After racing plenty of marathons and half marathons, Jean-Philippe decided to take on a completely different challenge, trail running. And what better way to begin this new adventure than with the Ultra-Marin. A race between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Morbihan. Jean-Philippe lined up for the 56K distance at the Ultra-Marin, and here he tells us all about his race…
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How did your Ultra-Marin 56K go?
The Ultra-Marin 56K was my very first trail race! I had already run several marathons and half marathons, but never a trail race. I did not really start with a time goal, even though I had 7 hours in mind, and I surprised myself by being able to keep the effort going for 7 hours 40 minutes in the end. I had a few muscle aches at the start, in my glutes and hamstring, which had appeared 10 days before the race and stressed me out a lot in the days leading up to it. They never really went away, but I learned to manage them and live with them, with just one goal in mind, crossing the finish line.
Trail running has nothing in common with a marathon. The effort is different, sometimes tougher, but less brutal. And I really experienced that on the Ultra-Marin 56K…
How did you manage your training for the Ultra-Marin 56K?
Training for race goals, especially over long distances, demands real discipline and consistency. Personally, when I commit to a race goal, I dedicate at least 3 months to it, with a minimum of 3 runs per week. At first, my training plans came from magazines I used to read, along with a plan from a coach friend. But during race prep, you need regular encouragement, reassurance, and motivation.
With the RunMotion Coach app, I found all the principles I already had in mind, but explained here in a simple and effective way, with insightful advice, videos, and above all an encouraging training schedule. You never get bored, the sessions are varied, and they really help you improve. You no longer have to wonder what kind of workout to do every time you train.
Everything transfers to your watch (Garmin), and that becomes genuinely useful for interval workouts, where the watch beeps for each rep. When it comes to pacing, I now rely more on the recommended HR zones than on the speed shown on the screen, especially for long, easy runs. On my own, I would never have had the idea, or the motivation, to stretch a workout to 4 or 5 hours. And with the app, there is no guilt if you need to move a session. You can reschedule it very easily, which is both reassuring and freeing.
What motivates you to run?
I had always done a bit of running and sports since my teenage years and beyond. From the age of 35, I put on quite a lot of weight, with plenty of ups and downs, until I hit the dreaded 100 kg mark at 180 cm, and that was when I got scared. In sport, running had become difficult and painful, and I was losing my breath just going up the stairs…
From 2019 onward, I took control and drastically changed my eating habits. As the weight came off, I got back into running. At first, the goal was simply to burn calories and support weight loss. After losing 25 kilos, I got hooked and rediscovered the benefits of the sport, the pleasure of running, and the sensations you feel before, during, and after the effort. I then became completely hooked on GPS sports watches.
I come from a scientific background, I am fairly rational, and I like evidence, but I am still sensitive and open to more “esoteric” aspects. Running can sometimes create moments of mindfulness, relaxation, and self-hypnosis, which are essential for balance. RunMotion’s videos also raise awareness of that side of endurance training.
After the 42.195 km of the marathon, and a bit too much focus on my watch, I wanted to explore new formats because I realized that time was not what mattered most. What mattered was how you move through the course and make your way to the finish.
56 years old and 56 km around the “little sea” (Morbihan means “little sea” in Breton!), that was a goal that won me over one Sunday afternoon, after finishing the 2022 La Rochelle Marathon, while browsing on my phone during the trip back home.
I managed to grab one of the last bibs by motivating a friend to sign up too. Right away, I added this new goal into the RunMotion Coach app, and I stuck to it at 90% over the last 3 months, this time prioritizing my HR zones, even if my speed was lower. My resting HR also dropped by 3 beats.
How did you hear about the RunMotion Coach app?
I discovered RunMotion Coach well before my Ultra-Marin 56K. I found the app on Strava , where I was already following along, and through a friend’s recommendation.
What encouraged you to download and try the app?
The simple interface, the YouTube videos, and a friend who was already using it. After a technical issue on the app, I received a quick and personalized reply directly by email from co-founder Guillaume ADAM. That really gave me total confidence in the platform.
The Premium subscription is essential if you want to get the most out of the program.
What do you like most about the app?
Personally, after more than a year of using it, what I like most is its simplicity. It adapts to my schedule and my constraints, with those kind and comforting little messages always there. Even if I am not naive and I know they are often automated responses, it still feels good to read them…
What is your next sporting challenge after the Ultra-Marin 56K?
After the Ultra-Marin 56K, I do not have a race goal planned yet. I also love supporting, encouraging, and motivating other runners, my wife, my daughter, my nieces, my brother-in-law, friends, and more, matching their pace and helping them push beyond their limits, sometimes over a simple 5K or 10K. With the experience I have now, people are starting to take my advice into account.
Running, especially over long distances, inspires a lot of respect and supportive encouragement from the people around you. You can also feel that kindness all along the course during a race.
Personally, I am going to focus more on trail routes, a bit like the Gulf of Morbihan coastal course, and why not in the mountains too. I will definitely set that goal in RunMotion Coach. My slightly crazy dream would be to finish the Grand Raid (175 km), like the finisher I met who was entered in the M6M category. Huge respect to him!
Congratulations Jean-Philippe, we can safely say your first trail running experience was a success! 😉