Pauline discovered running at university in Belgium, where she studied. In a beautiful forest near her campus, she saw students running, and it sparked the desire in her to start. At the time, it may not have been a regular practice, but at 19, the idea of running entered her life and never left. Although she wasn’t always consistent, Pauline ran at least once a week.
Her first reflex, whenever she arrived in a new city, a new country, while traveling or on vacation, was to identify a place to run. Running became a constant, a true pillar of her daily life. Today, she shares her experience on the New York Marathon with us. Story.
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How did your New York Marathon go?
My New York Marathon went incredibly well! I was a bit worried because of what I had read about the bridges and the route, announced as one of the toughest. It was my first marathon, and at 53, I wasn’t that young anymore. Two days before, I felt like I was catching a cold due to temperature fluctuations and I was afraid that it would handicap me, on top of the stress of a first race. After training for nearly 30 weeks and coming from so far, failing would have been tough. But deep down, I was confident in my abilities and especially in my training program, which I felt was strong.
My level had improved considerably thanks to this program on RunMotion Coach. All my outings had gone well, I had missed very few sessions, and I had made the necessary adjustments when needed. I had also followed all the nutritional advice, including in the last days before the race.
From the start of the New York Marathon, I felt that everything would be fine, and I didn’t question myself anymore. I immediately decided to experience this race as a celebration. Throughout the course, I took pictures and videos that I shared live with a group of friends who were following me via a mailing list. It made me lose a few minutes, but I have no regrets. I finished in 5:07:45, while my goal was 5:10. I probably could have gone under five hours without all those stops for photos and answering messages.
I even stopped at kilometer 37, thinking I would meet my 10-year-old daughter and two friends there. Not seeing them, I called them to see where they were. Maybe valuable minutes lost, but I would have been sad not to see them during the race. They were finally 200 meters from the finish line, where I obviously crossed the track to hug them. A wonderful adventure on this New York Marathon, a success thanks to RunMotion Coach.
How did you manage the preparation for the New York Marathon?
To prepare for the New York Marathon, I followed a structured training program for about 30 weeks on the RunMotion Coach App. Even before starting this specific marathon preparation, I already ran regularly, with three outings per week averaging 5 km.
What motivates you to run?
What motivates me to run is primarily the well-being it brings me, both for physical fitness and pure pleasure. Running helps me stay active, manage stress better, and feel that deep satisfaction after each run. It’s also a way to show my daughter that it’s possible to set challenges and stay in shape, even if you haven’t been athletic in your youth. By seeing me persevere, I hope to instill in her the desire to take care of herself, to surpass herself, and to stay active.
Running has become an essential part of my life. I really miss it if I don’t run for more than a month.
How did you discover the RunMotion Coach app?
I discovered the RunMotion Coach app by searching somewhat randomly on the Internet for how to train and prepare for a marathon.
What encouraged you to download and try the app?
What encouraged me to download and try RunMotion Coach was first the simplicity of the app and its ease of access for someone who is not an expert with runner jargon (for example, I didn’t know the meaning of the words “pace,” “threshold,” “VMA,” etc.). In other training programs, you are often asked to run at a certain pace — “pace 3000,” “marathon pace” —, but for me, these concepts were quite abstract. I had no idea what “run 5 minutes at marathon pace” or anything else meant. I first tried the free version to see if the format suited me, and I finally opted for the paid version to fully enjoy the features.
The articles and advice available and accessible from the app were very helpful to me, including an article explaining how to avoid the infamous “wall” of the marathon. I followed these recommendations to the letter, and indeed, I didn’t experience this physical and mental block feared by many runners.
What do you like most about the app?
What I like most about the app is its simplicity and its ability to focus on the essentials. The program is personalized, and I particularly appreciate the possibility to modify the days or adapt the program according to my needs. This allows me to remain flexible while following a structured plan.
After the New York Marathon, what is your next sporting challenge?
After the New York Marathon, my next sporting challenge is the Berlin Marathon in September 2025. My goal is to participate in the six Majors, one per year, if I can.
A last word?
I am very grateful to the RunMotion Coach team, because thanks to their app and advice, I was able to fully experience this first time at the New York Marathon without encountering major difficulties. This success gives me great confidence for the future: I am now convinced that I can run other marathons, aiming for a time around 4h45 or 4h50. My experience at the New York Marathon shows me that it is completely within my reach, and I am looking forward to setting this new challenge!
Congratulations Pauline! You can be proud of yourself and all the work you’ve put in. This first marathon experience is a great success, and it’s only the beginning 🚀