J259 – 9/2/2006

3 days until arrival in Tokyo, September 5 at 14H00 (local time) at the parking lot of the Prince Hotel.
For more info, double click on the icon “Arrivée” on the welcome page of the website.

Brief: A beautiful day with a short cut on the first part, which meant we could enjoy the countryside, and an urban environment for the second part.  Tension is mounting, are minds are elsewhere: on neither the race nor Japan.  We have only one thing in mind, the finish line, which is getting closer and closer.  
Now to the comments of Jean-Marc and Ben, the father and son who were able to leave home (thanks to Anna) to join us on a difficult portion of the race: constraints due to the countries crossed, a rather unpleasant atmosphere within the team due to a runner and his companion who were not in good psychological shape, a reduced team at the end of the period.  They set foot in 6 countries during the period.  I know that they will retain the best impressions.  Kirghistan was the best moment for the four of us.  In the end, what wonderful moments we have shared.  Thanks.

JEAN-MARC BRUNIAU (age 41) BENJAMIN BRUNIAU (age 18) Participated between TEHERAN – KASHGAR

What was your daily routine (the same response for Jean-Marc and Ben)
Get up at 6H00: fold tents and duvets, get washed and dressed, making as little noise as possible so as not to wake Serge.
Start the generator at 6H30/6H45
Prepare breakfast for the team
Eat breakfast at 6H45/6H50, then clear up breakfast, prepare the 4×4 for Serge’s start around 7H15/7H30
Accompany Serge to the stopping place of the night before
Put the odometer on the 4×4 back to zero (when it doesn’t give us problems)
Feed Serge about every 4.5 km (approximately 17 feedings per day)
At the last feeding Serge would give us the precise number of kilometers he intended to do that day.  There is no question of him doing a few meters less.  Serge checked the kilometers on his “GARMIN” watch!!!!
Mark the day’s stopping place with something on the road or a sign post, something we can easily find the next day.
Get to the camp site which Laure had found
Help put up the tents and help Laure cook dinner
Put the 4×4 to bed
Eat dinner 19H30/19H45
To bed around 20H30

JEAN-MARC

The role of a follower: Be attuned to Serge’s needs and ready to help whenever needed, anticipate difficulties that could keep him from moving ahead, adjust the feedings to his needs and the day’s weather and above all, never let him get out of sight if he isn’t feeling well or when he is in a city.  NEVER indicate a short cut or the distance left to be run because for him errors are fatal!!!!

Necessary qualifications: Patience, attentiveness, availability, love of Adventure, discretion, being able to live in a group, a sense of humor.

Concerning Serge and his effort: I was surprised that he could surpass his own effort, stand pain, solitude, anxiety and doubt.  He had such a will to go to the limit of his daily effort that sometimes we forgot how many days he had been running. In spite of the difficulties he encountered: climate, relations with certain members of the team, he never gave up and he coped with criticism.

Concerning the crossing, you might think that following Serge on the road for more than 11 hours would be monotonous.  Well, NO, it wasn’t.  If Serge found pleasure in running 75 kilometers per day, we the followers were just as happy during those days, which were full of emotion and encounters.