Stéphane started running later than most, at 52. For one very simple reason, to stay fit. As his runs stacked up and his confidence grew, he decided to take things up a notch and sign up for a few local races. For his 60th birthday, his kids gifted him a challenge on a whole new level, running one of the most prestigious marathons in the world, the Berlin Marathon. Here’s his story.
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How did your goal of becoming a Berlin Marathon finisher go?
“I ran the marathon in 3:52:01. Luckily, I wasn’t alone. My family traveled to Berlin to support me, so my motivation went through the roof.
I wasn’t there just to stand on the start line, I was there to cross the finish line. In the start corral, I was hit with a wave of emotion, knowing what was at stake, finishing this race in under 4 hours.
My supporters figured out the Berlin U-Bahn and S-Bahn like pros so they could cheer me on at six spots along the course, including the legendary Brandenburg Gate. Surprisingly, the difficulty didn’t feel that huge. Only the last 2 kilometers were tough, but without any real drop in pace. And I didn’t hit the dreaded 30 km wall, probably thanks to a solid RunMotion Coach marathon training plan.”
How did you manage your Berlin Marathon training?
“My training started in early April, a 25-week build with 3 runs per week. With RunMotion Coach, I never really had moments where I doubted the process. The one tricky part was getting the sessions done during the heatwave we had this summer. I also shared a few runs with one of my sons, those were awesome moments together.”
What motivates you to run?
“My motivation is to stay in great shape, to live experiences I didn’t get to have when I was younger, and the little bonus, to chase some strong performances!”
How did you discover the RunMotion Coach app? :
“I discovered the RunMotion Coach app through my company.”
What encouraged you to download and test the app? :
“My company gives me the Premium subscription. The training plan looked really well matched to my level and my goal, a structured approach to marathon preparation and performance.”
What do you like most about the app?
“I really like the new design, and especially how much more flexible the new version is to use, viewing workouts across several weeks, moving training days around and saving them, syncing with my Garmin or Strava account, and so on. I also like how the personalized training plan is built based on the data that’s been recorded.”
What’s your next sporting challenge?
“It feels impossible to run just one marathon! So I’ve signed up for the Paris Marathon, this time with my son, who’s a runner too.”
Congrats Stéphane, you’re a Berlin Marathon finisher. And well under 4 hours for your first marathon, that’s amazing!