>Jean-Claude Pont is the race director of the Sierre-Zinal, a 31 km trail race with 2200m ascent and 800m descent in Switzerland.

Tell us something about the race we cannot find on the homepage of the event.
A letter from a participant: “Thank you for having organized the most beautiful day of the summer”. Our mottos, “Rigueur et fantaisie” (Rigour and imagination) and “Le cœur avant le chrono” (The heart you put into the race comes before the stopwatch).

Do you have a favourite mile? Have you run the race yourself in the past?
Yes many times: I have participated in Sierre-Zinal 35 times out of 37 editions. Best time was 3h58’36. Slowest was 6h25.

Apart from a pair of shoes and a smile, what would you like runners to bring to the Sierre-Zinal?
A smile and a pair of shoes.

Some numbers: how many people are involved in the organization of the event? How many runners do you expect for the next edition? How many from abroad?
550 people are involved in the organization of the Sierre-Zinal. We expect about 3000 runners in 2011, 300 from abroad.

What is your favourite race (excluding the ones you organize)?
Now I only run in Sierre-Zinal. But I love Marvejol-Mende for it’s wonderful atmosphere. Also the 100km of Bienne, an experience that makes you discover yourself.

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