10h28 of Effort – a Victory Etched

On Friday, August 15, 2025, at 5:50 a.m., in the still dark morning, I took the start of the legendary Embrunman. This race meant much more than just a start line for me: it was a personal challenge, a true test of self-overcoming, and above all, an objective — to cross the finish line.

My coach once told me: “You will only be a real triathlete when you’ve done Embrunman.” Today, I can finally say that I am.

The Magic of the Start

The start was given at 5:50 a.m., under a black sky. The atmosphere felt almost surreal: the buoys were barely visible, only the moon shimmered above us. I was calm, ready, excited about the challenge ahead. I took a moment to live it fully, eyes turned to the moon, drawing one last breath of energy before the horn sounded.

The swim wasn’t easy because of the poor visibility, but the small lights on the buoys helped me find my way. At the end of my second lap, as I was heading towards the exit, a kayak stopped me to say: “One more lap!” I had swum so fast that he didn’t believe me when I told him I had already done two! Eventually, I came out of the water in 50’37, in the lead, cheered on by the crowd who gave me incredible energy right from the start.

The Bike: Mental Strength and Stunning Scenery

I quickly jumped on my bike to tackle the 185 km with 5,000 m of elevation gain. The first hours were simply magical: the sun was rising over the mountains and the lake was still alive with the last swimmers. I took a second to appreciate this privilege: riding in such a stunning setting.

The course was tough, with steep climbs and technical descents. The ascent of the Col d’Izoard (14 km at 7%) will stay in my memory: endless climbing with breathtaking views that made the suffering easier to bear. At every corner, I kept telling myself: “How lucky am I to be here.”

My plan was clear: push hard on every climb to build a gap on my chasers. But the race was lonely: I saw only a few men passing by. It required extreme focus: keeping the pace, staying motivated, and not letting my mind drift away.

In such a long race, mental strength often takes over. It’s so easy to ease off or lose concentration, whether on a steep climb or a technical descent. My key was perfect nutrition: like a car that runs as long as it has fuel, I kept my engine going with maple syrup gels and electrolyte drink.

The return from Briançon was far from easy: more climbs and a sun that started to burn. Thankfully, the spectators along the road were giving a real boost. Then, at kilometer 172, when you think transition is near, comes the infamous Chevalet climb: 7 km of steep ascent where I had to dig deep to finally rack the bike after 6h18 of riding.

The Marathon: Every Step Counts

I started the marathon in first place with around 4 minutes ahead of my teammate Nina Derron. The course began with a long climb that got steeper and steeper, three laps to run, and the sun was now high and hot.

During the second lap, the gap with Nina started to close slightly, leaving me about three minutes ahead. That was the moment I really had to fight. It’s that point where everything could change, where you want to slow down just to ease the pain. But I trusted myself, I told myself my pace was the right one, and I held it.

On the run, your mind takes full control: everything hurts, the body is drained from the bike, and every step costs energy. But nothing is over until the finish: a marathon is long, anything can happen. So, I focused on small goals: ten meters by ten meters, aid station by aid station.

The supporters were extraordinary: I had never heard my name shouted so many times. “Go Alanis! Stay strong! You’re amazing!” These words carried me. And then there were my parents, waiting at different spots on the course — seeing their smiles gave me a huge lift in the tough moments.

This inner battle was the theme of my 3h16 marathon.

The Last Kilometer and the Emotion

Only in the final kilometer did I truly start to believe. The pain was there, but I almost embraced it. Crossing that finish line was a huge relief. That’s when they told me my time: 10h28’19, and a new women’s record by over 10 minutes, in this legendary 41st edition. I was in disbelief, then the emotion came: joy, pride, fulfillment.

Sharing this victory with Nina, who finished second, and with my parents who came to support me, made the moment even more special.

Beyond the Performance

Behind those 10h28 of effort, there was a mountain of emotions: joy and pain, doubt and satisfaction. Embrunman taught me a lot about myself: about my ability to push my limits, to handle difficulty, to dig deep. Thank you Gérald and the whole organisation for this 41st edition!

I also want to congratulate all the finishers: you faced an extreme challenge, you pushed through, you went beyond yourselves, and for that, you can all be proud. Each of you wrote a page of this legendary race.

A huge thank you to my coach, who has believed in me from the start, and whom I’m proud to honor with this victory. Many of his athletes have raced here over the years, and continuing that story with him means a lot to me.

And to all the women still hesitating to try a race like this: know that you belong here too, that we can make history as well — and this victory is also for you.