On the Road: Olympic couple ready to sprint to their peak

THEY train to conquer the world, but some nights the top of Victoria will do for Olympic couple Ryan Gregson and Genevieve LaCaze.

Olympic athlete power couple Ryan Gregson and Genevieve LaCaze at Falls Creek. Picture: Mark Stewart

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THEY train to conquer the world, but some nights the top of Victoria will do.

At 1842m above sea level the air is thinner and the going a little tougher for Olympic couple Ryan Gregson and Genevieve LaCaze.

But the spectacle of a summer sunset soothes.

The Sandringham duo are among hundreds of athletes who go to Falls Creek in January. Training at high altitude has been shown to give athletes an edge.

LaCaze said it also offered the chance to relieve the pressures of life inside the bubble of competition.

“It’s beautiful up here and it just takes you away from the distractions.”

Both athletes are Australian record holders in their respective events.

Ryan Gregson and Genevieve LaCaze at Falls Creek. Picture: Mark Stewart

LaCaze made her mark on the world stage representing Australia in the 3000m steeplechase in the London and Rio Olympics.

Gregson was a 1500m finalist in Rio and just last month became the first man in 50 years to win the Burnie Mile from scratch.

At Mt McKay they are in their element, against a backdrop of green bush and grey snowgums slowly regenerating from fires that have scorched these slopes.

Lazy 22km runs, 8x1km drills and brutal hill climbs are all part of their training guided by Melbourne Track Club coach Nic Bideau.

“I reckon this is the good height where you can still run fast and get all the altitude benefits,” Gregson said. “If it was somewhere like Switzerland, it can be too hard on the body.”

The pair said they were able to push each other harder because of the relative isolation. “We have a routine and there is no option but to turn up and do the work,” LaCaze said.

“Ryan and I meet in the middle when we run together. He often pushes too hard and has to relax down while I have to increase my pace.”

Gregson and LaCaze will appear with athletic stars, including Usain Bolt, at Nitro Athletics Melbourne over three days from February 4 at Lakeside Stadium.

— Follow reporter Aaron Langmaid and photographer Mark Stewart as they discover the people and places that make our state so great this summer.

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