A surgeon once told Lionel Pailloncy to give up running after back surgery. Years later, he’s not only running again, he’s finished the original six World Marathon Majors and just took 20 minutes off his marathon PR in Tokyo. From Paris to Boston and beyond, Lionel’s story isn’t about being the fastest, it’s about refusing to let one diagnosis or one hard year define what’s possible.
We talk about the real mechanics of a comeback: physiotherapy, respecting your body in everyday movements, and rebuilding confidence one small step at a time. Lionel shares how he went from park runs to a 10K, then a half marathon, then his first Paris Marathon and why each race feels like its own emotional “cathedral.” We also get into the mental side of endurance, including the pressure of Strava metrics, the unpredictability of race day, and the moment he pivots away from chasing numbers toward gratitude and meaning.
If you love practical running conversations, you’ll enjoy the details too: vegan fueling while traveling, A-B testing gels, hydration habits, gear choices down to socks and seams, and the packing ritual that calms the mind before the gun goes off. Lionel also shares what might be the wildest week ever, defending his PhD viva in Paris and immediately flying to Boston to run again.
If this story gives you a spark, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a five-star review. What part of your own journey needs a little more courage right now?
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