Day: August 17, 2006

20 days until the arrival in Tokyo, September 5 at 18H00 (local time).

According to the local weather bureau, it was the “hottest day of the season in Akita.”

We seem to be back where we were a few weeks ago, when we had suffocating heat and a burning sun.  After four hours of race, Serge is no longer in good shape: he feels nauseated, has a headache and can’t stand the sun on his skin. His face is bright red, his eyes bright and deep in their sockets.  The sea is two steps away and we would love to suggest that Serge take a day off and get cool in the water.  But nothing will get in the way of his unique objective and desire: to run more than 70 kilometers per day.  So Serge bucks up his courage alone, helped by the Japanese along the road who stop just to shake his hand, wave at him or encourage him.

During a feeding, a couple with their young child stopped near Serge.  The encouragement helped and Serge left saying: “You see, it does the heart good and for at least one kilometer you don’t think about it being tough, you are just happy.  Look, I have goose flesh because of it.” He feels more emotion: would it be age or fatigue?

A few kilometers further, Serge became expansive: “Luckily, I don’t have two months to go in this heat, it robs me of all my energy, it’s crazy!”  In the end, I don’t think you get used to the heat, especially when you make the kind of effort Serge is making, where endurance is pushed to the limit.

It was hard for me to imagine the extent of the challenge when we started, because I was taking one day at a time and applying the following philosophy “sufficient to each day is the evil thereof.” And now, eight months later, I still have trouble visualizing what all these days represent if you put them end to end with more than 73 kilometers per day.

François has made a new video which you can see on the website.  There will be others next week.