Few running enthusiasts can boast of participating in the Olympic Games, much less running the marathon distance. Thanks to the organization of the Marathon Pour Tous during the Olympic Games in Paris, 20,000 lucky runners from all over the world were able to run this distance and make history. Among them was Pierre, who has been training with OMY! Sports.
The Marathon Pour Tous took place on the day of the official men’s marathon race. Among the professionals, Kenya’s legendary Eliud Kipchoge, the world’s fastest marathoner in the Masters category Kenenisa Bekele from Ethiopia, took part in the official Olympic race. Among the women, we followed world marathon record holder Tigst Assefa (Ethiopia) and Sifan Hassan (Netherlands). But today it’s not about them.
Olympic dreams.
Pierre had the idea (or rather dream) of competing in the Paris Olympics as soon as the organizers announced plans to hold an amateur marathon race as part of the 2024 Olympics. To qualify for the race, Pierre had to finish ahead of Eliud Kipchoge in the 5km race held in October 2021. Pierre was able to do this and qualified for the Olympic Marathon Pour Tous. We covered this on our blog story. You can also read Pierre’s story on the official Marathon Pour Tous website.
Road to Paris.
Starting in October 2021, Pierre began his training for the Paris Marathon, and competing in several marathon races along the way. It turned out to be a classic Olympic training cycle — 3 years of preparation to run a marathon faster than 3 hours.
In November 2021 Pierre ran Marathon Donnostia in 3 hours and 18 minutes, in October 2022 — Marathon Bilbao in 3 hours and 19 minutes. In February 2023 he set his personal best at the Seville Marathon (3 hours 5 minutes 4 seconds) and almost repeated it in April 2024 at the Madrid Marathon (3 hours 8 minutes 46 seconds).
Almost Perfect Olympic Marathon.
Going into the Olympic Marathon Pour Tous on August 10, 2024, Pierre was determined to run his best marathon yet. And he almost succeeded: “Oh yes this was by far my best marathon race. Finishing stronger as I ever did. Thanks for the planning 🥳”
Pierre kept his target pace throughout the race and finished faster than he started. He managed to run with a negative split where the second half of the course is faster than the first. That’s very cool!
Pierre’s final time is 3 hours 6 minutes 53 seconds — 12 minutes faster than his November 2021 result. Even though it’s still slower than 3 hours, it doesn’t matter, because he fulfilled his dream of running the Marathon at the Olympics and making history!
P.S.: Eliud Kipchoge, who couldn’t catch up with Pierre 3 years ago at the 5k, couldn’t do it for the second time at the Paris Olympic Marathon either, dropping out at the 30th km.