This trip has been so awaited during the past months.
Training has not been really fantastic or efficient due to a lack of time and
sleep. Anyway, we are taking off to Osaka 2 weeks prior UTMF: 2 peaceful weeks without
running only sightseeing and rest.
It leads us to Kyoto, Nara, Koyasan, Tokyo
and Mt Fuji. This country is really beautiful and it is amazing how strong are
the traditions and respect for the nature in such a modern environment.
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| Kyoto run |
In Kyoto, I could not resist to go for an early rainy run in
the old city. Streets were still quietly sleeping: an amazing run.
Two days before the run, we arrive at Kawaguchiko. The lake with Mt Fuji on the back ground is an amazing scenery. Peacefully, we are enjoying some easy bike ride around the lake while top runners from North Face Team and Buff Team are training hard...
The day before the run Sai had to fly back to Thailand. Fortunately, Patrice, a french runner, organized a meet up with all the french runners. Everybody have many stories to tell and all are really impressive. I feel really inexperienced compared to them. After while, we are all going to the press conference. It is quite late and we can clearly see that all Top Runners are eager to get back to their room and get some rest. Anyhow, it is nice to see these guys that we usely see in beautiful videos on Youtube. Of course, we cannot miss the pictures with Francois d'Haene, Sebastien Chaigneau, Nathalie Mauclair and Tsuyoshi Kaburaki.
The night and hours before are passing by very slowly. I am really stressed out and eager to see how far I can go.
Before the start, we manage to catch up with Robyn, running mate from Manaslu Race but we don't manage to find our other Manaslu buddy, George. It is always good to see again happy faces and friendly persons.
Kawagushiko-Fujiyoshida K18.2:
At some points, it is time to start. I am in the back of back pack and we are moving slowly. I take it very easy. This first section is not technical. We are running on road and then we start climbing on forest road. There is no need to try running, road is still too congested to run, a steady walk is sufficient to bring us up to the first climb with an amazing view on Kawagushiko Lake. The sun is desperately trying to come back but the rain doesn't let it go.
We come down on the road before entering on some single track. As expected, there is trail traffic jam and patience is required. We still have a long way to go. Arriving at Fujiyoshida is really fun as there are lot of people cheering us in the streets. After 2h39min, everything seems to be fine.
Before the start, we manage to catch up with Robyn, running mate from Manaslu Race but we don't manage to find our other Manaslu buddy, George. It is always good to see again happy faces and friendly persons.
Kawagushiko-Fujiyoshida K18.2:
At some points, it is time to start. I am in the back of back pack and we are moving slowly. I take it very easy. This first section is not technical. We are running on road and then we start climbing on forest road. There is no need to try running, road is still too congested to run, a steady walk is sufficient to bring us up to the first climb with an amazing view on Kawagushiko Lake. The sun is desperately trying to come back but the rain doesn't let it go.
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| Lake Kawagushiko |
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| Still looking fresh but not for long |
Fujiyoshida - Niju Magari K33.4:
This section profile look very tough. After some nice Km on the road and forest trails, night is surrounding us. We are constantly climbing. We are now on technical single track trails. It is completely packed and we are nearly not moving in this section where it is required to scramble up and use ropes to climb down. Nobody is taking any risk to fall and get injured. Unfortunately, it starts to be very cold and windy and there is no possibility to get warm. I feel relieved when we finish this section and start to run again on some nice ridge trails in the forest. Quietness in the forest is very impressive like if we were just phantoms crossing it. Nobody dares to speak, everybody is focus, digging deep in their mind. After 3h30min, I finally arrive at the Aid Station which is located in the middle of nowhere. I try to not lose too much time because cut off time is not far behind.
Niju Magari - Yamanakako K39.3:
This section is very nice: a short uphill and then long downhill to Yamanakako along a slippery single track trail. Arrived in the village, it is 10pm but there is still many people on the side of the road pushing us as much as they can. It is really providing extra strength. 1h
Yamanakako - Subashiri K55.7:
It is very similar to the previous section up and down in the forest. Trails are slippery so I take it very easy and enjoy the silence and views on the villages located on each side of the ridge. It is nearly 1 am when I reach Aid Station. I feel very cold, tiredness is knocking at the door. Local soup are more than welcome to try to awake my sleepy mind. 2h40min
Subashiri - Tarobo K65.6:
When I was preparing for this run, I identify this part as a good section to take very easy: a long and constant climb to the next Aid Station. Plan was to forget about running and just walk fast, recover and get a lot food in to be ready for the next more runnable sections. Unfortunately, things are not always going according to plan. Tiredness completely took over and I was walking at snail pace, not really knowing where I was. I started to fill nauseous, impossible to eat anything and the first hallucinations started. I thought there were motorbikes riding on the trails with us. All this got me really worried, we had only done 60K and it was only 2am in the first night. Doubts were overwhelming. I had no idea if I could finish. Arrived at Tarabo, I managed to get in some Miso soup and Onigiri. It was sure not enough but i could not swallow any bar or gel. At this point, I decide to forget thinking further than next Aid Station. I will just have fun without thinking if I should keep some energy in stock or whatever. 2h of strolling along the trail
Tarobo - Mizugatsuka K71.5:
With this new mindset and some very good music (General Lee and Cult of Luna), i enjoyed this road run. When I left Mizugatsuka, the sun was rising over Mt Fuji, a pure moment of Happiness. 40min
Mizugatsuka - Kodomo-No-Kuni K80.5:
Half way in the run, This section is really fun . We are on some technical single track. My brain is turned off, I am running like if I was an easy footing at home. We, finally, reach some forest roads. Sun is now back with us At this aid station, our drop bag is waiting for us. For me, it revealed to be useless as I did not eat much since the beginning, no refueling required. Miso soup is still the only thing I can eat. Mt Fuji is offering us a lot of energy, view is amazing and make me forget about everything. 1h15min
Kodomo-No-Kuni - Awakura K94.9:
This section was a nearly flat forest road. Kind of part which looks easy to run but which is also mind destroyer because it is endless and straight. I catch up with Eric, a french runner, I met the day before. It is good to share the feelings and actually to speak after remaining silent for almost 17 hours. To my surprise, tiredness is not accompanying me. 1h50
Awakura - Nishi-Fuji K104.4:
We are on our way to the tough section of this run. I try to keep up with Eric and enjoy the downhill to Nishi-Fuji. It seems that we are on ski slope with the forest open on our side. I try to get some food but nausea is still preventing anything to get in. We can see the dramatic Tenshi Mountains in the foreground who are wisely waiting for us. 1h30
Nishi-Fuji - Fumoto K123.3:
At this Aid station, Eric and I discuss on how to survive to Tenshi Mountains and how long we are going to spend on this 20K without any water supply and a lot of vertical climbs and downhills. He starts a little bit ahead of me and we just think that we will catch up later but in fact, I will never see him again until the end of the run. Nishi-Fuji is the shifting point of the run for me. From a very tough but doable run, it turned to be a survival run. Being reluctant to admit that a short nap was required at this point was a big mistake.
2K after leaving Aid Station, tiredness was hammering me. I just sat in a bush on the side of the road, set the alarm to 15 min later and start to sleep. Several times, some runners stopped by and woke me up thinking that I was unconscious. Of course, I did not hear the alarm and slept 30 min. The first climb in the Tenshis' was nice and tough vertical K (700m up in 3k). Passing a lot of runners was feeding the mind but stomach was still refusing any help. At the end of second climb out of 5, I take another short nap. It will appear to be the standard for the last 60k get a nap at each summit no matter how long or big was the climb. It is pretty hot and sunny and I start to run out of water. Downhill are even more complicated. Due to rain in the past days, trails are very slippery and even at snail/sleepy pace, using trees and ropes on the side is required to avoid falling down every steps. Knees are rusty and painful. I am so relieved when I reach Fumoto after 7h of wandering in the mountain. So happy and tired that I miscalculate how far I am from the end: 3 more section to go but my mind imagines only 2 sections need to be overcome.
This Aid section is very impressive. There is more than 200 persons waiting for their friends, relatives, husband or wife to come. Seeing all this joy when somebody awaited arrives is very beautiful but also increase loneliness feelings deep inside.
Fumoto - Motosuko K138.6:
Sun is now going down, we are entering in the second night out in the nature. Landscape are beautiful and very familiar, I have the impression to be at home. Trails is easy and flat. Fresh runners from STY are passing us. They are literally flying compared to us, old tortoises. After a 10min nap far from the trail to avoid being woke up, a big climb starts and i am passing people that will pass me in the downhill later. Knees are crying and I am falling very often. Trails are a little bit snowy and frozen. We arrived on road around a lake. All the villages around look beautiful. Finally, I figure out that that there is still 30Km to go and instead of the 15Km, I hoped. It is demoralizing as I quickly understand that with my snail pace and lamenting knees, I will spend another full night out. My hotel room with a shower and hot bed is calling. Temptation tried stick to my mind but is very quickly evacuated.
Motosuko aid station is also completely packed up. People cry and cheer each other. I try to get on mattress for a sleep but there is no place. I sat and sleep with my head on my knees for 30min. 3h20min
Motosuko - Narusawa K157.9:
We directly climb up above the aid station. Legs feels ok but tiredness is still overwhelming. I play cat and mouse with many runners: passing them, pacing them for little while until they slow down and then let them pass again due to nap on the side of the trail. It is weird every 15min, I just sit down for 2min nap. After a couple of climb, we are back down in the valley. I am freezing cold, and shivering while trying to walk. My mind doesn't understand that shivering is not related to cold but lack of sleep. I take off my survival blanket desperately thinking it will help. I try to persuade my self to go on, keep looking at my arm where I wrote names of some Key Persons; without them I won't be the same guy. At some point, we are talking together. I am not on a road in Japan but somewhere else in the world with them. But I don't know where. Discussion is endless and refortifying. I start feeling some slaps on my shoulder and come back to reality. A Japanese Runner tries to speak to me: "Aid station, 1 mile". I, then, realized that I am speaking to a wooden barrier on the side of the pavement. This scary feeling that I am a stranger in this body and there is no control pushes me to the next checkpoint. There is no other option left than sleeping. I stay there for approximately 1h; sleeping like baby even though I am directly lying on a parking trying to cope with the cold of fresh morning next to Mt Fuji.
After this nap, i still can't eat anything but boosted only 12K to go and I want to enjoy them.
Crazy time: 6h40min for 20k!?
Narusawa - Kawakuchiko K169:
For the first time, the idea of finishing the run is popping up in my mind. Energy is very low but happiness is full. The last climb is not easy and it is even worse for the downhill. But no matter, I take it like a morning jog, no need to think just enjoy and of course fall (a lot) on these technical trails. The last 3K or so around Lake Kawaguchiko are amazing. It is hard to describe all feelings running around my head. It is also impressive to see how many people are waiting for some known faces and how there are cheering all runners/crawlers arriving. Race director is also waiting for all runners at the finish line. He must be more tired than me to congratulate everybody.
Right after arriving, it is quite fun. A guy is coming to ask questions about the run and record everything with his microphone. I don't know what he is really doing. I don't really remember what I told him apart the answer to the question: "Will you do it again?" Yes, I have too.
2h
Total: 40h56min 396/730 finshers and 1206 at the starting line
This experience was more than a simple run. It was long and deep introspection, trying to find resource when there is nothing left. Being out in the nature for more than 40h without eating for nearly 30h was something I did not expect. Energy depletion is a very impressive and unbeatable phenomenon.
There is so much to learn from such a journey.
This section is very nice: a short uphill and then long downhill to Yamanakako along a slippery single track trail. Arrived in the village, it is 10pm but there is still many people on the side of the road pushing us as much as they can. It is really providing extra strength. 1h
Yamanakako - Subashiri K55.7:
It is very similar to the previous section up and down in the forest. Trails are slippery so I take it very easy and enjoy the silence and views on the villages located on each side of the ridge. It is nearly 1 am when I reach Aid Station. I feel very cold, tiredness is knocking at the door. Local soup are more than welcome to try to awake my sleepy mind. 2h40min
Subashiri - Tarobo K65.6:
When I was preparing for this run, I identify this part as a good section to take very easy: a long and constant climb to the next Aid Station. Plan was to forget about running and just walk fast, recover and get a lot food in to be ready for the next more runnable sections. Unfortunately, things are not always going according to plan. Tiredness completely took over and I was walking at snail pace, not really knowing where I was. I started to fill nauseous, impossible to eat anything and the first hallucinations started. I thought there were motorbikes riding on the trails with us. All this got me really worried, we had only done 60K and it was only 2am in the first night. Doubts were overwhelming. I had no idea if I could finish. Arrived at Tarabo, I managed to get in some Miso soup and Onigiri. It was sure not enough but i could not swallow any bar or gel. At this point, I decide to forget thinking further than next Aid Station. I will just have fun without thinking if I should keep some energy in stock or whatever. 2h of strolling along the trail
Tarobo - Mizugatsuka K71.5:
With this new mindset and some very good music (General Lee and Cult of Luna), i enjoyed this road run. When I left Mizugatsuka, the sun was rising over Mt Fuji, a pure moment of Happiness. 40minMizugatsuka - Kodomo-No-Kuni K80.5:Half way in the run, This section is really fun . We are on some technical single track. My brain is turned off, I am running like if I was an easy footing at home. We, finally, reach some forest roads. Sun is now back with us At this aid station, our drop bag is waiting for us. For me, it revealed to be useless as I did not eat much since the beginning, no refueling required. Miso soup is still the only thing I can eat. Mt Fuji is offering us a lot of energy, view is amazing and make me forget about everything. 1h15min
Kodomo-No-Kuni - Awakura K94.9:
This section was a nearly flat forest road. Kind of part which looks easy to run but which is also mind destroyer because it is endless and straight. I catch up with Eric, a french runner, I met the day before. It is good to share the feelings and actually to speak after remaining silent for almost 17 hours. To my surprise, tiredness is not accompanying me. 1h50
Awakura - Nishi-Fuji K104.4:
We are on our way to the tough section of this run. I try to keep up with Eric and enjoy the downhill to Nishi-Fuji. It seems that we are on ski slope with the forest open on our side. I try to get some food but nausea is still preventing anything to get in. We can see the dramatic Tenshi Mountains in the foreground who are wisely waiting for us. 1h30
Nishi-Fuji - Fumoto K123.3:
At this Aid station, Eric and I discuss on how to survive to Tenshi Mountains and how long we are going to spend on this 20K without any water supply and a lot of vertical climbs and downhills. He starts a little bit ahead of me and we just think that we will catch up later but in fact, I will never see him again until the end of the run. Nishi-Fuji is the shifting point of the run for me. From a very tough but doable run, it turned to be a survival run. Being reluctant to admit that a short nap was required at this point was a big mistake.
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| Mt Fuji on the way to Fumoto |
This Aid section is very impressive. There is more than 200 persons waiting for their friends, relatives, husband or wife to come. Seeing all this joy when somebody awaited arrives is very beautiful but also increase loneliness feelings deep inside.
Fumoto - Motosuko K138.6:
Sun is now going down, we are entering in the second night out in the nature. Landscape are beautiful and very familiar, I have the impression to be at home. Trails is easy and flat. Fresh runners from STY are passing us. They are literally flying compared to us, old tortoises. After a 10min nap far from the trail to avoid being woke up, a big climb starts and i am passing people that will pass me in the downhill later. Knees are crying and I am falling very often. Trails are a little bit snowy and frozen. We arrived on road around a lake. All the villages around look beautiful. Finally, I figure out that that there is still 30Km to go and instead of the 15Km, I hoped. It is demoralizing as I quickly understand that with my snail pace and lamenting knees, I will spend another full night out. My hotel room with a shower and hot bed is calling. Temptation tried stick to my mind but is very quickly evacuated.
Motosuko aid station is also completely packed up. People cry and cheer each other. I try to get on mattress for a sleep but there is no place. I sat and sleep with my head on my knees for 30min. 3h20min
Motosuko - Narusawa K157.9:
We directly climb up above the aid station. Legs feels ok but tiredness is still overwhelming. I play cat and mouse with many runners: passing them, pacing them for little while until they slow down and then let them pass again due to nap on the side of the trail. It is weird every 15min, I just sit down for 2min nap. After a couple of climb, we are back down in the valley. I am freezing cold, and shivering while trying to walk. My mind doesn't understand that shivering is not related to cold but lack of sleep. I take off my survival blanket desperately thinking it will help. I try to persuade my self to go on, keep looking at my arm where I wrote names of some Key Persons; without them I won't be the same guy. At some point, we are talking together. I am not on a road in Japan but somewhere else in the world with them. But I don't know where. Discussion is endless and refortifying. I start feeling some slaps on my shoulder and come back to reality. A Japanese Runner tries to speak to me: "Aid station, 1 mile". I, then, realized that I am speaking to a wooden barrier on the side of the pavement. This scary feeling that I am a stranger in this body and there is no control pushes me to the next checkpoint. There is no other option left than sleeping. I stay there for approximately 1h; sleeping like baby even though I am directly lying on a parking trying to cope with the cold of fresh morning next to Mt Fuji.
After this nap, i still can't eat anything but boosted only 12K to go and I want to enjoy them.
Crazy time: 6h40min for 20k!?
.JPG) |
| Walk of the dead after a nap |
Narusawa - Kawakuchiko K169:
For the first time, the idea of finishing the run is popping up in my mind. Energy is very low but happiness is full. The last climb is not easy and it is even worse for the downhill. But no matter, I take it like a morning jog, no need to think just enjoy and of course fall (a lot) on these technical trails. The last 3K or so around Lake Kawaguchiko are amazing. It is hard to describe all feelings running around my head. It is also impressive to see how many people are waiting for some known faces and how there are cheering all runners/crawlers arriving. Race director is also waiting for all runners at the finish line. He must be more tired than me to congratulate everybody.
Right after arriving, it is quite fun. A guy is coming to ask questions about the run and record everything with his microphone. I don't know what he is really doing. I don't really remember what I told him apart the answer to the question: "Will you do it again?" Yes, I have too.
2h
.JPG) |
| simple thing that make everything possible |
Total: 40h56min 396/730 finshers and 1206 at the starting line
This experience was more than a simple run. It was long and deep introspection, trying to find resource when there is nothing left. Being out in the nature for more than 40h without eating for nearly 30h was something I did not expect. Energy depletion is a very impressive and unbeatable phenomenon.
There is so much to learn from such a journey.
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| Kyoto run |
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| Kyoto run |
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| Starting line |
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| Mt Fuji from Fujiyoshida |
