Pierre-Antoine Lefebvre
Endurance coach · Lausanne · @pierrooot
Who I am
I am an endurance coach based in Lausanne, specialised in trail running, road running, cycling and triathlon. But before being a coach, I'm a practising athlete — I run ultras, I prepare for Hyrox, and I live exactly what I put my athletes through.
I am myself coached by Luc Metrailler — because I believe no one should train alone, not even a coach. This dual perspective — coach and athlete — is what allows me to truly understand what the people I work with go through. The doubts before a race, the fatigue of a long prep block, the temptation to do too much.
My journey in numbers
The journey
Multisport beginnings. Triathlon, road cycling, swimming. First trail in late 2018 (Oritrail), first podium at Cosatrail.
Stepping up. Paris Marathon (3h06), first real mountain trails: Black Mountain (33km/2000m+), Pacte des Loups (38km/2190m+).
Monster year. 300 activities, 4,571 km. Directissime (30km/2727m+), Semi de la Vanoise (1555m+). 70,000 m+ elevation for the year.
The ultra step. LAT Luchon-Aneto Trail: 85 km, 5,258 m+, 14h of racing.
Versatility. Ventoux (47km), Ultra SwimRun (64km), Sierre-Zinal, Humani Trail 50km (23rd place).
Turning point. Ultra Lozère over 2 days (110km/5400m+). Moved to Switzerland.
Solid comeback. Second Sierre-Zinal. Tour des Muverans (2710m+). Belle-Île en courant (78km).
Flagship year. UTMJ ~175km (5591m+, 22h). Infinity Trail Backyard (106km, 16h). Strength and gym work ramping up. Hyrox Barcelona.
Why coaching
Endurance sport has always been with me. It taught me resilience, motivation, and above all how to find optimism even in the toughest moments. I've carried that into every project — it gives me momentum and energy in everything I take on.
After years working in IT, cooped up in offices in front of a screen, getting back to the open air and the mountains became essential. I'm high-energy — sitting down to meditate would be a real struggle. But trail running in the mountains is my form of meditation.
When you run for a long time, focused on your breathing and your goal, letting the distracting thoughts drift away — it's liberating. You feel alive, free, grounded.
The transition to coaching happened naturally. I've done my time in IT. What I want today is to find meaning again — to bring kindness and smiles to people through sport.
What I learned from failing
Paris Marathon 2022 — DNF at km 30
I had an injury, and on top of that I went out way too fast. I went through the half in 1h21, which was well above my capacity on that day. I let myself get carried along by the crowd instead of staying focused on my own race.
It was inexperience. I learned from that failure to work on myself. When you compare yourself to others and aim for a level you don't have, you inevitably fail — either physically or mentally.
UTMJ 2025 — DNF at km 135, and yet a success
No regrets. I see this race as a genuine success. I held my paces, I was consistent, I moved up 30 to 50 places. I passed the 100km mark in under 16 hours. The race was magnificent.
Then the injury, at km 100. The doctor was clear: either you continue and seriously injure yourself, or you stop now. I chose to stop at km 135.
The preparation had been excellent. And what I took away from that race goes far beyond the result — it's the confirmation that hard work pays off, even when the finish line isn't the one you had planned.