Words by Andy Waterman
Photos by Cime Studio, Enzo Coulange
At the end of March, French Mount to Coast athlete Corentin Play won the EcoTrail Paris 120km race, finishing solo beneath the Eiffel Tower. Once the celebrations died down, we took the time to catch up with Corentin to find out more about his win, and what he has planned for the rest of 2026.
Q1: Congratulations on your win in Paris. For a French ultrarunner, winning beneath the Eiffel Tower must be as close as it gets to crossing the line solo on Alpe d'Huez, or winning at Roland Garros - it's just a different scale to what we're used to in ultras. How did it feel to win such a big race on such a big stage?
CP: Winning in Paris, right under the Eiffel Tower, brought me a lot of joy, satisfaction, and a sense of peace because it confirms that my level is steadily rising. Being able to win a major national race is incredibly encouraging because I know I’m still far from my full potential in ultra-trail.
Q2: And how has it been since? Did you get a lot of publicity for winning?
CP: My various sponsors, and especially Mount to Coast, ensured there was maximum visibility around this victory, but you have to know when to turn the page quickly to focus on the next goal of the season. It's about stepping back and working in the shadows to hope to shine again.
Q3: You had a significant lead over second place. When did you break away? 120km is a long way – when did you begin to relax and think, "yes, I've got this"?
CP: I broke away at km 16 thanks to a lightning-fast aid station stop handled with my wife. That allowed me to create a gap right from the start of the race, and I then widened that lead all the way to the Eiffel Tower. I only told myself it was won during the last 8km, on the Paris quays, because anything can happen until the very end of a race. I knew my pursuer was about 15 minutes behind, but I also knew he wouldn't give up until the finish!
Q4: Those final kilometres into the city looked quite hectic on the live feed – lots of tourists, flights of steps etc – were you able to savour the experience?
CP: Despite catching up with runners from the different distances along the way, the paths were magnificent, the chateaus were sumptuous, and finishing under the Eiffel Tower is truly a unique experience in the world of trail running.
Q5: I understand you're a firefighter as well as a father of young kids. That must make training quite reactive right? It's often counterproductive to train hard if your kids have been up all night, but it must be impossible if you've been working a busy night shift. How creative do you and your coach have to be to balance all these different responsibilities in your life with training to race ultramarathons?
CP: My profile is a bit atypical since I’m a father of three children (4 months, 1.5 years, and 3 years old), but also a fire officer and an ultra-trail runner. My training is based on constant adaptation because I never know if I’m going to get 2 or 6 hours of sleep. I listen very closely to my body and my sensations; that guides me every day. Being a father is also a strength because trail running allows me to share many great moments with my children. I can also pass on a lot of values through the sport, which gives real meaning to my athletic practice.
Q6: You obviously had a good winter to arrive in March with such good form. What does winter training look like for you? Is it all running, or lots of cross training too?
CP: The winter was indeed good, focused essentially on running and strength training. I put in 170km weeks on top of two gym sessions. I think I’ve built a solid foundation that should allow me to have a great 2026 season.
Q7: Whatever happens, you'll look back on 2026 as a good year. Now that you have a big win on your resumé, are you changing your plans for the rest of the year? What else would you like to achieve?
CP: The roadmap remains the same. The goal is to perform well throughout an ultra-trail season and to discover the 100-mile format at the UTMB. I’ll therefore be on the starting line for the 110km of Alsace by UTMB, the 120km of Lavaredo, and the UTMB itself.