MEET THE RIDERS #3 – DISCOVER MARIANNE HOGAN, ULTRA-TRAIL CHAMPION!

For Marianne Hogan, running isn't just about going faster or farther. It's a way of exploring.A new trail, a summit, a landscape, an encounter: every outing is a chance to discover a place she might never have gone otherwise. From Cape Town to New Zealand, via the Béluga trail near Tadoussac, ultra-trail running has become her true means of transport."I love running, but above all everything it lets me discover: places I'd never go otherwise, landscapes, new encounters."A way of seeing adventure that naturally resonates with the Excess spirit. Because while our playgrounds differ, the approach stays the same: set off, explore, and see what lies a little further on.

While Marianne runs first and foremost to discover, she's still very much a competitor. Her podium finishes at Western States and UTMB reflect a high level of performance, built over months of training."I'm competitive, so of course I like measuring myself against others. But today it's mostly a way of pushing myself and seeing how far I can go."Behind a race lasting several hours lie weeks of preparation: endurance, elevation gain, long runs, technicality, nutrition... Every detail counts to be ready on race day. But performance should never take over from what made her want to run in the first place."I always try to keep the adventure and enjoyment mode on, that's the most important thing to me."That's perhaps where Marianne's true guiding line lies: preparing seriously, without ever losing the curiosity that makes you want to set off.

Marianne likes to plan her routes, study maps and anticipate terrain conditions. Not to control everything, but so she can later leave more room for the unexpected."I use Garmin, Strava and other runners' routes, but what I really love is creating my own itineraries and seeing where they can take me. I love beautiful loops and long mountain routes."Before setting off to explore a new environment, she studies the map and terrain, checks the weather, and identifies water points and return options. She also always plans more water and food than necessary, along with equipment suited to the conditions she might encounter. A meticulous preparation, but with a single goal: gaining more freedom once out on the ground. Her secret: preparing enough to then better let herself be surprised.

Adventure isn't only about performance. There are also moments when you slow down, look around, and simply enjoy your surroundings."In nature, I just feel good. It's very soothing."From wide open spaces to mountain trails, nature plays an essential part in the way Marianne experiences trail running. She finds there a balance between physical effort and that sense of calm that accompanies her long outings.

To accompany her adventures, Marianne trusts Garmin, which has been with her for several years. Her choice: the Fenix 8, a watch designed to accompany her between trail running, travel and the mountains. On trails she doesn't yet know, the mapping helps her stay on course. The altimeter helps her better read the terrain and elevation gain, while the battery life gives her the freedom to head out for several hours.Marianne also uses data related to her pace, heart rate, elevation gain and recovery to better understand her effort."I try not to be a slave to the data: the watch informs me, it doesn't decide for me."After a race, she also likes to review her route, analyse the different sections and understand what worked or what could be improved.

After Paul Aubertin and his wild rivers, Lucas Frigout and his steep slopes, Marianne Hogan now joins the Riders' Edition in turn.Paul explores rivers. Lucas pushes his limits on a bike. Marianne racks up the miles on the trails.Three worlds, three playgrounds, three ways of living the adventure. But one shared desire to step outside the frame, to discover, and to chart their own course.On foot, by bike, by kayak or aboard an Excess catamaran, the Riders' Edition brings together personalities who share this same curiosity for wide open spaces and this same urge to go see what lies a little further on.

For Marianne, the link between trail running and sailing seems almost obvious. Arriving somewhere by boat, setting foot on land, and heading out for a run to explore the surroundings: the idea appeals to her instantly."That would be the ideal combo for me: arriving somewhere by boat and heading out for a run to explore! A new kind of van life."The boat then becomes far more than a means of transport. It becomes a base camp. And the starting point of a new adventure.This is precisely the spirit of the Riders' Edition Pack: letting everyone easily bring their gear on board and extend their outdoor passions.

At first glance, mountain trails and the ocean seem to belong to two different worlds. But for Marianne, the logic is the same: set off, move forward, discover what lies behind the next bend or beyond the horizon. On land as at sea, adventure often begins when you agree to step off the mapped-out route. A new trail to explore. A new horizon to reach. And always that same desire to see what lies beyond.