Day: September 5, 2006

Arrival in Tokyo, September 5 at 14H00 (local time).  For more info double click on the icon “Arrivée” on the welcome page of the website.

Send your questions to Serge at the following address: sergegirard@wanadoo.fr.  His replies will be posted on the website September 6 & 7. (The website will be updated through September 7)

Watch for Serge on French TV – TF1 at 20H00 on Tuesday, September 5.

Shortly before 14H00, when France was just waking up, Serge crossed the finish line in Tokyo.  The backdrop was the Tokyo Tower, a red and white iron edifice which looks somewhat like the Eiffel Tower.
We were already awake at 6H15 and of course couldn’t go back to sleep.  We spoke little and Serge read his messages.  We had breakfast in Eliane’s and Ludovic’s room.  Thomas and François beat on Serge with pillows to wake him.

Serge was very relaxed and set out from a building that made us lose our balance…. It was really scraping the sky.  It took the GPS watch 10 minutes to tune into the satellites.

Finally, Serge set off in bright sunshine and searing heat.  He fairly flew and approached the finish line too quickly.  For the first time in almost 9 months, he stopped for 30 minutes to have something to eat.  Satisfied, he left for the finish and there, oh miracle, a swarm of cameras was turned toward Serge, who, all smiles and with tears in his eyes, fell into the arms of his three boys: Nicolas, Thomas and Sébastien.  Time seemed to stand still while Serge posed to have the “instant” recorded before stepping onto the stage.  Many speeches followed very quickly, to keep to the schedule, and the cherry on the cake was a letter of congratulations to our champion from President Jacques Chirac.

Most modestly, I send you my short speech:

Hello everyone,

Today we have come to the end of an enormous challenge, to use a Mizuno slogan: “A Serious Performance.”  It began in 1997 when Serge crossed the USA and has continued as he crossed all the continents.

But first, a flashback to thank Mr. François Vikar, who nine years ago gave an unknown runner the possibility of launching this great adventure.  Since 1997, there has been a succession of crossings: Australia, South America and Africa.

We are here today to celebrate the end of the Paris-Tokyo race.

As with each crossing, there are preliminaries and a man to man history.  Thanks to Mr. Hayashi for the absolute confidence he had in Serge, even before this race took concrete form.  Mr. Hayashi, the good luck charm you gave Serge has accompanied him the entire time.

The success of the Paris-Tokyo race is the fruit of an experience and an association which we have shared. There is no doubt that I am particularly proud of Serge today but day after day, kilometer after kilometer my admiration has continued to grow.  Serge’s determination, willpower and tenacity never ceased to amaze me.  He never complained, even in the most difficult or the most painful moments. There was no room for compassion because it was Serge’s choice.  He fulfilled himself by meeting the challenges and with every day he developed, he improved like good wine does with age.

This long interval of eight and a half months has monopolized our bodies, our minds and our souls.  We have lived with only one objective during the race: to move forward each day no matter what.  As of tomorrow we are going to have to start up again in order not to fall into the black hole of the void that awaits us.  We are going to have to relearn how to breath in order to get our second wind.   I can tell you one of  Serge’s most recent dreams: “run a marathon when I’m a hundred years old.” I wish him that happiness.

 “If you have a dream, go on, make it come true.”  That is the message Serge sends us today.

Now it’s time to thank all the sponsors who made it possible for Serge to make this crossing:

AGF: Assurance Générale de France
Mizuno Europe
Delage Expansion
Ajinomoto
Garmin
In Japan: Suzuki and Mizuno Japan

And all the other partners who supported Serge during this challenge:
The city of Le Havre, Hervouet Voyages, Accor Rouen, Leclerc Bapaume and the magazine Ultrafondus.
Thanks to all of them for the confidence they had in Serge.

Now, I would like our followers to join us here on the stage.  
At Serge’s side every day, they contributed to the success of this challenge.
By order of appearance:
Dominique
Arlette et Daniel
Eliane et Christian
Joël et Georges
Ludovic et Thomas B
Thomas G
Brigitte
Jean-Yves

We have special thoughts for those who aren’t with us today:
René, Jean-Marc and Benjamin, Stéphanie and Thomas C, Maxime, Christian
And in particular Mr. And Mrs. Girard, Serge’s parents, who for health reasons were unable to join us in Tokyo.

As well as for all the guides and interpreters who accompanied us, starting in Iran.

Thanks to all.