Saucony 26 Strong: Back from France

Laurent Vrignaud, a French native, returned to Southern California this week after a long trip to France. He’s a marathon veteran who’s ready to help is cadet, David Wilson of Mission Viejo, Calif., complete the Long Beach Marathon on Oct. 13.

“I will help Dave be successful in his first marathon, I’m sure,” Laurent says.

The 47-year-old knows a thing or two about successful marathons. He started running in 1998 to get in better shape.

“I was a smoker and partier,” he says. “I thought running would be easy to start and would get me into a lifestyle change.” Laurent went from more than 200 pounds and finishing his first marathon in over five hours to a sub-three hour marathon at 145 pounds.

Laurent has now run 25 marathons and countless other races. His goal race for himself this year is the New York City Marathon, in which he’s shooting for a 2:49.

“The Marathon changed my life and I owe it to help others change theirs.”