Before & After: What Do You Look Like After Running A Marathon

Whilst I have not the vaguest idea about what you look like after running a marathon, photographer Flavien Prioreau had his camera ready to capture the facial expressions of athletes before and after running a marathon.

On Sunday 8th April, professional and amateur runners took to the streets of Paris in order to partake in the city’s annual marathon that consists of 26 miles. That was their goal, Flavien Prioreau set up camp before and at the finish line in order to capture the facial expressions of those completing the task.

Looking at the astounding images he produced, it is easy to see a difference in endurance, the tension before the race and the relief afterwards. They are enlightening to look at.

Check out the images and runners stories below:

Camielle, 25 years old, France, Communications officer.

• This was their 4th Marathon
• What motivates them: A little bit of training and a lot of mental effort
• Ideal time: 3 hours 40 minutes
• Actual time: 3 hours 50 minutes

Philippe, France, 53 years old, IT project manager.

• 1st Marathon
• What motivates them: A lot of preparation and a bit of concentration
• Ideal time: 4 hours 15 minutes
• Actual time: 5 hours 45 minutes

Melisande, France, 27 years old,Engineer

• 1st Marathon
• What motivates them: Encouragement and the marathons atmosphere.
• Ideal time: Between 4 and 5 hours
• Actual time: 4 hours 58 minutes

Martial, France, 26 years old, Quantitive Analyst.

• What motivates them: Concentration, and the fact that he has to catch a plan later…
• Ideal time: A little over 4 hours
• Actual time: 5 hours 17 minutes

Jean-Pierre, 70 years old, France, Retired

• 80th Marathon (in 8 years)
• What motivates them: The pleasure
• Ideal time: Between 4 hours and 4 hours 45 minutes
• Actual time: 4 hours 48 minutes

Romain, 27 years old, France, works for a sports crowdfunding platform

• 1st marathon
• What motivates them: Not wanting to go too fast (and losing weight)
• Ideal time: Less than 4 hours
• Actual time: 3 hours 53 minutes

Julie, 31 years old, France, Sales manager at Louis Vitton.

• 1st marathon
• What motivates them: Concentration
• Ideal time: 3 hours 45 minutes
• Actual time: 3 hours 46 minutes

Amadeo, 24 years old, Belgium, language student

• 1st marathon
• What motivates them: The physical challenge
• Ideal time: 3 hours 45 minutes
• Actual time: 4 hours 24 minutes

Nordine, 42 years old, France, SNCF agent

• 2nd Marathon
• What motivates them: Running for a good cause
• Ideal time: 3 hours 45 minutes
• Actual time: 3 hours 56 minutes

Tiffany, 29 years old, France, management controller

• 1st marathon
• What motivates them: The challenge, bypassing limits
• Ideal time: 3 hours 50 minutes
• Actual time: 3 hours 53 minutes

Lorraine,  25 years old, France, Buyer

• 1st marathon
• What motivates them: Running very slowly
• Ideal time: 5 hours
• Actual time: 5 hours and 2 seconds

Morten, 47 years old, Denmark, advertising agent.

• 1st marathon
• What motivates them: midlife crisis
• Ideal time: less than 6 hours
• Actual time: 5 hours and 45 minutes

Chloe, 20 years old, UK, medical student

• 1st marathon
• What motivates them: Her family and running for a good cause
• Ideal time: Doesn’t care as long as she doesn’t finish walking
• Actual time: 5 hours 46 minutes

Fatmah, 25 years old, France, computing engineer

• what motivates them: the challenge and wanting to succeed.
• Ideal time: 4 hours and 30 minutes
• Actual time: 5 hours and 36 minutes

Jair, 20 years old, France, sports instructor in training

• 1st marathon
• What motivates them: concentration and 3 months of training
• Ideal time: 4 hours and 30 minutes
• Actual time: 5 hours and 3 minutes

Thank you Flavien Prioreau, you can check out more of Prioreau’s work on his website.

For more pretty photography, check out Charlotte Bae here.