Doing a half and a marathon on the same day in Deauville, Jonas' funny sporting challenge

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“I'm going to wake up at 5 a.m. to be very cold and do three 21 km loops.” This is how Jonas, a 32-year-old from Caen, sums up with surprising enthusiasm the funny sporting challenge that he set out for the 5th edition of the Deauville Marathon.

Sunday November 17, 2024this seasoned runner who does not lack madness will start the half marathon at 8 a.m.. Less than two hours later, he won't hang up his sneakers, and will fly for an additional 42,195 kilometersfor the “queen distance” of the marathon.

A challenge… not so “stupid”

This funny idea of ​​linking the half and the marathon was born in Deauville, where he ran the marathon in 2022then the semi in 2023.

Last year, after completing my semi, I was in pretty good shape so, laughing, I told my friends that I would go back to running. They told me: in five minutes there is the start of the marathon.

This joke will not leave Jonas's mind. “The idea caught on: the Deauville marathon is the same two loops. So I said to myself why not do three.”

A challenge that does not scare anyone who started running during the health crisis.

It surprises a lot of people, but it's a format that exists in the world of trail running where participants chain distances. Since I also do a bit of trail running, I thought I might as well combine the two to have fun on Sunday.

The race, “pleasure above all”

Like any runner, Jonas will have his eye on the watch, especially for the first race. “I have a time obligation for the semi because there is only 1 hour 45 minutes between the start of the semi and that of the marathon, ideally I would like to get closer to the 1’20. And for the marathon, I especially hope to make it to the end alive, it will already be a great performance.”

An objective which did not necessarily disrupt the preparation of the Caennais who suffered an injury this year. “Recently, I started again with an 80 km long trail, I no longer have any injuries, I do weeks at 50-60 km, so I tell myself that it should be fine,” summarizes Jonas, confidently. The race must remain fun above all, and that’s what motivates me.”

For the rest, he is looking forward to Sunday. “What’s cool about Deauville is that friends can come and cheer.” Other anonymous people should also join in the cries of encouragement, to carry Jonas to the finish line. “I'm not the only one doing this challenge, there will also be Guillaume Ruel who is a monster and who is used to doing 100 km. So there will be another fool to encourage… but he will be much further ahead of me.”

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