J172 – 6/7/2006

300 marathons in 170 days, 19 hours and 29 minutes

(We get the times from the Adaptive chronometer which started at noon on Sunday, December 18, 2005.  Every second, minute, hour and day will be added up until we arrive in Tokyo)

Once again it was an uphill and downhill run

0km 2017m

24,5km 2585m

80,2km 1975m

It was a very fine stage on this small road which snaked from side to side of the toll road.  There was a panoramic view as far as the eye could see.  The mountains are covered with green pastures, which welcome numerous herds of sheep.  It’s the kind of peaceful environment so good for foot races.  Ludo ran 9 kilometers and Daniel 18, which included going over the pass.  When the followers do their running they are either behind or in front of Serge, so as not to get in his way or bother his race.

Serge is again feeling pain in his right knee and his heartbeat rate is slightly higher: an average of 98 beats per minute during the day.  The increase is may be due to the altitude.

At 47.3 kilometers Serge passed the 300 marathon mark.  It’s a good round figure and it says a lot.

Daniel, our bookmaker, is taking bets on the France-China soccer match this evening and Thomas, a supporter of the French team, wore jersey number 10 all day.  Go France!

Serge planned to have a 75 kilometer stage and this meant  it would end in the middle of the city of Yougchang.  It would be impossible to camp there because we always look for a quiet spot, since we go to bed early.  We had to wait until we left town to find a flat place between the toll road and highway 312, which we located 10 kilometers before town.  We all thought Serge would take the 4-wheel drive for the last 5 kilometers to the camp but no, he said he would run all the way to the camp.  It was the 6th stage of more than 80 kilometers since the race started.  After almost 6 months of race he still surprises us.