© STADION-ACTU
Axel Ramponi, a comedian in costume at the 2025 Paris Marathon: “Running the UTMB in a tuxedo would be amazing!”
A marathon in a three-piece suit? Easy. Under 2:50? Now, that’s something extraordinary. Axel Ramponi, comedian, experienced trail runner, and now marathoner in a tuxedo, took to the streets of Paris last Sunday with his improbable mix of solid performance, quirky challenge, and genuine commitment. Behind the jokes and the tight tie, there’s a true running enthusiast, capable of covering miles in the mountains as easily as delivering punchlines on Instagram. Meet a unique runner, both on the pavement, on the trails… and soon on stage.
✔ His goal was clear: to inscribe his name in the Guinness Book of Records by running the fastest marathon ever in a suit and tie. The time to beat: 2:40:52, held since 2023 by another Frenchman, Emmanuel Bonnier. Axel completed the distance in 2:49. He was nine minutes short… but the elegance was indeed present.
| You were something of a minor celebrity at this 2025 Paris Marathon… Tell me about it.
There was an incredible excitement around this world record attempt in costume. To be honest, I somewhat expected it. It’s been several months since I’ve been creating content on social media around this character in a suit, and I’m an athlete besides that. Having made progress in running, I completed my second marathon in Valencia a year and a half ago in 2:27. I realized that we could succeed in things we never thought possible. It was just a matter of consistency, hard work, and dedication. I embarked on the world record attempt with this suit and at the marathon. It’s true that for people, running in a suit seems crazy. But for me, since I’ve been training for months with it and have already run two marathons, it seems less insane. I really appreciated that in people’s eyes, you could see there was some kind of glitch. You could see them smiling, they were thrilled to see me running like that. There were lots of people who sent me lovely messages saying I made their day, that seeing me run like that gave them a smile. It was truly a communion with all these people who were on the sidelines, on the course. Sunday, I felt like I was in my element. It’s kind of a childhood dream to do things off the beaten path. And I’m very happy because it truly brought people together. And then afterward, I needed to recover a bit because I was quite exhausted at the finish (laughs).
| You ran the Paris Marathon in a three-piece suit… in 2:49:35. What gave you this crazy idea?
It was my first time in a suit. When I started making videos on social media, I was trying to find myself. I started just before my first marathon in Valencia. A first video did well. Then, with the suit, I began to replicate this model with this character, and it worked again. Only then did I decide to combine the suit and the marathon. I had seen articles about the world record holder, “Manu” (Emmanuel Bonnier), who retained his record, and who became a friend and gave me a lot of advice. It was really a perfect alignment of the planets. And I received nothing but positivity. Sometimes, with buzz, there’s also bad buzz. People could have criticized me, saying that being at the front line in a suit is just nonsense.
“At the start, there’s a video where I’m completely disconnected. I turn around, keep talking, and suddenly, the starting gun fires. The video is hilarious. I hear the whistle, start, and make a sort of false start on myself, tricking myself.”
Axel Ramponi
| But how did you get access to the starting line with the Elites?
I didn’t do much. I sent an email to the organization with my 2:27 marathon time and my 10 km time of 31 minutes. These are N4 performances that automatically position me in the Elite starting group. I have great respect for the elites who train intensely. For me, it’s not the same sport. Running at different levels is both the same passion and an art. We don’t wear the same jersey, but we share the same passion. It’s kind of the same thing. We don’t have the same level, but we share the same passion. I’m at an intermediate level between the weekend runners and those who train on other days of the week. I was a bit uncomfortable being there. But otherwise, it went well because the Elites were positioned on the other side of the arch. We had a slightly amateur or semi-pro side, and on the other side, the real pros. In the end, it didn’t look out of place. At the start, there’s a video where I’m completely disconnected. I turn around, keep talking, and suddenly, the starting gun fires. The video is hilarious. I hear the whistle, start, and make a sort of false start on myself, tricking myself (laughs).
| You were aiming for a world record recognized by Guinness for the marathon in a suit. Can you explain the conditions to meet?
I contacted the organization to ask if I could be accompanied, assisted on the course because there are quite a few things to send to Guinness. Since it’s a big marathon, there was no possibility of doing anything specific. But I managed on my own. I had friends who could take photos here and there. And especially, the organization heavily promoted my world record attempt. They featured me in the France Télévisions ad. There was already quite a bit of work beforehand to publicize the record attempt.
| Running under 2:50 is already quite a feat in a classic outfit… so how did you prepare for it in a suit?
I wanted to do the Paris Marathon without having to undergo a “real marathon prep.” I didn’t want to attempt breaking my personal record, which I had set in Valencia, especially since Paris is a challenging course. And I wanted to experience it again because I live right next to both the start and finish. I thought it was so nice to get up in the morning, walk 500 meters, go to the start, and then after finishing, walk 500 meters and get back home. It’s only in Paris that I could experience this. I still went for the big training sessions, but I didn’t impose the 12 workouts per week regime like I did to prepare for Valencia. I only did 6 or 8 while testing the suit a bit. But it wasn’t enough, and I didn’t optimize enough.
| Did you adapt your training considering the constraints of the suit (weight, heat, mobility…)?
Not at all (laughs). I took a basic entry-level suit from Celio. It was quite heavy. I took a vest that wasn’t technical at all. I had a shirt from Fursac, a pure textile brand. And I wore a T-shirt underneath. The shoes, I had already used them at the Valencia marathon a year and a half ago. They have quite a few kilometers on them. I went like this, and on top of that, I poorly managed my nutrition. I hit the wall due to hypoglycemia. I think all these parameters mean I learned a lot on Sunday. I might be able to try again one day with all these parameters a bit more adjusted.
| Were you aiming for a specific time or was it “just” for the experience?
The record was 2:40:52, and honestly, before starting, I thought it would happen. I kept thinking that there wasn’t a world in which it wouldn’t happen, but I was quite confident. Later, I don’t want to make excuses. For me, it’s genuinely a failure not to have succeeded in breaking the record. I started on the basis of a 1:19 half-marathon. Even at the 30th kilometer, I still had 1:20 ahead of the record. I was still quite good. But my body gave out a bit. I wouldn’t know how to explain it. I didn’t necessarily have muscle soreness, but a complete bodily fatigue that could also be explained by the fact that I expended a lot of energy connecting with people during the race. As people were very numerous encouraging me, it boosted me a lot. But also, I would throw a little smile here, a little wave, a thumbs-up there. It was hard for me to channel this in the first part of the race. I really wanted to experience the sidelines of the race, but I wasn’t focused enough on the record and on this race. I’ll draw a lot of lessons from this failure.
| What was the hardest part of the race? (spoiler: the tie?)
Honestly, I didn’t feel any heat. My shoulders ached a bit, as the suit for the arms is a bit more challenging. What’s also hard to deal with is that I train in the Bois de Boulogne. I run there every day. I’ve gone over the end of the course many, many times. I know it by heart… but I couldn’t express myself because I had nothing left. I crashed mid-flight. Yet, at the 30th km, I was still mentally present. I tried to hang on, but there was no response. As soon as I got passed, I tried to keep up, but there was nothing left. When it’s like this, I told myself to take it easy in the woods. I had all my close ones, my family, all my friends there. They had made a whole turn at Trocadéro. I told myself to try to come back and conserve energy for that part of the race. It’s a pity, but you can’t always succeed on the first try. Running also teaches humility. You need to show enormous resilience. It would be even more beautiful if I had broken the record, but the story ends like this.
“Initially, I was a football referee for 10 years and was considered the most enduring in the region. But when you’re a referee, you’re often booked on Sundays for matches. So, you fall back on Saturday evening races, sometimes at night. ”
Axel Ramponi
| You’re not just a road marathoner: you’ve also participated in trail runs, including the Val d’Aran by UTMB. What draws you to these longer, wilder formats?
I’m from Lorraine. We have the Vosges in the region, and I started running with nature runs and trail running. A friend, Simon, introduced me to running, and I did my first 10 kilometers, the Corrida de Malin in Lorraine. It was my first 10 km, and I ran it in about 40 minutes, I think. That was already quite something. I did some races in the Vosges, like the Trail des Roches. Then I won the Trail Blanc des Vosges over two days and another in Metz. I also participated in the Mozart Trail in Austria, an 80-kilometer race. I have more of a trail runner background, and I train seriously. Initially, I was a football referee for 10 years and was considered the most enduring in the region. But when you’re a referee, you’re often booked on Sundays for matches. So we turned to Saturday evening races, sometimes at night. For the past 5 years, I’ve quit refereeing and focused on running. I train with a club. I’m licensed with RMA, the Racing Multi Athlon. I train with my coach Hicham Bengherada, with whom I have a solid training group. Each year, I give myself a season where from September, I go back to road running since I’m in Paris. Then, from April-May, I recover from the marathon, and in two weeks, I’ll start training for Annecy. I’m getting more into trail running mode.
| What feelings do you find in trail running that you don’t find on the road?
They’re two completely different sports. What I wanted to find in trail running was something new, new sensations in terms of effort. In running, during a marathon, you’re in pain for 10 to 30 minutes. In a trail race, when you’re on 80 km and beyond, it can last for hours. I like the aspect of digging deep within myself and learning. The pros talk about having a sort of compressed life moment in a few hours. You go through states of fitness very quickly. You go through varying states. That’s what I’m looking for, to push myself a bit.
“As a little joke, I said that if I was struggling at the end of the course, the Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque association might as well operate on my heart. ”
Axel Ramponi
| Are you more suit on pavement and shorts in the mud, or could you also attempt an ultra in disguise?
The goal is the UTMB. It would be amazing to run the UTMB in a tuxedo, and then I’d retire immediately (laughs). First, I need to get the qualification. That will be a first challenge because it’s been two years trying, and I haven’t achieved it yet. But afterward, why not? It could be something fantastic to do it in a suit. That would be crazy!
| You were running for Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque. Why this particular cause?
I already knew the association. I met them at an event I hosted a few years ago. What they do is they repair children’s hearts that can’t be operated on in their country. They bring the children from foreign countries, operate on them here, and they return with a new heart. Thanks to the marathon, they were able to operate on 5 children, so it’s quite impactful. It’s a cause that deeply touches me. I loved the idea of being able to open up and repair. It made me decide that in all the projects I will launch, I want there to always be this little associative touch to inscribe it in something bigger and give visibility to causes that are nobler than just doing a somewhat funny race. Anchoring in associative actions, also to support these challenges, is something I want to implement in the future. As a little joke, I was saying that if I was struggling at the end of the course, I wish they could also operate on my heart.
| You’re also a comedian, very active on social media. How do you manage to reconcile all these worlds?
My main topic is social mobility. How do you transition from Lorraine to Paris? What funny things do you see when changing social prism? That’s my central theme. But it’s true that in running, we are all equal in the face of nature and difficulty. There are elements I want to reintegrate. I’d like, at some point in my show, to have a treadmill and run while throwing jokes. I’m performing a first 30 minutes with a friend on July 1st. Yes, there will definitely be jokes about running. It’s still a bit of a work in progress.
| Did you get inspired by other runners or sports figures to build your image?
I really like Mathieu Blanchard. What I really appreciate in his approach is being on multiple projects at once. He’s someone who constantly sets new goals and new projects. I’m kind of on the same quest to learn by experiencing things. Then, Kilian (Jornet) is a bit of the ultimate reference. In trail, there’s Thibaut Garrivier and Baptiste Chassagne, with whom I had the chance to run. After that, I look at the greatest French athletes. Nicolas Navarro is a good example of someone who, over time, succeeded in establishing himself. Mehdi Frère is still an example for me despite the suspension. Felix Bour from my club is also an example of perseverance and resilience. Afterward, I have several people who can inspire me also from a humorous perspective. Greg Guillotin and Rémi Gaillard back in the day.
“One thing that struck me was the first time I left my house in a suit to go for my first run. I passed two runners, 100 meters from my home. The guy high-fived me, saying ‘awesome, great man.’ It really stuck with me. After 20 seconds of running, I immediately had this first interaction that made me say, ‘there, I’m onto something real.’ There, I’m touching something a bit powerful.”
Axel Ramponi
| The running community is sometimes very serious. Do you feel there’s an openness to these kinds of fun and quirky initiatives?
Overall, yes. I questioned myself, am I a fraud for leaving the logic of always trying to improve my personal record to explore new paths? I know that, for some, it may seem completely off-topic or outright ridiculous to do something like this. But overall, it was rather well-received with super positive messages. I see runners like Azeddine Habz sometimes liking my posts. There are people in the running community who might be interested. Now, it’s true that I didn’t have any feedback from runners who really supported my approach because it doesn’t align with what we should typically do in running. When I was training in the Bois de Boulogne, people were super nice. There were a lot of jokes about the suit. One thing that struck me was the first time I left my house in a suit to go for my first run. I passed two runners, 100 meters from my home. The guy high-fived me, saying ‘awesome, great man.’ It really stuck with me. After 20 seconds of running, I immediately had this first interaction that made me say, ‘there, I’m onto something real.’ There, I’m touching something even more powerful.
| Would you like to try this kind of challenge in other formats? Half-marathon, trail…?
My next goal is to run the MaXi-Race around Lake Annecy. It’s a 100 km with 6000 m of positive elevation gain. In a little corner of my mind, I’m starting to think it might be fun to do it in a suit. I’ve been contacted by several technical brands that could equip me. Adapting my costume will be essential. I’m always looking for new challenges, even outside of running. A friend recently mentioned the Fastest Known Time (FKT) to me. On certain segments, there are records like on the GR20 in Corsica. There are many places where there are time records, and I think it might be fun to perhaps tackle challenges like that in a suit. I need to reflect on what I’ve experienced and what I’m still experiencing because I’m still a bit in the midst of the race frenzy. It’s quite powerful and makes me want to push limits in other disciplines.
| If you could send a message to runners hesitating to embark on crazy challenges, what would it be?
Go all out! You never learn more about yourself than by doing things and sometimes stepping off the beaten path. Enjoy yourself, keep the notion of pleasure at every level, whether you’re professional or amateur, and share around the values of running. In itself, you don’t necessarily need much. Sometimes, the crazy experience is just at our doorstep.
Behind the suit and the meticulously timed punchlines, Axel Ramponi embodies the spirit of running in his own way: an explosive mix of self-mockery, performance, and humanity. Yes, he narrowly missed the world record. Yes, he hit the wall at the Bois entrance he knew by heart. But above all, he gathered people, made them laugh, gave them a thrill, and showed that running can also be a spectacle; that the pavement can be a stage. And that a tie can perfectly pair with a solid time under 2:50. What’s next? Maybe a UTMB in a tuxedo. Because with Axel, anything is possible.
