The crazy challenge of Gaspard Degryse, a Lille fan ‘in love’ with running
The running enthusiast Gaspard Degryse runs, after each Ligue 1 match, the number of goals scored by his favorite team… multiplied by ten. A devoted LOSC supporter since childhood, the Lille native has already covered 119 kilometers around the Stade Pierre-Mauroy since taking on this completely crazy challenge.
Gaspard Degryse, aka @gaspacho.dgr on Instagram and @spacho.life on TikTok, has been running laps around the stadium every week since the fourth matchday of the season. Encouraged by his friends, the former professional Muay Thai fighter started this project in mid-September, initially without facing overly long distances. He kicked off strong with 21 km after the win against Toulouse (2-1), before being quickly tempered by less flattering scores that followed: two losses to Lens (3-0) and Lyon (0-1), then a draw against Paris (1-1). Until that famous 6-1 against Metz, where he went all out: 61 kilometers that completely exhausted him, a first for him.
This challenge addict isn’t one to show off. ‘I often do them on my own,’ says the shy athlete, who has started opening up a bit more since putting himself out there on social media. The digital world serves as a springboard for him to gain confidence. ‘I don’t talk directly to people, but I try to act as if I’m speaking to a group when I film my videos. If I meet someone on the street, I tell myself that my last video had so many views, and I had no trouble speaking to that many people, so I should be able to talk to just one.’ Above all, it allows him to share what truly excites him: running for the club that runs in his veins.
| LOSC, a Family Affair
- Son of a former member of the club’s medical staff and great-great-grandson of the goalkeeper of SC Fives—the team that merged with Olympique Lillois to form LOSC—Gaspard grew up with the Lille jersey in his heart. This team has accompanied him every step of the way. “Non-negotiable,” he says when discussing the idea of missing a Dogues match.
“We watch the matches with my dad and little brother,” he explains, mentioning habits somewhat disrupted by his new routine. “At first, they thought I was crazy, but of course, they support me. They know that this kind of challenge is what I love in life. All they see is that it makes me laugh, that it makes me happy, and that’s all that matters to them.”
| A former boxer who is crazy about running
Even though this challenge would be a true mountain to climb for anyone attempting it purely for the thrill, that’s not the case for this running enthusiast, who does it for sheer enjoyment. “I love all aspects of it, whether it’s slightly faster distances like the 10 km, or longer solo runs,” he says enthusiastically. Recently sidelined by an injury that forced him to take it easy for a while, he still can’t go without his daily runs. “It was a bit of a drama,” admits this runner, who has been at it for just a year and a half.
Back then, lacing up his running shoes was a way to keep exercising without adhering to the strict demands of professional training, and more importantly, to make a definitive break from his professional boxing career in Thailand, where morning 10 km runs felt more like a chore. Now, with two training sessions a day except on his Sunday “rest day,” he has regained “more or less” the rhythm of his pro life. “It got me used to a high volume, even though now I listen to my body more. I manage based on how fatigued I feel. I never push too far when I’m exhausted or in pain anywhere.”
« I fell in love with running. I love all aspects of it, whether it’s slightly faster distances, such as 10 km, or longer runs on my own. »
Gaspard Degryse
| A challenge that comes naturally
This simple suggestion from a friend didn’t stay in his head for long. It came at the perfect time for this 24-year-old fitness coach, who already racks up 140–150 km per week. “My friends always saw me, at my modest level, hitting small personal bests on my runs or in some races. They told me, ‘Go for it, man! If you’re going to run long, you might as well do it in a fun and quirky way.’”
The challenge quickly became part of his routine. “I do my normal training, just adjusting the intensity a bit.” Even though it requires careful planning. “It’s not easy, but I still train as usual alongside it. I try to stay between 110 and 130 kilometers depending on the week. Sometimes I use it to fit in a session, like doing an active 10 km.” Generally, he finishes the session on Monday, “so I can train more comfortably the rest of the week.”
| An “ultra” distance that’s making waves
Sometimes this challenge pushes him to his limits. Like the day he ran 90 laps of 700 meters around the Stade Pierre Mauroy, after LOSC’s crushing 6-1 victory over Metz. “When I saw we had won 6-1, I was both sad and happy,” he recalls. “I’d wanted to cover a distance like that for a long time. So I thought: awesome, I have no excuse not to do it.”
He remembers a good friend who came to run ten kilometers alongside him for support. “It really helped! But usually, when I’m running, I like to focus and be in my own bubble. That time, I was able to reflect on quite a few things.” Running this impressive distance also launched him into another dimension on TikTok: 380,000 views, over 200 comments, and 3,000 new followers gained in record time.
Gaspard Degryse isn’t done entertaining his friends—and now his many followers across social media platforms. Ideas are already racing through his mind by the dozen, even though, for now, he’s focusing on his next challenge: the 10 km in Seclin, which he signed up for a few days ago at a friend’s suggestion. He’ll try to beat his personal best of 33:57 to get closer to 33:30. “It’s nice to start the season with a 10 km, because those were the first races I ever ran.” Already a half-marathon finisher, he doesn’t hesitate when asked if he plans to run a full marathon one day. “For sure. I don’t know which one yet, but soon.” And in the back of his mind, another idea teases him: taking part in a “Backyard” race, because he lives for challenges like these.
Sabine LOEB
Journalist
