Julien, an accomplished runner, prepared for the MCC with RunMotion Coach, a 40-kilometer trail running race from Martigny, Switzerland, to Chamonix, France. This event is one of the 8 races in the UTMB® series, the global benchmark for trail running. For RunMotion Coach, Julien looks back on his MCC experience. Here is his story.
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How did your MCC go?
I finished the MCC in 6 hours 14 minutes, which was right within my target range of 6 to 7 hours. My main goal was simply to finish, especially after I had to drop out of my last race over a similar distance, the Paris Marathon, because of lower back pain. So crossing the finish line was a personal victory. I placed 420th out of 1,092 runners!
I managed my race well by sticking to my plan, especially by taking my time at the aid stations to relieve my back. That allowed me to finish the event without any major issues. It was both a physical and mental challenge, but the energy from my family, the volunteers, and even the encouragement from strangers all along the course carried me all the way to the finish line.
How did you handle your MCC preparation?
I had been building toward this goal since last year, but I had to give up my entry because of an injury during training, back then, I was not yet following the plans in the app. After that, I decided to fully commit to my preparation by using RunMotion Coach training plans, first for build-up races like the Mont Saint-Michel Trail in Savoie, the Vélière Trail in Champagny-en-Vanoise, and the Maxi Race in Annecy.
Even though winter was tough, with a late-season injury that affected me during the Mont Saint-Michel Trail, I was able to recover thanks to regular physio sessions and, week after week, gradually increase my training load. That allowed me to follow the program consistently and arrive ready for my main goal of the year, the MCC.
What motivates you to run?
What motivates me is becoming a finisher in the iconic races I dream about, like the OCC and the CCC right now, and maybe one day the SaintéLyon, L’Échappée Belle, the TNR, or even the UTMB in a few years.
How did you discover the RunMotion Coach app?
I discovered the RunMotion Coach app while looking for a tool to calculate my training paces during my build-up for the Chambéry Half Marathon two years ago. I then had the chance to meet and chat with Romain and Guillaume at Village by Crédit Agricole, where I was working at the time.
What made you download and try the app?
I was looking for a structured training plan tailored to my goals, so I could avoid injuries and stop training in a repetitive, inefficient way. The app gave me exactly that.
What do you like most about the app?
What I like most is the personalized training. It is crucial to have a program that matches your needs and your abilities, and RunMotion Coach created a structured plan that fits me perfectly.
After the MCC, what is your next sporting challenge?
After the MCC, I will be racing the Demi-Tour du Lac du Bourget in October, and my goal for next year is to stand on the start line of the OCC, once again with the help of RunMotion Coach!
Any final words?
For years, I said loud and clear that I would never run. I always felt I needed more than just putting one foot in front of the other to enjoy this kind of activity. But in 2020, when COVID arrived and the team sports clubs I belonged to shut down, I started walking and cycling to appointments, to the shops, and to see friends. Little by little, I started jogging, then I wanted to measure my speed, and very quickly I found myself trying to go faster than the time before. Running gradually took on a bigger and bigger place in my life, to the point where it became an almost daily topic of conversation. Today, I dream of lining up for and finishing the most beautiful races. Now I run to improve, to go faster and farther, with the goal of one day competing in the most prestigious endurance events.
Well done Julien, we wish you the very best for your next sporting challenges 😉