Run for More: Manon’s Return to Joy

This is Chapter 2 of Run for More — a series uncovering the purpose, passion, and resilience that drive athletes beyond the stopwatch.

For Manon, running has always been more than a sport. Growing up in Pontarlier in the Haut-Doubs region of France, it was her clarity, her focus, her way of finding calm in chaos. Long before podiums or race plans, running was her strength — the rhythm that carried her through life.

The dream race

Manon felt a deep connection to long-distance running from the start. The Berlin Marathon had always been on her mind - and in 2024, she felt ready to chase it. Training went perfectly. A month at altitude left her feeling fitter than ever, sharper than ever. She wrote down her goal: 2:38. Every session, every stride, every recovery was aimed at that number.

When everything stops

But racing has a way of rewriting your script. At kilometre 36 in Berlin, her body shut down. She slowed. She walked. She tried to breathe through the fog. She doesn’t remember crossing the finish line - just the quiet disappointment that followed.

The wall she hit wasn’t just physical. It was mental, too. For the first time, she stepped away from running. She searched for meaning in the pause.

Rediscovering the run

Away from the training schedule, Manon found balance in other rhythms - time with her dog in the park, quiet moments at home, creative work on her laptop. Slowly, the pull of running returned. Not as an obligation, but as an invitation.

With a new team, a refreshed mindset, and no pressure to chase a perfect race, she began again. This time, the focus wasn’t just the clock - it was the joy of movement, the satisfaction in progress, the pride in showing up.

What comes next

Her next marathon will be her forth. She still hasn’t had the race she’s dreamed of, but she’s ready to try again — stronger in ways that don’t show on a stopwatch.

“I can’t wait to see what happens next,” she says. And you can tell she means it.

Run for More is about purpose beyond podiums and Manon’s journey proves that sometimes the biggest win is finding your way back.

Watch Manon’s Story — Run for More