Constant Wiederkehr

I’m a running and cycling coach, and an endurance athlete. I spent most of my teenage years racing bikes, then started running to break free from that pressurized environment. Today, I’m trying to keep this desire of freedom intact while training to be a better athlete. Apart from that, I also write articles for several media outlets and my own website.

I like hanging out in Annecy with a nice cup of coffee, while reading a book or listening to music. A book that really changed my life this past year is “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl. It encouraged me to stay true to myself and my life aspirations in work, sports, and social relationships. It also resonated with my personal story as my grandfather was forced to serve during World War II.

I became a running coach because I was “uncoachable” myself. When I started running, I was simply too stubborn to listen to anyone’s advice, so after a few months to plateau, I had to learn physiology myself! These days, I’m coaching road and trail runners at every level, from beginners to competitive athletes. Some of the coaching I do with the company Runwise, some of it I do directly.

I love the previous course of the Maxi-Race’s Marathon course here in Annecy. You start by the lake, then climb steeply up to the Col des Nantets, where the views over Lake Annecy are absolutely beautiful. Then, it’s time for a steep descent, followed by the climb to the Pointe de Talamarche, from where you can see the entire Massif des Aravis and Mont Blanc in the distance. The final section takes you up to Mont Veyrier, an iconic mountain near Annecy where many of us train, before descending back into the city. It’s definitely a great training run!