My first marathon, after 42 kilometers.

I run my first Paris marathon

Here is how I experienced my first marathon from the inside. I hope it can help you take the plunge and help you demystify the marathon challenge.

The marathon challenge

Sunday, April 3rd, I took part in the legendary Paris marathon. When you are used to running 21 kilometers, running 42 kilometers is a real challenge. I hadn't followed a training plan, until now it hadn't been a problem for me.

A few weeks before the race, I participated in several competitions to prepare myself, the Paris half marathon as well as the Grand Paris Express half marathon.

It was not always easy to find time to train in my schedule depending on my personal constraints.

After several months of preparation, long runs, intense training, the long-awaited moment arrived.

D-Day

I have a good breakfast in the morning that will allow me to hold on throughout the race.

The pressure starts to rise, I get closer to the Champs-Elysées avenue and I see all these people.

The runners came with the same goal as me: to finish the marathon and go all the way through the 42 kilometers.

There are athletes of several nationalities who came to run in the most beautiful city in the world, which is even more motivating.

Start signal

There are many of us in my starting SAS, ready to run.

Hop, here we go, first stride on the Champs-Elysées avenue, I start the 1st kilometer calmly and will adjust my stride from the 2nd kilometer.

I notice a discomfort in my right knee, yet I had taken all precautions during the last week of training with relaxation sessions, massage and sauna and a last run the last week of only 5 kilometers.

But still, nothing helps, I will have to suffer with this pain until the end. Mental strength will be the key to finishing this marathon.

At that moment, I tell myself that the time no longer matters, finishing the marathon is my only and sole goal, no matter the time, I will cross the finish line.

If I can have as much fun as possible, that's even better.

This discomfort does not prevent me from running, but I ease up a bit to still have energy in the last kilometers.

When I'm struggling

From the 11th kilometer, I have stomach pains. Around the 18th kilometer, I start to feel a more persistent pain. I take advantage of this to take a longer break than planned at the refreshment station. This allows me to recharge my batteries 😃 I take the opportunity to hydrate well and regain strength.

When I start again, I feel in better shape and take the opportunity to speed up the pace.

The 30-kilometer wall

Strangely, I didn't really feel this famous 30-kilometer wall.

I would say the pain accelerates as the kilometers go by and maybe mentally I was ready to face this obstacle.

I managed to demystify and desacralize the marathon challenge.

When you have reached more than 30 kilometers, it is not possible to give up because you have done the hardest part.

At the 25th kilometer, I was overtaken by the pacer of my starting SAS, the 4-hour SAS.

Instead of trying to run at the same pace and constantly watching the clock, I decided that there was something more important by saving energy for the last 10 kilometers.

So I adjust my stride. The important thing is to enjoy what we do, it helps to push your limits.

The mental finish

Strangely, it didn't fail, at kilometer 34 I see a certain calm among the supporters and the people who came to cheer.

It is at this moment that I realize that my body can no longer move forward, my mind must then take over.

I then decide to use a running app Oohaah. It allows you to listen to a playlist with music and voice messages from your loved ones. This playlist greatly contributed to giving me a real boost. I started to speed up, overtaking many runners in the last kilometers.

At that moment when I regain strength and energy, I have no doubt, I will finish the Paris marathon.

The power of music on the brain is quite impressive when doing sports and especially running.

It allows you to surpass yourself, even transcend yourself.

Well, I still took a few breaks to drink water at each refreshment station in the last 5, 10 kilometers.

But at each stop, the body has more and more difficulty restarting.

At the last refreshment station, I have 2 kilometers left, I can either walk and finish at my own pace or run to go all the way.

I decide to start running again, the start is slow, full of pain, one of the staff members tells me to walk if I don't feel it.

I finally decide to finish running and go all the way with my mind and my playlist in my ears.

I cross the finish line with the song En bande organisée 😃 This song is really catchy 😉

My first marathon in over 4 hours

What a joy to cross the finish line, to get your medal after going all the way without ever giving up.

I am proud to have completed this race in 4h29 for a first.

My first thoughts after crossing the finish line, the marathon is an incredible, beautiful and magical experience to live at least once in your life.

The marathon was part of my bucket list but I will not necessarily do it every year, because it is exhausting, draining for the body.

These are very beautiful emotions to surpass yourself throughout the course and to see other runners who have gone beyond themselves and finished this race that made more than one doubt.

For many, it is a life goal, a challenge to do.

A few days after the marathon, I only want to do another one next year because the distance is magical.

I think of the Rome marathon, a magnificent city, full of history.

After the effort, the comfort 😉

Now, time for recovery and rest, staying well hydrated with water and a few swimming sessions before being able to run again.

I hope sleep will do me good and allow me to recover faster.

How to properly prepare for your first marathon?

For the next marathon, I will include interval training sessions with more regularity in my training and also more progressiveness at the beginning of the preparation.

The goal will be to go under the 4-hour mark.

I think there is no secret to properly preparing for a marathon, the key to progress is consistency.

Muscle strengthening twice a week is also important to prevent the risk of injury. Good nutrition before and during the race is also important. What failed during the race were gels too concentrated in sugar. I will try to participate in other races, if possible half marathons, to gain consistency. These are the best advice I would give or lessons to live a less complicated marathon.

This is how I experienced my first marathon, the Paris marathon from the inside.