• The Paris Marathon will take place on April 2nd. On this occasion, 20 Minutes offers you weekly portraits of participants.
  • This week, it is Dorian Louvet who is in the spotlight. Former Koh-Lanta, he aims for 2h25 on this 2023 edition.
  • "I'm new to the marathon and semi, since I only participated in those in Paris in 2022," says the athlete, who is familiar with the crème de la crème of road running.

"I'm a competitor and I need to perform." Throughout the interview with Dorian Louvet, former finalist of Koh-Lanta and Sunday runner, elite category and big times, the question of perf transpires in the exchanges. At 33 years old, this SNCF controller on standby, also a sports coach specializing in running, content creator, ambassador of Paris-2024 and father of Nala, almost two years old, has embarked for the second consecutive year on the Paris Marathon. But not without a goal: "Last year, I wanted to run it under 2h30. Result: 2h27''48. This year, I'm aiming for 2:25."

Best known for having participated in Koh-Lanta: The Four Lands, broadcast in 2020, Dorian Louvet is thirsty for adventures, challenges, ... and results! "I'm happy in the performance." For the 2023 edition, the runner, also author of Mon coach running (First editions), released in 2022, displays his ambitions: "I run the semi of Paris at the beginning of March with the objective of going under 1h09, last year, I achieved a time of 1h09''18. It's not a main goal, it's included in my preparation for the Paris Marathon. And if I succeed, all the lights will be green for April 2."

Runner at heart

Former 3,000-meter steeplechase runner of national level, this amateur sportsman who is close to the French elite, tells his eclectic relationship to running. "In 2016-2017, I was able to get a finalist place at the elite France championships in the 3,000 meters steeplechase. At the time, I was almost only running on tracks, with the exception of a few bibs on the 10km road." His selection for the show Koh-Lanta marked a turning point: "it was like a way out, I think I was at the end of what I could give for the track". Between his participation in the adventure game, the broadcast and media coverage and the birth of his daughter, Dorian Louvet stopped the race for nearly a year and a half. "I needed it and at the same time, I felt at one point that I was missing something."

In 2021, he put on his sneakers and embarked on the Marathon des Sables in October, in the Moroccan desert, with Alix Noblat and Mathieu Blanchard, met during Koh-Lanta. "In races like this, reputed to be among the toughest in the world, the training and the goal are not the same. I went there to have fun and surpass myself, like on the Diagonale des Fous in October 2022. They're great experiences but it's not the same sport." This challenge nevertheless marked the return to racing for Dorian Louvet, who participated in his first Paris Marathon in 2022. "ASO (the race organiser) came to pick me up but it was totally in line with my desires. And in view of my results, I am legitimate to access an elite bib." The rider all the same, confides with a laugh that on the other hand the organization is not his strong suit and that he came close to direct elimination last year: "I had accepted this preferential bib but I had completely forgotten to register. I realized it two days before the race," he jokes.

Influence and performance, Dorian Louvet's two assets

This year again, for his second Paris Marathon, and his second marathon in short, Dorian Louvet will have a luxury hare: Jimmy Gressier, neo-European record holder in the 5 km road race. "We have been friends for years with Jimmy, I have the same coach as him, Adrien Taouji (now national coach at Insep in the middle distance group), and I was able to go on a preparation camp in Kenya with him during the first half of February. Like last year, it's a pleasure to share this moment with him, he's the one who will manage the pace which is really cool and comfortable to have a hare on this rhythm ".

The ex-adventurer, with his experience in 2022, is betting on optimal preparation. "Last year, I was already able to experience this type of internship, see how my body reacted to altitude. But that was 16 weeks before the race. There, I was able to integrate it into my specific marathon preparation which starts ten to twelve weeks before the event. I was already in shape when I arrived there and I was able to take volumes of 160 kilometers per week, while I am on 120-130 kilometers when I am at home. There, I am 100% in my practice in training as in recovery."

In the region of Caen where he lives, he has to juggle his family life, his professional demands and the demands due to his media exposure. "Going to Kenya is a real opportunity, I am aware of it and I take advantage of it. I was happy to leave, and even more so to go back!" he jokes. Video, it really changes everything to keep a link with your children. At not even two years old, my daughter is evolving very quickly and I do not know if I could have left without this precious tool, "he adds more seriously. "I'm lucky to be able to afford it, as I can during the preparation of the Paris Marathon, to allow me to reduce my working hours to spend more time training."

"I am one of the good Frenchmen but not to the point of claiming the France team or at the European level," continues Dorian Louvet. But my performance today coupled with my visibility on social networks seduces several brands with whom I have the chance to collaborate. I take advantage of this double hat, quite rare in the world of running. It's a real strength." The runner, who now considers running a part of his work, has also been chosen as an ambassador for Paris-2024, and will have the honor of participating in the Marathon pour tous. "It's sure to be a big sporting party and I'm a big fan of sport and F, I'm looking forward to it. The course will be difficult, much more than that of the Paris Marathon. And I hope to get there in shape and shine. I already know that there is a long hill that breaks the legs, we turn left before Versailles and we suffer! " he laughs.

A short trail finish in 2023

In the meantime, the almost amateur rider has ticked several boxes for 2023. "After the Paris Marathon, I'm going to get into short trail running by transforming my training. I think I can be competitive in the 40-50 kilometers, distances that correspond to my physical qualities. When I start a race, I need to get a performance," he explains. The Diag and the Marathon des Sables are ultra-trail, a totally different sport for which I do not want to train at the moment." In particular, he has planned to line up at the start of the Marathon-Race in Annecy at the end of May, then the Mont-Blanc Marathon at the end of June and the end of August, on the OCC, one of the races of the mythical UTMB, which is 56 kilometers long. "Last year, I went there in relaxation and the end was particularly difficult. This year, I really want to go back and perform."

Our file on the Paris Marathon

An age limit to stop competing? Dorian Louvet doesn't think about it. "What motivates me is to set a goal. I am new to the marathon and semi, since I only participated in those of Paris in 2022. Same for trail running. I seize the opportunities that arise." He participated in a trail in French Polynesia and took up several solidarity challenges such as running eight days in a row the distance of a marathon without ever having put on a bib on the queen distance. "It was for an association in 2021. My goal was to raise 5,000 euros, we raised more than 35,000. I like this spirit of surpassing myself for a good cause."

Travel, race, performance, surpassing oneself, Dorian Louvet has found his own balance to flourish and take advantage of opportunities. "I love what I do but I'm not blameless at optimizing every detail of my life. On lifestyle in particular, I'm not an example, he jokes. And then I come back from a family vacation the day before the half marathon." What if this was the recipe to go under 2h25 in Paris, on April 2nd?

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