Running for the past 15 to 20 years, and marathon running since last summer.
What sparked your interest ?
My 40th birthday ! I decided to run one marathon a year until I’m 60, and I’m currently preparing the second which will be run in Lucerne this October. I can’t do more than that, because preparation takes 16 weeks. I begin in July during my intercontinental travels, when I sleep very little because of jet-lag, which gives me plenty of time to run, and step things up a notch during the traditional watchmaking vacation. During the rest of the year I stick to semi-marathons, for which one race a week is enough to stay in shape.
What’s your finest memory ?
Undoubtedly the Stramilano event last year, within the context of our Jaeger-LeCoultre inter-branch race that we organise each year. There were around 15 of us, and we had a great time.
Of which performance are you most proud ?
My first marathon last year in Berlin. I did not set a time goal, since I was just recovering from pneumonia, and I completed it in four and a half hours. It was pure delight until the 38th kilometre.
The dream location where you would love to run ?
I would love to take part in the Boston Marathon, which I see as one of the five most legendary races of its kind. But to do that I’ll need to cut my time to below four hours.
How does this passion influence your professional life ?
The extraordinary thing about marathon running is that it’s a truly effective way of eliminating stress. Not only is it a means of finding and honing ideas, just like running in general, but it also creates a vacuum as intense and relaxing as a week-long retreat in Tibet !
Which watch do you associate in this activity ?
Jaeger-LeCoultre has developed the Extreme LAB2, which is the only mechanical digital counter you can read while running! Personally speaking, I have bought myself a Reverso on which I plan to have engraved with the name of each of my marathons.
