Month: August 2006

The rhythm of a small train, the rhythm of ultra-runners.

This morning, there were two cars waiting in front of the hotel for a 4:00 AM departure: the “support car” as it is called, which follows Serge step by step, and the Mizuno car, which is taking care of Koji and Mariko.  These two runners will accompany Serge for the whole stage.  Mariko has already crossed 3 continents: Australia alone, the USA and Europe in organized races.  The small group started out with Serge in the lead, followed by Koji and Mariko.  All day long, it was as though a train was going by.  The three runners have the same stride which grazes the ground but each is distinct in that one is either more turned in or turned out and the unwinding of each step more or less pronounced.  As the kilometers go by, the posture of the runners becomes harmonized.  The three runners keep their heads down, the body is also slightly hunched over, which gives the impression that they are sinking into themselves.  Their steps are never high, even if I remember seeing, on the trans-Australia, a Russian with an impressive jumping stride.  It’s an exception at this stage of the race and he was the only one I ever saw.  Another physical trait, each runner has his own morphology.  I have observed that there is not a specific type of ultra-runner, contrary to marathon runners, for example, who often have a similar morphology.

To return to the subject at hand, more particularly to our day, at the 42nd kilometer, we passed Himeji Castle.  It is the largest of Japan’s 12 feudal castles, which were built between the XIV and XVII centuries.  This historic marvel is one of UNESCO’S World Heritage Sites.

Leaving Himeji, there was a climb and it got hotter.  Serge arrived at the 48th kilometer with a beet red face.  It was time for him to wet his head and put on his hat.  It was also the time for a visit from the local TV, who took advantage of a feeding to ask Serge two questions.  Then the little train started again.  Serge preferred to take the lead and retain his normal rhythm because he knows that at this stage of the race, and in view of his fatigue and pains, there is no question of being zealous.  Even if he is very near the finish line, he knows that nothing is ever won in advance.  There is no false modesty  in this notion , which could seem absurd: “you are in Japan, nobody doubts your success, you are so close to the finish.”  These daily words of encouragement touch us deeply but we sometimes feel as if we are on the razor’s edge!  On this first day of August, we still have more than 2,000 kilometers to run and they can’t be taken for granted.