After witnessing Marie-Ange Brumelot’s impressive 13th place finish in the 2023 NYC Marathon, I initiated a conversation with her about a collaborative project. During the marathon, while photographing the lead groups at mile 24, a French expat approached me, forewarning of a remarkable runner about to emerge. Urged to capture the moment, I complied and later shared the images with Marie-Ange. Her vibrant energy and enthusiasm, evident as she breezed by, showering kisses and smiles on the enthusiastic crowd, left a lasting impression on me.
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The captivating exchange of energy during that moment inspired me to connect with Marie-Ange. Our discussions about sports, training, and competition organically evolved into a proposal to create something meaningful. Fortunately, my preferred documentary style was met with enthusiasm.

As the iconic 42.195 kilometers of a marathon transform into a 100-kilometer ultra, the goal takes on a new dimension—a journey into the unknown, a canvas awaiting the strokes of an unpredictable masterpiece. With winter’s embrace, our days have grown shorter, yet our existence has refined itself into a hyper-focused dance of uncertainty. Observing Marie-Ange dive into the deep of the pool, I am filled with excitement to be a silent companion on this unfolding odyssey.

The calm before commencing work: Are we adequately prepared for what lies ahead? Each new life challenge represents a plunge into uncharted territory. While it might be tempting to confine ourselves to what is familiar, for some, embracing risk becomes an imperative. It is the body that yearns for a wild energy and with it the potential for both triumph and setback are accepted.

With every step, our shared excitement intensifies, mirroring the gradual emergence of spring from the winter months. On our latest adventure, Marie showcased a heightened level of focus, propelling herself through an existing threshold into uncharted territory—the unknown, the unwritten, and the yet-to-be-discovered.

After an intense 4 month training block that saw Marie run more miles than she ever had all that was left was to race.  We were off to France.

“𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗿𝘂𝗻 100𝗸𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 7 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀?”

We were a little clueless to be honest. Sure we knew it would be a European record, but we didn’t quite realize the significance of the time.

𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰 𝘴𝘶𝘣 7 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺, 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘱 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥.

Over the past six months, I saw Marie effortlessly tackle distances that many would consider monumental achievements. This recalibrated my sense of what constitutes a long run, but I still hadn’t witnessed the moment when the run becomes truly grueling—the moment when one feels the urge to give up, break down, and quit. That crucial point where a runner must decide whether to continue or not was the part of Marie’s journey I had yet to see.
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On May 9, at the 100km road race in Steenwerck, we found that moment. It struck at precisely 73 km into the race. The final 27 km were emotionally intense for me to witness. Watching Marie struggle, seeing her fear and the overwhelming nature of what she was attempting, made the outcome profoundly meaningful. Marie hit the wall, as all endurance athletes do when pushing their bodies to the brink. We had never encountered this before, bringing with it a sense of nervousness and anxiety about the unknown. How would her body, and perhaps more importantly, her mind, react to such extreme adversity?
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What unfolded was a series of tiny steps, small manageable goals, and a remarkable display of grit and determination. I get emotional just recalling it, as it takes me back to that powerful, visceral moment. It was like making a new discovery or what athletes call “being in the zone” or what artists describe as “being in flow.” These states are powerful because they are moments when all that matters is the present, with 100% of our focus on the pursuit and the experience.
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I am profoundly grateful to have been a part of Marie-Ange’s run and her mark in history. Sport provides the context for narratives like this that allow us all to dream bigger. They push the needle for each subsequent generation to further understand the possibilities of our complex selves.
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