Loréna Meningand, first French woman at the Paris Marathon: “My secret is doing exactly what I want”
© STADION-ACTULoréna Meningand was the first French woman across the line at the Paris Marathon this weekend, turning heads and winning over the crowd. Yet this bright, exuberant runner only decided to tackle the classic distance two weeks before race day, with no marathon-specific training behind her. She clocked a superb 2:36:33 for a new personal best. Her unconventional path clearly has little in common with the usual elite-athlete blueprint.
Her only rule is simple: have fun, share her passion with friends and keep things cheerful.
“ I started running in 2021 after the various lockdowns, when we were finally allowed back outside,” recalls Loréna Meningand, who made waves at the Paris Marathon this weekend as the first French woman in 2:36:33. “I wanted some fresh air after being forced to stay at home, so I gave running a try.” Born in the Paris suburbs, in the Hauts-de-Seine department, she had no idea she was embarking on a wild adventure that would not be ending anytime soon. For two years, the 28-year-old stacked up solo runs, starting with one a week, then two, three and four. The foundations of a consuming passion for running were taking shape. “}, {