipped on a muddy path… It was frustrating because I was in great shape, I’d trained conscientiously all winter, and I got injured at the worst possible time…
I managed to recover quickly because I never stopped training! You can always find a way to stay fit, and during that period my bike was my best friend!
Of course, getting back into running was hard, but I kept my head down and tried to be patient… Injury is part of an athlete’s life; the hardest part is accepting it, not losing motivation and putting effective treatment in place so you can return properly.
On that front, Algorigin products played a big part in my quick recovery – I’m convinced of it.
A: What are your top tips for recovering as quickly as possible after a race?
M: The best recovery is still sleep! Then come the little things that make the difference: food supplements (thank you, Algorigin), diet, massage and so on…
A: Why are you and Algorigin a good match?
M: Algorigin is my ally! Honestly, I don’t think I could do without Algo now. I’m completely satisfied, both with the products and with my exchanges with the different people who work there. It’s simply the best!
A: What do you see as the benefits of taking algae-based food supplements?
M: I see several: you avoid deficiencies, you recover better, less tiredness, fewer muscle injuries…
A: How important is your diet to you? Do you follow a particular nutrition plan?
M: Diet has always been important to me – I really care about it. I don’t like eating just anything!
And now that Celia Karleskind has put together a great meal plan for me, everything’s going brilliantly! It helps me stay at my ideal racing weight and stop making the mistakes I used to make.
A: Since Algorigin started supporting you, have you noticed any improvements in your day-to-day life?
M: I’ll try to stay objective in answering this question!
I tell my patients and running friends every day: since I started with Algorigin, I’ve seen a real change! A positive one, of course!
Discover: Algorigin organic spirulina
A: What are your next goals and upcoming projects?
M: In terms of sport, my next goals are to enjoy the end-of-season races after finishing 2nd in the Salomon Over The Mountain challenge. I’m in good shape, so I’ll try to put in some good races to make up for the first part of the season, which was disrupted by injuries.
Professionally, it will be about getting off to a good start in my new job as a sports physiotherapist in Geneva.
MORE ABOUT MAXIME GRENOT:
– Age: 29
– Nationality: French
– Sport: trail running
– Family: 2 amazing brothers and 2 amazing sisters, and wonderful parents!
– Job: physiotherapist (osteopath from June 2019)
– Achievements:
- Podiums at the French mountain running championships (under-17 and under-23 categories)
- Selected for the French junior mountain running team
- Wins at various trail races
- 11th at the 2017 French long-distance trail championships
– You in 3 words: simplicity, discipline, humour
Geneva, July 2018
Photo credit: Thomas Vigliano
