75.82km – 9H57’
Altitude : 528m
The stage for October 16: Montargis – Fontainebleau (the itinerary will be posted online later)
Finish October 17 at l’INSEP – Avenue de Tremblay, 75012 Paris
There will be no stage between cities
Serge will enter l’INSEP around 9:00 a.m. and will run on the track in the INSEP until 11:06 a.m. He will be accompanied by everyone who wishes to run these last two hours of the Around the European Union Footrace, and celebrate the 365 days of the race. L’INSEP will wish to see an identity card for everyone who wishes to enter the site.
J-7, 6, 5, 3, 2, 1, 0 – finish, stop!
It is not certain that Serge will stop running just like that, but for the moment, the program for our progression is: Auvergne in the sunshine, with a route that is easier than yesterday and not as easy tomorrow.
Is Serge turning into a bear? In addition to letting his beard grow (he did clip it after he saw the photo), is he becoming a bit of a savage? I’m thinking about having a cabin built for him in the garden so he can cultivate his “back to nature” tendency, as far as possible from social life.
Philippe was at the start and ran 15 km without saying a word because Serge is not talkative, he is mute. But it did not seem to discourage those running with him, in this case Philippe, who missed us when we went through Lyon, so got up at 5:00 a.m. this morning to find us at Yssingeaux, without warning. It’s true that Yssingeaux is a small town and our vehicles are easy to spot. We thank him for his visit, 30 km, after a triple coronary artery bypass less than a year ago (it is worth mentioning that Philippe was an athlete, non-smoker and young, all of which he still is). It’s marvelous and teaches us something. We can only hope that he will gallop again and that we will see him at the Millau 100 km, which he was supposed to run last year before he had his heart problems.
Claude was also at the start. It was a bit like Christmas because yesterday evening at dinner Claude took out of his bag, not his chimney, lots of gifts from Vendee and Auvergne. Thanks for this visit, which touched us a great deal.
Our route continues, without special events. Serge still has an excellent appetite at his 14/15 daily refuelings. We have to say that the soups “of Eliane’s making” are concocted with love and Serge does them justice. The scenery is splendid, the cows in great number and Serge keeps to a good pace in spite of the hilly terrain.
There is a reception committee in Ambert to welcome Serge: Anna, Jean-Marc and their small family. Jean-Marc and Ben were already present at Roanne. In addition to accompanying Serge on the Paris-Tokyo, Anna and Jean-Marc organized and followed a Nordic runner who tried to cross Australia a few years ago. We had lots of memories to share at the end of this stage.
Serge hurts all over but seems calmer. We continue to take the days as they come and it is hard to realize that the end of the race is almost here.