MEMBER: Alexis Geslin
Name: Alexis Geslin
Hometown: Paris, France
College: Stanford University
Occupation: Battery Engineer
Personal Bests
1500: 4:11
Steeple: 9:56
10k: 32:41
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
By: Kevin Brandon (03/10/19)
Alexis, thanks for taking time to speak with us. Could you tell us a bit about yourself? How did you end up in Philadelphia and running with PRTC?
Hi PRTC! It's a real pleasure to have finally found a club to train with, and what a club, omg! Definitely the fastest I've ever trained with! Arrived in Philly last June for a new job, I was rapidly discovering the Schuylkill river trail, but wanted more, I looked it up (thank you google again) and here I am!
When did you first become a runner? Did a specific event compel you to take on the sport?
I first become a runner at age 10 when I started to be well ranked every year at the school race, while doing nothing as a training but pickup soccer. After a few encouraging results (and after being told that I wasn't built to be a judoka) I decided to take it to the next stage and enroll in a club.
Once you began running, how did your career develop? Take us through day one to today.
My first years as a runner were both competitive and very fun: I was training in my club with the teenagers group half of the workout for fun, but I used to join the adult group for harder workout. I started to race and results encouraged me to move forward. When joining college, I had the best coach I've ever had who made me progress to my best level of performance (2015) which I'm desperately trying to reach again since then, grad school being an excellent performance-killer...
What is a favorite running accomplishment or moment?
My favorite running moment is definitely not an accomplishment but more a checked box: I had always wanted to run a race, drunk; Thanks Midwesterners, Milwaukee gave me this opportunity: organizing a festival all day long, concluding on a race at 10pm. I remember being with a very good friend of mine, on the starting line, finishing chugging our two beers... Great feeling all race long, like if I were flying! ok the time wasn't there at all, but it wasn't the point. Good memories!
How about a not-so-great moment?
Not so fun moment... most runners know this one: getting injured... I abandoned a race only once in my life, torn in pain by my knee (you may still see me running with my knee brace, even 3years after, just in case...)
Regarding your running future, what are your near and long-term goals?
My running goals are getting back in shape to beat my PRs from 2015. Running sub 9' on the 3k, sub 16' on the 5k and getting closer to 32' on 10k.
Preferred pre and post-race meals?
Pre: big cereal bowl at 3am and then going back to bed!!! Digestion, you know,
Post-race: everything with sugar!! I def have a sweet tooth!
As someone who joins us from France, can you tell us what the running scene there is like?
You guys get really serious about it omg! We don't run as fast, but we do not train as seriously either... you can probably attest from my regularity on Tuesdays and my 100% absence on Sunday long runs...
Can you share with us what you're currently up to professionally? What inspired you to pursue this field?
I'm currently working on lithium-ion batteries (the ones you put in electric vehicles) as an engineer in a French company in King of Prussia. After pursuing a Materials Science degree, I wanted to work on energy-related topics, and the transition to electric cars fascinates me.
Any non-running related hobbies, hidden skills or talents we may enjoy hearing about?
I'm a serious Electro Dance Music fan, sorry, no rap for me sorry... You can probably find me at a concert on a random week day. Always down to cook and have nice meals with friends too. Pickup soccer on weekends anyone?