Pont de Normandie
75.6km – 10H36’
Average heart beats/minute 98
Good evening everyone,
8 days into the race, Serge seems to have found his rhythm, even if for the last 2 nights he has had shooting pains which makes sleeping and especially going to sleep difficult. But Serge is happy and it shows. Now he has only one thing to think about: running and making daily progress, even in the rain like we had today and with a headwind which is exhausting… but the team is watching over him and taking care that he has nothing to worry about.
Assessment of this first week:
No « hurts » no blisters, sometimes metatarsal pain (a problem Serge has had for the past year) and some stiffness in the knees.
Due to lack of time I have only given one massage and I found Serge’s calves hard after exertion. In spite of everything for the past two days he has been able to go downstairs at home without severe pain so he recuperates well.
This morning the bus of the Codah (Community of greater Le Havre) was waiting for the runners with croissants and hot coffee. Thomas and Seb, Serge’s younger sons, set their alarm in order to be at the start and accompany him for a few kilometers. In the van Eliane and Jean-Yves (Brigitte’s husband so obviously our friend and neighbor) were ready to start the day, while René and Michel, a special friend (he organizes events the day of the Telethon with his team and last year his town took part in 8 films which were made over a 24 hours stretch by French TV2) go ahead to plot our route. Today we are navigating by sight since we have not made a reconnaissance. Luckily, Christophe and Jacky are watching and guide Serge in this maze of small roads around cities like Montivilliers and Gonfreville l’Orcher which are part of the Codah.
Around 1:30 PM Serge goes over the Normandy Bridge. Philippe, who has gone over the railing, is stopped by 7 policemen who were alerted by phone by someone who thought he was going to commit suicide…. He is restrained briefly, the time it takes to explain…..
Last June and July Patrick Malandrin covered 3,320 km in 53 days between Le Havre and Istanbul with his wife, Fabienne, and today he accompanies Serge for the entire stage. The “two men in Black” are no doubt talking about their experiences before they begin to feel the fatigue of crossing the bridge and then climbing to the plateau. The Garmin watch shows 1942 meters of positive ascent. If Normandy is not mountainous it certainly is hilly!
A word from Jean-Yves and Brigitte: “We wish fair wind to sailors, to a runner we say may it be favorable.”
Lastly, bravo to all the courageous runners who were not intimidated by the rain!
Town : Coquainvilliers