Alban Pellegrin ran 72 marathons in 72 days across France, honoring his late mother and raising funds for respiratory disease research.
Alban Pellegrin's marathon journey
Alban Pellegrin, a 39-year-old adventurer and former contestant of the show Koh-Lanta, ran 72 marathons in 72 days across France in the autumn of 2025, covering more than 3,000 kilometers. His route linked the four cardinal points of the Hexagon, a term used to describe France’s geographical shape.Tribute to his mother
Pellegrin undertook the challenge as a tribute to his mother, who died of lung cancer in 2023. His experiences from the journey were later chronicled in his book J'ai courru chez vous, published on October 14 by Flammarion.Human and sporting challenge
Pellegrin described the journey as both a sporting and human endeavor, emphasizing the importance of meeting others to understand oneself. The trip was also associated with the Breath Foundation, a charity that fights against respiratory diseases, and raised 32,000 euros for the organization.Physical and emotional toll
The adventure took a physical toll on Pellegrin, who experienced conditions such as windshield wiper syndrome and tensor fasciae latae (TFL) syndrome. He credited the support of physiotherapists and others for helping him adapt and continue.Encounters and spiritual journey
Pellegrin’s journey included encounters with people across France, including a French-Senegalese mother who welcomed him to help her son overcome fears of strangers. He also visited the pilgrim's house at Mont-Saint-Michel, where he was welcomed by Don Pierre, the rector of the sanctuary.Reflections on kindness and connection
Pellegrin reflected on the kindness of strangers and the spiritual dimension of the journey, comparing it to a pilgrimage with paths similar to those of Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle. He felt the presence of his mother throughout the journey, including a symbolic encounter with a pied crow during a difficult ascent in the Pyrenees.Personal transformation
Ultimately, Pellegrin stated that the journey changed his perception of others, emphasizing the importance of reaching out to the unknown in order to discover oneself.
