The 2010 training courses have come to an end... And always that same great Trans Aq' atmosphere!
15 students as great as the 64 other runners that have been here over the last few years and that we'll be meeting again next June. See also their comments on the "Stages" page of our forum.
There'll be no training courses next year because our favourite "playground" is now classed a "natural park".
Here's the class photo, taken Sunday morning, temperature 0°C, for the 4th and last training session. Many "starred" runners can be seen. Do you recognise them?
Another surprising photo "scoop" will be published in a few days! Not to be missed!
Registrations: an update
After 3 withdrawals and 2 new registrations this week, we are now 157 confirmed participants and 23 pre-registered runners. A few withdrawals from the pre-registered runners too, this explains why there are less than 190 runners.
Here are the last 6 runners of whom I've not yet spoken:
Nathalie Merlier* (Doubs - East of France on the Swiss border) is back after 2 years of doubt, because of a badly diagnosed injury. She be part of a team with her husband Jérôme* and Christophe Wrobel***, there team name is 20°celsius.
Remi Duboq (Loiret – North-central France) finished 188th in the 2008 MDS, the Trans Aq' shouldn't pose any unsolvable problems...
Carole and Yvan Ginot (Rhone – Eastern/central France) have also finished the MDS at a very honourable position of 311th ex æquo. They also will have no problem picking their finishers star.
Another hardened runner, William Henderson who comes to us from Vancouver (it's the season) 51st in the last MDS, he's a "customer" for a place in the top 5 but he'll be at the start line with no training, just for the adventure!
Enfin Emmanuelle Dudon***' will be there, also Canadian but not at all from the Vancouver side because she's from Quebec. She's also said that she's coming just for the pleasure of the "Aquitaine parenthesis" that she'd have a lot of trouble missing...
As you have noticed, the newcomers are all experienced runners, I know that that frightens the "neophytes" amongst you, but you're wrong; this year there'll be a couple of dozen small league and debutant runners participating in this event. And the Trans Aq' spirit, it's like a family, the "oldies" really love sharing their experience with the "newies".
Storm
Last night's storm left very little damage along the Aquitain coastline, contrary to that of the Vendée ocean side where the damage is dramatic.
For the Trans Aq', it's nothing in comparison to last year's "tornado". Oh, there'll be a few fallen trees to complicate our organisation, but things should be OK.
The positive side is that all the dead leaves in my garden that I've been treating with contempt have now been blown over to my neighbour. That's a winner!
Heat stroke
You have probably heard of Alain Gestin, organiser of the famous 333 and 555!
He has been preparing for a long time a "solo" run in the Ténéré desert, along the salt caravan route. He started out at dawn on Wednesday, in spite of temperatures of 40° C in the shade (50° in reality because there is no shade...).
Logically he's had to give up after heat stroke, but he's already announce that he'll start again.
It's an occasion for me to express some deep-down stored up feelings... Not many know, but in 2004 I failed under the same conditions (50° C and heat stroke) on another salt caravan route, 700 km solo in the north of Mali. A solo run that I'd been preparing for 3 years. I've been brooding over this failure for 6 years and some bad spirits nearly made me feel guilty. Particularly my sponsor, a cretin from the Alpes (I hope he's reading this) who insulted me after this failure saying: "I wasn't made for it", he who "knows all about Africa" (in 4 star hotels...) could confirm it. I also heard some criticism and contempt here and there. It must be said that I didn't have the notoriety of the hard-boiled Alain Gestin.
His failure under the same conditions has helped me digest and assume my renunciation.
I know that Alain will succeed one day. For myself, I think about it often, but it's compromised now because the zone that I'm interested in is even more dangerous today than back in 2004, as the news has just shown us: it's there that the Frenchman shown on TV was held hostage. Oh, I saw a few Kalashnikov's at the time, but it was less risky than today...
I console myself by remembering that I succeeded in 2003 an in-situ test, a solo 260 km run in the same region, North of Timbuktu, with no assistance, on the salt caravan route... It was better than nothing and I've kept a fabulous memory of it...
Photo taken at my arrival in Timbuktu in 2003 (photo taken by Bernard Cournarie, Trans Aq' photographer).
Abatilles
As for the first 4 Trans Aq's, you be drinking "Abatilles" water until you're no longer thirsty!
Last year we changed for another source of the Abatilles, "La source des Pins" also nitrate free.
Return to Abatilles mineral water, the bottles are more rigid and therefore, easier to slide into the horizontal holder on the Raidlight backpack.
The water is pumped in the pin forest at a depth of 472m. Abatilles is one of the deepest springs of natural mineral water in France! It's the secret of its extreme purity and it's thermal properties: protected from all pollution, filtered at length through numerous layers of sand, chalk and clay, Abatilles holds exceptional proprieties.
For the purists amongst you, those who sleep on the floor 2 months before the Trans Aq', who listen to the sound of the ocean to get used to it, who eat freeze-dried, who go to work with a 5 kilo backpack and gaiters, it's recommended that you start your Abatilles water training.
It's the story of a lady (blond) who went to see her doctor for a sleeping disorder. The doctor says: in the evening before going to bed, leave your worries and troubles at the foot of the bed! The lady, perplexed, replies: But doctor, my husband will never accept to sleep on the floor!
Poker
Poker
At the "Entry list" page, I've deleted the few pre-registered runners who have said, finally, that they won't be at the start line. But some new ones have appeared at the same time. There are, as of today, 155 confirmed participants and 34 pre-registered runners who should be confirming really soon. So there are 11 places left.
The liars poker game has started: some will not pre-register but register directly, some monitor before registering, some are injured but put back the moment before declaring their withdrawal, etc.
Stop asking me if there are still some spaces left, register!
Marensin Trail
Ideal for your preparation because during the 6th stage of the Trans Aq' you'll be crossing the Vielle St. Girons parish, Marensin "country". If you'd like to anticipate your discovery of this area and see what some of the circuit look likes you could participate in the Marensin Trail run the 27th and 28th March 2010.
One or two stages, (you choose) of which a night run.
Last year about twenty Transaquitainians were at the start line.
I'll be there, will you?
Libyan cancelled
It should have been a party for more than 100 participants and for 17 Transaquitainians. The news has just reached us, the Libyan is cancelled for sombre political reasons. After Switzerland refused 188 visas for some Libyan leaders, the Libyan government decided to refuse all requests for visas coming from members of countries of the Schengen agreement...
Beyond the deception of the participants, my thoughts go to Jean-Marc Tommasini and his team. A horrible deception, an awful feeling of injustice must overwhelm him, and being a man of responsibilities, a great sadness for the participants must invade him. A year's work and preparation have fallen apart because of arbitrary behaviour...
Last year I thought that the storm would cause cancellation and I can remember all the sentiments that overwhelmed me.
Take courage Jean-Marc, we support you all in your combat, and long live the Libyan 2011!
February Training Session
This training session is over… no snow here but there was sand, although a little frozen.
Temperatures didn't go over the 2°C and we did have -1°C for the night run! But wine at our place (Médoc) was at a good 13°...
Everything went as usual, working in good spirits, Siko***** still had to search for the famous pylon but he had no trouble finding Caroline's egg custard and chocolate cake and finally, the most important, was that the runners seemed to be delighted. Perhaps they'll put a message on the forum's "Stage" page as soon as they get home.
Here are the start times for each stage for those who need to know and those who probably have "things to take" two hours before breakfast.
These times are varied because of the tide times, bus transfers, the captains age and wind speeds.
Stage 1: 10h
Stage 2: 8h30
Stage 3: 7h30 and 9h (two waves) (for the surfers)
Stage 4: 21h
Stage 5: 10h30
Stage 6: 9h
Buses
You'll soon be reserving your travel tickets for the Trans Aq'…
If you've reserved your place in our shuttle bus before the start of the race then it will be leaving at 18h (from Bordeaux train station) and 18h30 (from Bordeaux Mérignac airport), on Saturday 29th May. After these times you'll have to work things out for yourselves...
For the return journey, after the race, our bus will leave you at the train station or the airport between 11h30 and 12h Sunday the 6th June.
I'll be sending you a questionnaire that will allow you to give us your travelling details, but it will also help you to see a more clear picture of your own timing, accommodation and transport plans...
Itinerary
You'll have noticed that I've grouped together all the stage descriptions.
Today, I've tweaked a little the itinerary of the second stage, I've simplified it, reduced it by 1 km and taken away a little bit of sand. I've found loads of new tracks and a really wild gorge where 2 resin pot "mines" have resisted the ages. I'm going to leave them there, you'll see them as your pass by.
Unfortunately this stage will be quite sandy and you'll find it really long. But the landscapes are magnificent...
The 2010 Trans Aq' itinerary is now definitive, if its validated by the local authorities.
Here's a table comparing the stages for the 6 Trans Aq's.
Note that in 2006 stage 3 was shortened because of the heat-wave, but 2 runners completed the original planned distance (68 km) (Another runner wanted to complete the missing 9 km "off-race", I've forgotten who it was... If he knows then perhaps he could refresh my memory!).
The figures below are correct, even if they go against what I've announced in the "Trans Aq' Story's".
Etape 1
Etape 2
Etape 3
Etape 4
Etape 5
Etape 6
Total
48 km
31 km
62 km
30 km
31 km
19,5 km
221,5 km
2005
160 m
279 m
266 m
315 m
160m
14 m
1 194 m
40 km
30,6 km
58,9 km
30,2 km
35,1 km
25,3 km
220,1 km
2006
136 m
319 m
315 m
510 m
421 m
202 m
1 482 m
27,7 km
44,2 km
54,2 km
33,7 km
35,3 km
28 km
223,1 km
2007
386 m
633 m
387m
607 m
304 m
241 m
2 558 m
29,7 km
33,9 km
58,2 km
37,2 km
36,8 km
20,3 km
216,2 km
2008
483 m
393 m
309 m
698 m
380 m
50 m
2 313 m
28 km
41,5 km
57,3 km
39,2 km
23,6 km
27,1 km
216,7 km
2009
322 m
480 m
376 m
686 m
292 m
175 m
2 331 m
31,1 km
38,6 km
56,2 km
39,2 km
26,1 km
26,6 km
217,8 km
2010
170 m
535 m
260 m
690 m
334 m
306 m
2 295 m
Stage 1 modified
As I said yesterday, here are a few changes made to the first stage.
It goes from 29.9 km to 31.1 km. I wanted to avoid a very sandy track...
Thursday I'll tell you about stage 2, changed too...
For the first time the start of our (your) event will be given from the parish of Montalivet (read a map!).
The start bivouac will be on the dune, facing the ocean!
Distance: 31.1 km, elevation (185 m).
A longer stage than last year (28.3 km) but with less relief.
The finish line will be as in previous years on the Hourtin lake-side, at an area named "La Gracieuse", one of the most beautiful places of the Trans Aq'.
The start will be given on the beach, at 10 o'clock. Impossible to start earlier because of the tides...
A very North-South focused stage, an itinerary with no relief for the first 20 km but not very smooth (alternating between beaches, dunes, more or less sandy tracks and cement paths). The few km run on the beach won't be easy because it'll be mid-tide with an average height coefficient (76).
Those who start out too fast (with a full backpack) will soon calm down. Otherwise it'll be the end of the stage that will calm them: 185 m elevation with a few steep sandy slopes. A superb end of stage run along the Hourtin lakeside, a big classic.
The first runners should finish in 2h40 (less than 12km/h) for this stage, proof that running here isn't that easy with a backpack! And the cut off time at 5 km/h (clause 20 of the Rules) will, therefore, be 6h06.
"La Gracieuse" bivouac
Stage 2
The route for this stage is now practically definitive.
The distance will be about 40 km for 570 m elevation. That is 1.5 km less than last year, but with 100 m more elevation.
After two stages, and at the eve of the "long" stage, you'll have covered 70km (69 km last year).
The start will be given from the "Gracieuse" bivouac, on the Hourtin lake side and the finish will be the same as the last two years, in the middle of the forest, behind the dunes south of Lacanau. In a place called "Le Lion" (because there are still some left there, hi, hi, hi!). In reality there are no lions just frogs that sing all night long, so don't forget the earplugs...
This part of the itinerary is varied, and quite rough, especially the first 15 km, just to keep you awake. I've found a few new tracks that will prevent you running along the exact same itinerary as last year.
This stage will seem long and difficult for you. The first arrivals will do it in a little less than 4 hours, like last year (10 km/h) and the cut-off time (5 km/h) will be 8 hours. Those who over did it the day before or who haven't had enough to drink will be in trouble at the end of this stage. The wisest amongst you, the old foxes, will have taken it easy up to now in view of the next two difficult stages to follow. You have to learn to lose 30 minutes on each of the first two days in order to not lose an hour the following days!
It will be a beautiful stage, right within the Trans Aq' tradition, two shores on two different lakes, deep forests, very little asphalt. You'll only be in contact with civilisation for a very brief moment. You'll hear the ocean, but you won't see it, but you can bathe in it at the arrival, that is if you still have enough energy to climb over the dunes!
The Lacanau Lakeside
Stage 3
If I've not yet talked about stages 1 and 2, it's because I still don't know the starting point for the Trans Aq'.
But I do know the finish line for stage 3! Cap-Ferret, as usual... Who's complaining.
The stage should be 54 or 56km (route not yet definitive) with very little elevation, as always for this stage: 250m + and -.
As explained in a past news article, the tides are not in our favour this year, except for this stage, but only under the condition of being on the beach in the afternoon (low tide at 15h41 if I've not tied myself up in (nautical) knots between GMT, UHT, and summer times...).
And so, because you'll not be on the beaches much this year, your compensation is being on it a lot during the 3rd stage, more than usual. I'll not tell you how many km on the beach to keep you in "suspenders".
This will give a gruelling finish, that's why I'm not going over the 56km mark. Especially as it can be very hot as in 2005 and 2006, 35°C!
In the photos, below (taken this 24th November, Indian summer is still here, but no feathers in sight...) you can see the mounting tide through the dune (first photo) and the slope down to the ocean (2nd photo). The finish line will be somewhere further south, to the left... (opposite is America and to the right Great Britain).
Stage 3 (continued)
There's a clause in the Trans Aq' Rules and Regulations (clause 20) that has never been applied: "During the “long stage” the organisers reserve the right to start the race in two groups. The first fifty in the general ranking will leave 2 hours after the others, in order to keep the runners together along the itinerary (for safety reasons). Real time time-keeping will of course be used."
To resolve the tide problem at the end of this long stage 3, we will apply this clause, with a slight modification: it will be the first 60 in the general ranking after 2 stages who'll start out after the rest of the pack(1) and it will be a 1h30 delay and not 2 hours.
The runners ranking from the 61st to the last position after 2 stages will, therefore, start out from Lacanau at 7h30 in the morning. They'll be on the beach around about 12h30 and 15h30.
The first 60 in the provisional general ranking will start out at 9h (after a lay in) and will reach the beach between 12h45/13h and 14h30.
This will avoid anyone having to battle against a full high-tide and soft sand that will have to be taken.
Remember: low tide at 15h40, coefficient, quite low, 60 (this means that the ocean will not recede a lot but won't come up too high either, unless there's a strong wind...).
There, now you know all.
For those who have understood all, don't panic, it's real time keeping that will be used to update the ranking for this stage (time of arrival minus time of start).
(1)Why 60 runners and not 50? Because its nicer and more credible if the winner of the stage physically arrives at Cap Ferret in first position and not an apparent 5th or 6th position. And after our calculations, the 50th runner in the provisional rankings could arrive in first position at the Cap Ferret finish line...
Stage 4
I'm working on the fourth stage at the moment, it's a difficult one to organise "because the night" (as sang Patty Smith)?
I've given up finishing in Biscarrosse, I don't like pleading with people, and even less the town hall, to give me an answer (two requests have remained without replies, not even a no...).
After the start, I thought I'd get you to the Dune du Pyla by the beach, but because it'll be high tide, it's not possible. Particularly as the beach is completely covered by the ocean for the last 500 meters before the foot of "the dune"... So, a stage entirely forest!
The start will be given from a locality never used for the Trans Aq': the Pyla sur Mer, at the sailing club (opposite the post office). Arcachon will not be passed through, as was the case for the last 3 years.
You'll get onto the "Dune" (km 6.5) a little earlier and so you'll all see the sunset. Because the sun goes to bed! For you, it's not certain...
Because this stage will be 40km long and night will fall after an hour and a half of the run (walk?). And it's always longer at night, and more fun of course. Especially as this year there should be no more wolves "we've" re-introduced bears into this deep (and dark) forest. But good news is that it'll be nearly a full moon, a shame for the wolves, but at least you'll see the bears!
It's the most hilly stage, as usual (700m + & -) and the most savage.
We'll (you'll) use a few tracks never used before and the last 3 km are completely new. The last arrivals will get in at about 5 in the morning...
To resume: start time 21h, 40 km, 700m elevation.
Nota: If you get lost, and you "land" at the entrance to the military base of Cazaux, have a good explanation at hand, because seen the way you're dressed, seen the way you'll look, seen the time of day (night), seen the situation, no look-out will believe you. Especially if you don't speak French. So you'll finish the night behind bars. Hah, Hah!
So, still ready?
Re-nota: We've never lost a runner at night, you'd of heard (smelt?) about it
Stage 4 continued
Right then, yesterday I covered the entire route of stage 4 to check that it was passable (tracks, but also radio reception, GPS, GPRS, etc., for your safety).
I didn't see any bears, but you'll be going through marshes (dry footed) and there'll be a few crocodiles (you do know the difference between an alligator and a crocodile? (Gérard is completely right! It's impossible to translate and so silly.... but it made me laugh anyway!)
Exact distance: 39.3km, 693m elevation + & -.
Dune du Pyla at km 6.6, aid stations at km 14.4 and 28.6, if no winter storms turn everything upside down.
This forest has a specific status on the Aquitaine coastline. It's not owned by the state, it's comes under a Napoleonic law leasing it out. It's cut into private plots or is used uniquely by the local residents, grouped together by owners who've set themselves up in syndicates. Fro me it's a bottle of ink.
For you, it means it's the only part of the Trans Aq' route where the forest isn't split up by the orthogonal fire breaks forming 500m sided squares. The tracks are interlaced, sinuous and numerous. Without a compass or ribbon markers you get lost within 5 minutes. It's also not a very sandy forest because not many vehicles drive through it.
Finally, because the forest isn't exploited for its wood, some of the pine trees are 150 years old or more, whereas over the rest of the itinerary they don't go beyond 50 or 60 years.
There, you know practically everything...
A pine tree over 150 years old. The slim model next to it is my faithful friend Didier.
Cleaning operation on the route: Didier is always there when there's dirty work to be done!
Stage 5
After have gone round the Centre d'Essai des Landes (Landes military testing centre) by bus (100 km detour) you'll be at the start of the 5th stage, at Mimizan beach. It will only be a few short hours after the finish of the night run...
It'll be high tide so you won't see the sea. A typical forest run in the Landes forest.
26 km (23 last year) and 334 m positive elevation (292 m last year). A stage very, very hilly with practically no sand, except between the 18th and 20th km (but I'm not saying anything...).
This stage is 90% new, I have to think about our "starred" runners!
You'll have hot showers at the finish line, in the Saint Julien en Born campsite, the first time since Montalivet...
Tomorrow I'll tell you about stage 6.
Small Landes pond (photo taken with a mobile phone, in rain, sorry...)
Landes forest (same comments...)
Stage 6
For this last stage, you'll have to keep running (or walking) for another 26.6 km (27.1 km last year) with 306 m elevation (175 m last year).
The itinerary is new for 80% of it, the "Courant de Contis" (river) crossing will be taken via a bridge never before used by the Trans Aq, a footbridge in the marches (see photo).
This last stage is not to be taken lightly, some tracks are really savage (covered in spiky vegetation) and some difficult passages should calm those who feel like they're flying towards the final finish line.
This stage will still, however, be quicker, because backpacks will be practically empty, the itinerary practically sand-free, except at the end on the beach. High tide, but very weak coefficient.
The final finish line is at Saint Girons beach, the same as last year, I sincerely hope that you will be many to receive your stars (and medals)...
In total the 2010 Trans Aq' will cover 217 km (216 km the last two years) but a few minor changes are still to be made on the first two stages. I'll tell you about stage 1 changes tomorrow.
Footbridge over the "Courant de Conti" (it'll be greener in the summer!)
Will you be a starter?
To finish the Trans Aq', you have to first be a starter!
Each year, we are sorry to receive roughly 15% withdrawals. Yes, registered runners who regretfully announce, between February and March that they won't be at the start line...
This represents a good 20 runners... Usually for very good reasons.
Primarily because of injury: a chronic tendonitis that won't heal, or that comes to life because of too sudden, too intense training programmes, a difficult trail run or a race run too close to the Trans Aq' dates. Sometimes a tendonitis provoked by one of these same reasons...
Then the more serious reasons: broken limbs, tax controls, unemployment, divorce...
Some even forget to train during the winter and then realise that it's too late, the injury then becomes "diplomatic". Without talking about those who get cold feet... yes, yes I know them!
Before withdrawing, ask yourself the question: If it was the Olympic games, would I withdraw? Or would I participate anyway, so as not to miss it? Isn't the Trans Aq' a wonderful objective, something not to be missed?
So will you be a starter? Be careful then!
Chinese proverb: "Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still".
Bibs
The numbers shown against the registered runners are not the bib numbers.
As each year, many of you ask for a personal bib number, your age, or year of birth, department number, etc. We stopped giving in to your requests a long time ago, for many reasons...
The main reason is because we need to give you a number that is useful to us in order to identify you in the case of an emergency. We generally group you in "families". Female runners, overseas runners, etc.
Bib numbers will be decided in April or May.
Registrations
As you can read elsewhere, 150 competitors have confirmed their registration up to today, 26th January. If we count the pre-registered runners, we have 179 competitors. And a few others who haven't yet committed themselves but will do so "all of a sudden". This happens regularly.
How many will you be at the start line?
This is how the pack looks with the 150 registered runners at the moment:
·71 first time French, that's 47% of the registered runners against an average of 65%. This is, for the moment our first biggest lack.
·53 Trans Aq' "veterans", that's 35% of the registered runners against a usual average of 22%. It's a very good and agreeable surprise! Thank you!
·34 overseas runners, that's 23% of the registered runners, continually in progression.
·27 ladies, 18% of all registered runners against a usual 16%.
·18 runners living in the Aquitain region or originally from Aquitain, that's 12% of the registered runners against a usual 13%.
+ 11
Let's talk a little about the some of the latest 11 registered runners:
Michel Picard comes from the Touraine (centre of France) and has run a little bit everywhere, Grand Raid, 6000D, Templiers, etc. He's joining up with the "Ensemble pour Chloé" team.
Pascale Mangin (Toulon – South of France) has also finished the Diagonale des Fous in 56 hours, some 100km and also the Oman Raid stage race. The groupetto will welcome her with open arms!
Jean-Louis Lemattre*' (One Trans Aq' and one Cannonball) comes from Paris. He's participated in practically all the races, all the ultra runs for more than 30 years... A competitor at heart, he's aiming for the V3 (under 70's) victory.
Jérôme Ackermann has one foot in the Yvelines (outskirts of Paris) and the other in the region of Bordeaux. We know nothing about his achievements.
Alain Fromager (Paris) runs a 100km in 10h55 and the marathon in 3h10. If he adapts to the sandy terrain, he'll have a good ranking in June.
Chris Hamerlinck*, will come from Holland for the third time. He missed his 2nd star by very little in 2007 after injury during the 5th stage... There's an air of revenge here...
For the Collins family, lets have Dad and his two sons! Yes, Chris Collins** who lives in London, is coming to celebrate his 60th birthday with his two sons. What a great experience! Lot of souvenirs ahead of him!
Jérôme Merlier* (Doubs - East of France on the Swiss border). One star (for his wife too) and revenge in perspective for a 2nd star this year, true or not Jérôme? I really appreciate your help for marking up the itinerary, but your place is in the pack!
Yannick Blanc comes from Dakar where he works. Motivated, he's decided to finish the Trans Aq' from his 1m90 and 90kg. He's run 5 marathons. Another candidate for the groupetto. They're going to be quite a few in the groupetto this year, there's going to be a lot of atmosphere.
Medical records
we sent you a medical file via e-mail. If you haven't received it, please let us know.
This file is to be completed and returned to us before the 1st of May.
Thanks
The Trans Aq' Story: TA 2008
169 competitors were at the start line of this 4th edition, a new record. Nearly a third of the pack didn't speak French and four continents were represented.
261 km and 2300 m elevation on offer. But the biggest worry was the weather. The forecast was very pessimistic, we were going straight towards a "wet" edition.
A heavy shower drowned the bivouac on the Saturday before the race start, just to give us a taste of what was forecast to follow. In reality, a part from a few drops at the start and a small shower that caught the back of the pack on the first day, the Trans Aq managed to dodge the rain. A miracle.
So this year, again, we avoided a heat wave and very dry, soft sand. The average speeds of the winners was, therefore, as high as in 2007 (11 km/h) and the abandons rate as low (8%).
First stage:
30 km hilly run on the menu (500 m elevation between the 10th and 28th kilometre) and the rain threatened. The first kilometres were run on the beach in the spray and mist. The wind-breakers were out. But in the forest it was warm and humid, sweat was running! A good opportunity for orienteering presented itself (allowed in 2008), and then another and Dominique Sikora*** in great form turned the heads of the leaders and was a menace to them right up to the finish line. Walter Jeannin beat Thierry Arnier by only 4 seconds and Jérôme Bézériat by 17 seconds. No one knew at the time, but it was at this moment that the final victory was played...
Edith doyen ran a lone race and won it by 18 minutes over the Austrian Irina Guarghias who was here to celebrate her 40th birthday.
The "Cutiots", led by Thierry Arnier*, Siko*** and Laurent Pujol* also took the team lead (3 minutes).
A rain shower caught the rear guard at the end of the stage. No abandons this day but 4 competitors will be withdrawn, they got in more than an hour later than the others and particularly more than 30 minutes after the cut off time.
A heavy shower hit the camp just at the end of the stage and everyone took shelter in their tents...
Second stage:
A classic now between the "Gracieuse" and the "Lion" (Lacanau) but each year with a few variations. 34 km and 400 m elevation within the first 10 km.
The end of the stage was run on the beach, with a good dune to climb up and then down again just at the finish line. Walter Jeannin came in ahead again, but this time with Jérôme Béréziat. They have only 19 seconds advance on Manuel Berthelot.
Edith Doyen has, this time, an 8 minute advance on Irina, but the difference has been made.
The Team Sohbi Rennes from Brittany left the Cutiots 12 minutes behind and the fight is going to be interesting. The victories by different age groups is very competitive and each day sees a new victor. Still no rain on this stage, not too hot, not too cold, practically a holiday for the pack, the proof being no abandons for this day. A big "first" for a second stage!
Third stage:
58 km for this stage, the last 12 km on the beach and rain threatening all day. Heavy storms fell only a few kilometres away, but not a drop over the race, the miracle continues.
Walter Jeannin and Jérôme Béréziat decided to stay together, and this right up to Vieux Boucau. Dominique Sikora*** keeps his form and finishes third for this stage.
Edith Doyen opens up a 36 minute difference between her and Carole Diest. For the teams it's a chassé-croisé, the Cutiots gain 20 minutes over the Bretons from Rennes and take a lead of 9 minutes.
Only one abandon on this 58 km stage, it's very surprising!
The Cap-Ferret bivouac will be spared from the bad weather, no wind, no rain, whereas in Arcachon (2 km away) there is flooding... A runner found some chanterelle mushrooms on the route, another collected some shellfish, that's self-sufficiency! To put it briefly, the "holidays" continue, but the pack is beginning to tire!
Fourth stage:
No one's laughing, 37 km by night, it's not easy. Especially with 700 km elevation, a real slide between the ferns. The Dune du Pyla passage will be less fiery than usual (see photos on the web page photos 2008) but still as emotional...
The "Dupont" Jeannin-Béréziat have become inseparable and win again, this time in front of Xavier Mézière by 1 minute. Edith keeps ahead on this stage and Irina finishes 12 minutes behind her. The Cutiots (there are 5 members) add 10 minutes to their advance on the Bretons from Rennes who are only 3 and so have no room for error, because it the time of the 3rd member that counts. 4 runners will abandon during this stage, proof that it's not easy to run 37 km at night following a stage of 58 km. The British runner Mark Plant, suffering from hypothermia at the end of the Dune du Pyla (fresh winds after the humidity of the forest) will be withdrawn by the medics.
Fifth stage:
36 km and 377 m elevation after 2 hours of sleeping rough. The threatened rain moves on and after a surprising morning fog, temperatures mount to 27°C.
It's a difficult stage, 100% forest and finishes with never-ending roller coasters. The finish line seems always to be behind the next hill, but no...
Walter and Jérôme have signed a pact of non aggression and finish together. They would like to be ranked ex-aequo at Vieux Boucau, but the 17 seconds that separate them since day one are still there!
Manuel Berthelot finishes 4 minutes later and Siko*** keeps a hold on the podium that is looming ahead!
Edith Doyen has 8 minutes advance on Carole Diest who is slowly nibbling away the distance that separates her from Irina Guarghias and is only 6 minutes away.
The Bretons go for it and take the lead, because the 3rd Cutiot finishes at 27 minutes! Unless there's a miracle, the game is over!
Another three painful abandons, the South African Dirk Staal, our senior runner René Dauteribes* and the Irish runner Mc Cormick victim of sever hypoglycaemia. This fifth stage is often fatal for the runners that don't eat at the end of the night run or who are injured.
Sixth stage:
Just a formality, or nearly! 20 km with 5 km roller coasters and 15 km on the beach, to finish. No one ever abandons the last stage... They'll be 155 at the final finish line.
Manuel Berthelot has wings and will take his first victory ahead of our two hand in hand companions. Walter Jeannin* has won... Siko**** finishes the race with no faults and takes the podium.
Edith Doyen* wins her sixth consecutive stage, something that no one has ever accomplished on the Trans Aq' with the exception of Lucile Belotti* in 2005. On the other hand, Carole Diest* catches up 11 minutes on Irina* and takes second place for only a 5 minute difference!
The Bretons from Rennes don't lose their luck and triumph at Vieux Boucau. (PS, they're back in 2010! - Xavier Mézière*, Manuel Berthelot*, Brice Mathis*).
Jérôme Béréziat* finishes second, but first under 40's age group, because Walter is V1 (under 50's).
Under 60's, a long battle between Joël Buchot and Jean-Marie Bahougne**** who finish in that order. Under 70's Francis Delaby*** battled with Bernard Petit* who pinched 2 stages from him!
Carole Diest is first V1 under 50's, Christine Dadoun wins the under 60's with 3 stage victories and Hélène Prepin V3 under 70's wins with 6 victories.
The prize giving takes place on the beach, very happy atmosphere and relaxed as always. And the rain left us alone right up to the end!
Stage victories:
Walter Jeannin* 5 of which 4 ex æquo
Jérôme Béréziat* 4 ex æquo
Manuel Berthelot* 1
Edith Doyen* 6
Stage victories by age category
Men's Senior (under 40's):
Jérôme Béréziat* 5
Manuel Berthelot* 1
V1 (Men under 50's)
Walter Jeannin* 6
V2 (Men under 60's)
Joël Buchot* 4
Jean-Marie Bahougne**** 2 ( 11 in total : 5 for V1 in 2005 and 4 for V2 in 2007)
V3 (Men under 70's)
Francis Delaby*** 4
Bernard Petit* 2
Senior ladies (under 40's)
Edith Doyen* 6
V1 (Ladies under 50's):
Carole Diest* 3
Irina Guarghias* 3
V2 (Ladies under 60's)
Christine Dadoun* 3
Linda Wilson* 3
V3 (Ladies under 70's)
Hélène Prépin** 6
The Trans Aq' Story: TA 2007
Here's the third instalment of the Trans Aq' Story.
For this third edition, the number of competitors was a little lower. But the pack was still very cosmopolitan and five continents were represented.
223 km and 2550 m elevation were awaiting the competitors. It's the weather that can make this event difficult and this year saw clement weather, thankfully! No really high temperatures, and if you check out the photos (web page photos 2007) you'll see the pack always running in maritime mists, especially the first day. And the ground conditions were, therefore, less dry, the sand less deep. Resulting in less abandons for the history of the Trans Aq' ( 7% instead of the 20% the previous years). The average speed was higher, 11 km/h for the leaders instead of the less than 10 km/h in 2005 and 2006...
First stage: Start line at Pin Sec, for the first time. 27.7 km very hilly and winding with a few possibilities for orientation. Benoît Laval* confided to me that not being in the best of form and as the opposition was of a very high level he decided give out some "disinformation". That is taking some orienteering short-cuts (still authorised in 2007) even where it wasn't necessary. Nervous, his adversaries didn't want to risk outdistancing him, afraid that he would suddenly turn up in front of them a little further on... From the first day, he successfully managed to eliminate in this way 2 rivals, only Jacques David (first ex æquo) and Laurent Martin* ranking only a few seconds behind were able to keep up the pace for "the win". On the ladies side Alexandra Rousset* went at it alone at the head of the race... the same for Anne Wade V1 (under 50's age group), Gislaine Ballans V2 (under 60's). To state it simply, except for the absolute victory, and the team rankings, all the other age category rankings were little battled for. It's not the most important part of the Trans Aq', because all finishers "are winners"...
Second stage: After a bivouac, for the first time along the Hourtin lakeside, in the magical place called la Gracieuse, the pack set out for the second stage, the longest in the history of the Trans Aq': 44 km to reach Lacanau, with quite a bit of relief, 630 m. With the idea of taking it easy in view of the next day's "long" stage! Benoît Laval* was still playing cat and mouse with his rivals: Laurent Martin* got ahead at the end of the stage but Benoît* and Jacques suddenly appeared in front of him within view of the finish line. The Montrail team picked up 6 of the 7 minutes that they lost to "Lous Cutiots" the previous day!
At the back of the pack, the "groupetto", were going well and thanks to the weather conditions and a good general running level, practically everyone finished well within the cut-off times.
Third stage: It's d-day for the "win"... 54 km programmed and quite a bit of sand, even if it is a bit more firm than usual. Benoît Laval* tried some orienteering, got lost leaving his rivals in the lead, but he didn't know this... Then, like a bat out of hell he managed to catch them up at 17 km from the finish line, in the "roller coasters" that became famous during this stage. He's worn out but hides it well and starts his attack, catching up 1 minute from Jacques David and Christophe Martin. This minute he'll keep right up to the finish. Laurent Martin* was having an "off" day and lost nearly 30 minutes.
It the "windshield wiper" day (knee tendon injury) and many runners are badly affected by this injury that is frequent on the Trans Aq' (because of the sand). Many will, however, get to Vieux Boucau, walking, limping, suffering... Amongst them, Amaury Delerue, and it was his birthday (and a party!) today! He'd given us for safe keeping a couple of dozen bottles of Champagne, kept cool in the caterers lorry. He generously offered the Champagne to all the competitors at the Cap Ferret bivouac. The Japanese runner Mie Minezawa couldn't believe her eyes when she arrived, exhausted, the last one in but within the time barrier: Amaury was waiting at the finish line with a glass!
Fourth stage: the weather was getting better each day and it was under a super sunset that the pack set off, not from the top of the Dune as in the two previous years, but from the Mouleau (Arcachon). 33.7 km and 607 m of elevation, it will be a difficult stage, at night. Especially this particular night, an idiot took down all the ribbon markers over 2 km of the itinerary, in the middle of an inextricable forest, at midnight! A moment of panic in the pack but the organisation managed to re-ribbon on the spot and so only about 30 competitors suffered. 21 runners re-grouped and met up with the finish line using their compasses, Siko** was a member of this party, compass in hand. A fixed time was given to these runners.
In the lead, Benoît doesn't need any ribboning, the road book is enough and he'll take his rivals with him. This time Laurent Martin* stays with him right to the end and gains his first stage victory. Jacques David lost 4 small minutes that will cost him a lot, because Benoît gets ahead little by little... Ivan Bertram*, 4 stars today, wins his first stage as V2 (under 60's age group). By team, it's the "Groupe Carrefour" that wins, but status quo in the general rankings.
Still very few abandons, one a day on average.
Fifth stage: the early morning mist is, after a very short, cool night! But the heat picks up fast (27°C in the afternoon) this will be a difficult day: 35 km and 304 m elevation for this fifth day.
Benoît Laval* now controls his only rival, Jacques David and lets Christophe Martin take off, each day gaining in form. He doesn't yet know that he'll be the 2008 eye opener for 24 hours racing, at national and world-wide levels...
Pierre Mialock wins his first stage victory for the under 60's age group (V2).
There will be 3 abandons and I thought for a moment that there would be more. Jean-Christophe Louis will be saved in the nick of time by a coca-cola that fell from the sky at the right moment... Dominique Mahot, (3 stars today) keeps an eye on his groupetto fold of sheep and brings in Mie Minezawa. René Dauteribes, our favourite oldest runner is hit by lumbago or some other sort of monster and finishes the stage bent in two.
Sixth stage: 30 km planned but the itinerary will be modified at the last moment and shortened to 28 km, because a track has been badly damaged by a near-by equestrian centre. So the final route ends up looking much like last year's, except that the last few kilometres on the beach are run at high tide and so in soft sand. The sun gets hotter each day, it's time that we reach Vieux Boucau! Christophe Martin still has his wings and wins this stage with a large advance on his namesake, Laurent Martin* who has been the most competitive competitor and the worst honoured: he led the 6 stages and only wins one! A group of competitors were fined by the race director, uncompromising as usual. It does nothing to shake up the general rankings but it does give a few surprises in the stage rankings: Nathalie Houriez wins the stage for the ladies, with Susan Serres* V1 and Sylvie Michon V2.
René Dauteribes at the height of his 68 years was living a nightmare at the back of the pack. Bent in half, he'll get to the end and receive a very moving tribute: all the competitors and helpers lined up in a guard of honour at the finish line.
Benoît Laval** is the big winner, Alexandra Rousset** the big winner for the ladies of this 2007 TA.
But not only them: for the ladies V1 (under 50's age group) it's Anne Wade*, Gislaine Ballans* for V2 and for the men it's Jacques David* for V1, Jean-Marie Bahougne*** for V2 (3 stars and 9 stage victories for his age group), and Michel Vassalière* for V3. By teams, Lous Cutiots got the better of the Team Montrail. Team members: D. Sikora***, L. Pujol*, C. Rozelier*, F. Nguyen*, and Nathalie Jourdan*.
During the prize giving ceremony on the beach, a storm approached and finished by bursting... The Trans Aq' "Continental Circus" managed to take refuge, just in time, in the Vieux Boucau gymnasium and the gala party lost nothing in the transfer: wild dancing right up to midnight; blisters and injuries mysteriously vanishing!
Stage Victories:
Benoît Laval** 4 of which two ex æquo (and 3 in 2006)
Christophe Martin* 2 victories
Jacques David* 2 ex æquo victories
Laurent Martin** 1 ex æquo victory
Alexandra Rousset** 5 victories (+ 1 in 2006)
Nathalie Houriez* 1 victory
Stage Victories by age category:
Men's Senior (under 40's):
Benoît Laval** 4 (+ 3 in 2006)
Christophe Martin* 2
V1M (Men under 50's):
Jacques David* 4
Laurent Martin** 2
V2M (Men under 60's):
Jean-Marie Bahougne*** 4 (and 5 V1M in 2005)
V3M (Men under 70's):
Michel Vassalière* 5
Alain Abdelmalek** 1 (+ 2 in 2006)
Sénior Ladies (under 40's)
Alexandra Rousset** 5 (+ 1 in 2006)
V1 F (Ladies under 50's):
Anne Wade* 4
Sylvie Apruzzese* 1
Susan Serres** 1
V2F (Ladies under 60's):
Gislaine Ballans* 5
Sylvie Michon* 1
The Trans Aq' Story: TA 2006
Here's the second instalment of the Trans Aq' Story.
For this second edition, there was an impressive increase in the number of participants: 152 (of which 22 ladies), from 12 countries and 3 continents! The Trans Aq' reputation had already crossed oceans! In total 31 competitors were not French and the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the bivouac was already being felt.
229 km programmed, 2560 m elevation.
The Romaine Emil Arseniu (V3) came from Bucharest by train, and then from Bordeaux on his bike via the Dune de Pyla, then boat, then bike again from Cap Ferret to Pin Sec, with all his luggage. Sleeping under the stars, during 5 nights before the race, asking us for nothing: self sufficiency (self DIY?) had already started for him! Too many runners mistake us for a travel agency and need us to care for them right up to the start...
This year again, the anti cyclone was present: 4°C the night before the start and more than 30°C during the stage!
The first stage left from Soulac and went to Pin Sec. 40 km very varied with passages through ferns and damp ground over the Médoc marshes. Only the last part was sandy. One abandon (and one non-starter the following day), but this stage marked the bodies.
Benoît Laval launched a 6-day battle with Régis Coumenges and Thierry Dehais. At the end of the stage he used the only possibility for orienteering (authorised in 2006) to lose the second position runner (Régis) who thought he was the winner and couldn't believe his eyes when he saw (cheeky) Benôit waiting for him at the finish line! Sophie Satrin laid the first stone for her future victory in the ladies rankings.
The second stage resembled that of 2005, 31 km very hilly, rough mono-track paths along the Hourtin lakeside. Superb, but just 31 km to Carcans beach. The heat wave has settled in and a competitor will need a perfusion during this stage. The Hattab sisters, from Jordan, are really not at home in the forest. With MP3 in their ears, they didn't hear the other racers yelling at them when they went the wrong way... they'll be lost for half an hour. We found them, walking in the wrong direction, full North!
The 3 leaders decide to stall for a while and finish the stage together... Alexandra Rousset takes advantage of Sophie Satrin's only mistake to win her first stage victory (but not the last). The Romaine, Emil Arseniu takes his first and only stage victory, category V3.
Saddened by the lack of responsibility of certain participants, stressed by the risks that were to be taken by the organisation the following day on a stage twice as long and worried because of the announced heat wave, Gérard (your servant) gave a briefing that was one to be remembered...
The program of the 3rd stage was 68 km and the heat wave (37°C). The toilets were frequently used this morning, I wonder why! A highly supervised stage by the race director and the medical team: the forest is so inextricable!
Quickly, at the back of the pack, things were looking bad: 3 non-starters, 10 abandons, 2 runners pulled out of the race by the director or the medics, perfusions everywhere... The runners at the back are still at the 25th km and I calculated that the leaders would arrive at the last control post at the 58th km! The last 10 km are very difficult (down onto the beach of Cap Ferret only at 1 km from the finish line). I have to take a decision, right and rapid, before an accident happens. I thought about stopping the race at the 58th km. Nothing much to make me hesitate because 5 radio messages announced runners dropping like flies all over the place. But how to manage the time-keeping ? How to get 136 competitors to the finish line? The helpers at the control post (François and Françoise Martin) are capable (because strict) of writing down the times by hand. I decided to stop the stage. We'll work out the rest somehow, safety first! By radio I informed them of my decision. François then tells me that Benoît Laval and Thierry had already been through the CP 6 minutes ago, well ahead at the 58th km... They were sorting themselves out for the Trans Aq' final finish victory! So I decided to let them continue but to stop the other runners at the 58th km anyway. I added, to all runners times, a basic time rate equal to the second leaders time over the last 10 km. The radio message goes through to the 45th km so as to warn everyone when they get there. An announcement met with relief by everyone. Many told me that they would have abandoned at the 45th or 58th km if I hadn't taken this measure...
But amongst the leaders, "Titi" Dehais was weakening and finished with difficulty. That evening 134 competitors congratulate themselves on my decision, except Thierry who was disadvantaged by this decision because of the exhaustion caused by the extra 10km...
Benoît Laval, therefore had an option on victory because Thierry turned up 21 minutes later at Cap Ferret.
Sophie Satrin also opened a distance of 40 minutes (!) between herself and her runner up, Monique Gauthier, V2 and ex-100 km French Champion.
The fourth stage, a 30 km night run with the start line on the top of the Dune du Pyla looked nothing like the previous year's itinerary. Little sand, lots of relief and ferns, ferns, ferns, a 25 km run between 2 walls of ferns taller than the runners! Benoît Laval having taken control of the general rankings lets go the victory for this stage: Régis Coumenges takes therefore his second stage victory. Sophie Satrin nails it, leaving Alexandra Rousset 23 minutes behind her! At the back, the race director has to supervise Emil Arseniu who's wearing really bad glasses dating back to the soviet era! At each crossroads, he takes the bad choice and it's lucky for him that he arrived at the finish line instead of the military base of Cazeaux! Speaking only Rumanian or Russian, it's a good bet that he wouldn't have finished the night under the stars...
Only two abandons this night and one non-starter, the V3 multiple stage winner (6 victories up to now) Holger Finkernagel*.
The 5th stage, was long after a near sleepless night: 35 km! Lots of relief and the hot sun still very present... Many weaknesses but only 3 abandons. The itinerary was difficult, particularly the famous mono-track path at the end of the ininerary, hilly with scary percentages. Everyone remembers them...
Benoît Laval continues to control the race and this time, it's the Swiss runner Pascal Lauber who benefits by taking the victory of this stage. Sophie Satrin controls it too.
The surprise by the chief was waiting for the 129 survivors: a canned drink, fruit, bread and cheese! Long live self-sufficiency!
The sixth stage was harder than the previous year: still a long end of stage run on the beach (11 km), but a hilly 14 km beforehand with a cool passage along the "riverside", through the Courant d'Huchet reserve. No abandons the 6th day, as always on the Trans Aq'.
With victory in his pocket, Benoît Laval lets Sylvain Delépine forge ahead (the "Big, Giant Orange") but keeps a control on Régis Coumenges now his only rival. The junior (under 30 age category) Steve Louraichi is the day's surprise: after holding back for 5 days, he lets everything go and finishes 6th for this stage!
Benoît Laval*, therefore takes the victory ahead of Régis Coumenges* and Pascal Lauber* and the "unhappy" Thierry Dehais* who comforts himself with his V1 victory.
David Jelly** takes the V2 victory and Alain Abdelmalet* the V3.
Sophie Satrin* is first lady with nearly 2 hours advance on Alexandra Rousset*.
Christine Delangle** takes the V1 victory, Monique Gauthier V2 and Ella Sarfati-Botten* the V3.
Team winners are the British runners from Ripon after a long struggle against the "Cutiots". The members of the winning team: Jelley**, Chapman*, Wright*, Wilson*, Wallace*.
Emil Arseniu* went (by train) to visit Paris, then Paris-Bucharest by bike... of course!
Veteran 1 (under 50's): Thiery Dehais* 3
Philippe Evalet** 1
Jacques Rouhier* 1
Bernard Constant*1
Veteran 2 (under 60's) David Jelley**, 5 victories this year and 1 V1 victory in 2005
Patrick Braud* 1
Veteran 3 (under 70's) Alain Abdelmalek* 2
Peter Whewell* 1
Emil Arseniu* 1
Holger Finkernagel* 1 this year and 5 in 2005
See the photos, menu "Photos / 2006".
The Trans Aq Story: TA 2005
I'm proposing a summary of the 5 first Trans Aq's; today is the first episode in the series, The Trans Aq' 2005.
62 participants "dared" to line up on the start of this new adventure, of which 8 ladies, 5 Germans, 3 Spanish and one British runner.
The total distance was 218km with an elevation of 2150m.
But this for year, just like the one that followed, it was the weather that hardened the race! The night before the race started was really freezing (6°C) and I know some that hardly slept, runners and helpers alike (true Caroline!).
With the exception of the night run, it was hot, 35/37°C practically every day. Yes we can call it a heat wave.
This year, the start was given "right at the top" of the Gironde Estuary at "la Pointe de Grave". If the weather hardened the race, it was also because the heat left the sand very dry and soft. As said Anke Molkenthin*, "it's hard because it's soft...". And then the last element that probably made this Trans Aq' the most difficult, was the length of the first stage: 48 km. This stage created the most damage, in the bodies but also in the minds of many runners. The first night, all of them were asking what exactly they'd got themselves into. A wave of "fear" was going through the bivouac.
This stage was dominated for the men by the flying ahead of Brahim Akhdar who had more than a 15 minutes advance before getting lost, and then re-finding the route but at 2.5 km from the control point. He turned back and ran past the second positioned runner; in spite of the extra 5 km (at least) he finished 2nd for this stage, 7 minutes behind the winner, Stephan Vernay*.
For the ladies, Lucile Belotti* and Marie-Anne Soulier* ran the race "pacing each other" and finished together.
The second stage was short but good (31 km) with plenty of relief and mono-trace paths. Brahim stayed with Stéphan* so as not to get lost, but, finding the pace too slow he flew off at the half way mark and won with an advance of 12'41, the second biggest difference in the history of the Trans Aq' and only over 15 km... Lucile Belotti* and Marie-Anne Soulier* still paced each other and finished again together.
In two stages more than 10% of the pack went home...
The third stage, 61 km with extremely hot weather continuing to decimate the pack.
The hardest was over but tiredness and injuries accumulated over the past 3 days continued to skim off the pack more and more each day.
Brahim Akhdar* flew off immediately. With a seriously injured knee (contracted before the first stage), he decided to gain as much advance as possible, and then manage this advance to win, Inch' Allah! Unfortunately his advance suddenly melted away and Stéphan Vernay* and Thierry Burgaud* joined him around the 30 km mark before he abandoned, the pain was too great. Stéphan and Thierry got to Cap Ferret without gaining any ground, one or the other. But Lucile Belotti* played the "go for it all" and came in well ahead of Marie-Anne Soulier*.
The 4th stage, at night, with a start line on the top of the Dune du Pyla was the shortest night run in Trans Aq' history (30 km) but not less stressful for the organisation, with, amongst others, the German Manfred Fellner* victim of a "brain go-slow" who forgot to leave the beach and ran about 10 km before waking up and turning around, with 20 km extra to his counter. The sun was nearly up by the time he got to Biscarrosse but he was allowed to continue the event seeing as how he'd finished 50 km instead of 30, without ever failing and without getting lost in the forest despite the light sticks being nearly out.
Stéphan Verney* was going for a third stage victory (very important for the general ranking) 2 minutes only ahead of T. Burgaud* and Pascal Martin* (future winner of the "Intégral de Riquet 2009!) but 20 minutes ahead of the 4th runner.
Stage 5 was a typical "roller coaster" stage, with a ford to cross (at Contis beach). Thierry Burgaud* dared a bit of orienteering (authorised at the time) by reaching the beach in front of his adversaries and won, to his great surprise and especially his great joy.
Lucile Belotti* won a fourth stage.
Stage 6, very short (17 km) was not the easiest because it was still very hot, the runners were "cooked" and this stage was run entirely on the beach, with another ford to cross at Moliets before arriving at Vieux Boucau.
The victor, Stéphan Verney* put a point of honour on winning the pompom (a private joke) for the last day too, and with little distance ahead of T. Burgaud* very combative. The same for Lucile Belotti* who won the general ranking and the last stage. A stage marked by this photo of Marie-Anne Soulier* crossing the ford on the shoulders of her companion! She won the V1 category for this Trans Aq'. Jean-Marie Bahougne**** won the V1 category, René Heintz* V2 and Holger Finkernagel* V3.
For the teams, a complete feminine team (Interflora) led during 5 days (Christine Delangle**, Marine Volay*, and Isabelle Grégoire*) before being pipped at the post by the Spanish male team, Flower Power (A.Abad Albello- S.Diez san José- JA Oliviera Rodriguez).
Yes, yes, Dominique Sikora*****, 5 stars today, was there for his first star!
Stage victories:
Stephan Vernay* (Senior) 4 victories, of which 2 ex æquo.
Thierry Burgaud* (Senior) 2 victories, of which 1 ex æquo.
Lucile Belotti* (Senior) 6 victories, of which 2 ex æquo.
Marie-Anne Soulier* (V1) 2 victories ex-aequo.
Stage victories by age category:
Male Seniors (see above)
Male V1 Jean-Marie Bahougne* 5 victories V1
David Jelley* 1 victory V1
Male V2 René Heintz* 4 victories V2
Patrick Coste* 1 victory V2
Daniel Friedmann* 1 victory V2
You can see the Trans Aq' 2005 photos in our archives (menu to the left of the screen – Photos – Trans Aq' 2005)
The Trans Aq' is tiring for the runners but for the organisers too, the proof, Gérard at Vieux Boucau for the final finish of the first Trans Aq':
Comprehensive Method
The frequentation of our website has progressed regularly over the last 5 years. You're a little more than 200 different visitors each day, and 1900 different visitors each month. Equally increasing for the overseas visitors.
The most read pages are on the forum, the registrations and the news, in this order.
The less read pages are those of the Rules and Regulations and the FAQ...
This probably has a link with the fact that we receive each day at least 15 questions (telephone or email) where the answer can be found in the less read pages...
We're pointing at no one in particular, but perhaps you recognise yourselves?
It's not a problem at this time of the year, but from April/March, we'll not answer, because we won't have enough time.
Just for the story, last year a participant arrived at the start line without knowing that the race was under alimentary self-sufficiency...
Ah! The comprehensive reading method wrecks havoc!
+7
Seven new registrations in the last few days:
Emmanuel Le Meur (Charente Maritime – West coast), motivated, he signed on for the Trans Aq' without having run his first marathon. Now it's done though at La Rochelle in 4h20. He'll be a member of the "Courir le Monde" team.
Patrick Aragon (Gironde) is also from Cap Ferret. One MDS in 2002, a UTMB in 2006 between other things makes him a Trans Aquitainian, no problem...
Claudio Michel*, comes from Switzerland. He was here in 2008, and does us the honour of coming back this year, always with a smile!
Pascal Le Bris (Gironde) says modestly that he's just an amateur (like 100% of you all). But with a few marathons and a "Diagonal des fous" to his name though. A good "customer" for the groupetto?
Arnaud Legrand (Isère – Eastern France) announces a Mont Blanc marathon and the Mont Revard. He'll be ready, therefore, for the winners shirt at the top of the Dune du Pyla!
Guy Mardoc (Hérault – Southern France) has been around a lot, many stage races, all the big trail runs. All that was missing from his list was the Trans Aq'!
Anne-Paule Ferrer (Hauts de Seine – West of Paris) has decided to celebrate her birthday at Cap Ferret, with her husband, who is already registered and with all the rest of you at the same time. The sea breeze should help her to blow out the candles! Two Templiers and one Saintélyon with her hubby will now be enriched by a Trans Aq'. What a great program with some great souvenirs in store for her!
Registrations
Up until 15th December.
As you can read on the "Entry list" page we are 166 of which 134 confirmed registrations. Registrations have calmed down since the start of the month, but that's logical because it corresponds to the change in price.
The next speed-up will happen when we approach the 200 mark. When? Mystery! It depends on you!
Statistics:
31 women registered, it's 18.9% of total registrations; a normal average is 16%
42 overseas runners (of which 20 British), it's 25.6% of total registrations (normally 20%)
19 Aquitainians, 11% of total registrations (normally 13%)
56 recidivists, with or without stars, 34% of total registrations (normally 22%)
74 French newcomers, 45% of total registrations (normally 65%)
So it's this last category that should logically fill up. Unless the "recidivists" take up the places that are left?
Dominique Sikora***** fills up practically by himself all of the categories: 5 times a recidivist, Aquitainian (or so he'd like to make us think), French (with a name like that!), but he's a man (a real one, despite the buff worn as a hair band!). And we love him!!!
+29
What a lot of new registrations! 29 to be exact... You could have forced yourselves a little! 30 seems a better number, well, never mind...
Valérie Portrat** (Lyon, Lyon with a "y" it's not a Leo the lion zodiac star sign! What? Oh, really! I'm told that she's also a Leo...). Anyway she does have 2 stars and a fork (helper in 2009). She's part of our "best" furniture.
Yvan Mahé comes from Finistère in Brittany, 3h30 for a marathon, 10h45 for a 100km, 160km in 24 hours and a few 45/45km trail runs. That should "be enough", posing no problems. The Trans Aq' is always a success for the Breton's.
Sébastien Bousquet (Hérault – South of France) is a Tri-athlete but also a trail specialist as shown by his 77th position in the Templiers race this year. Someone to watch out for next June.
Sébastien Domise (North of France) is a regular marathon runner (3h38) and has run a few trails. The Trans Aq' is within his grasp, in the middle of the pack or better, it their suited together.
Victor Carvalho (Portuguese, but living North of Paris) is a good 45/60km trail runner. His abandon during last years' Trans Aq' was just a little hiccup but he'll be back for revenge, surrounded by his Team Domont teammates.
Gérard Hardy* (Oise, North of Paris) is an adventurer. He knows all the longest, most difficult trail runs! The Trans Aq' too as shown by his star. To put it briefly, he's great, like all the Gérard's!
Dominique Bonnay (Var – South of France) is too modest, but he know the trail world well too. The Trans Aq' is waiting for him open armed!
Hamza Bellili (Oise – North of Paris) will reinforce the Team Domont. Many trail runs and the 2009 MSD makes him a perfect Transaquitainian!
Dominique Mahot*** is a forest specialist. It's his job to start with (the forest), and for the past 3 years he's spent a week in June in the Aquitain coastal forest. A master in the groupetto, if you lose the North or your stopwatch, then stick with him, you'll cross the finish line within the time limits.
Patrice Cervera (-Lyon - Eastern/central France) has 4 Saintélyon's to his name and a "Coursière" of 103km so he's without a doubt a future Trans Aq' finisher.
Frédéric Caumeil (Carcasonne – South of France) Have you heard the story about Honolulu and Carcassonne? No? Ok that'll be for another time (phew, I know that's going to be a hard one to translate... Sue). Frédéric runs a 3h15 marathon and has also clocked up a few trail runs, this should keep him in the top half of the rankings next June.
Frédéric Barbié (Aude – South of France) is a friend of Fred Caumeil (unless it's Fred who's the friend of Fred) has an honours list as long as... the Trans Aq'. From the MDS to the UTMB via all the others, Grand Raid, Templiers, etc. Briefly a star will be born.
Patrick Minaire (Haute-Garonne – Southwest France) has no star but will in 2010. Back with a vengeance he's coming with reinforcements: the team AFUM Team Auterive.
Jean-Louis Nardin (Haute-Garonne – Southwest France) has given us no info, it's a shame, it means I can't write any old s... .
Benoît Sentost (Haute-Garonne – Southwest France) is a "serious customer"! 51st in the Diagonale des Fous, 21st in the GRP. To follow, if you can...
Stéphane Levielle (Somme – North of France) will be the mainstay of the team "Ensemble pour Chloé", already talked about.
Patrice kréa** "creates havoc" wherever he goes, but we love him! Not true Patrick? Two stars picked up during the first editions of the Trans Aq' make him one of the characters of the TA.
Pascal Gasqueton comes from Cap-Ferret and will also go through Cap-Ferret. We'll have to lock him into his bivouac tent to prevent him from trying to go home to sleep!! An under 4 hours marathon runner and a specialist of local races, the Trans Aq' was a temptation and he's going for it! Well done!
Emmanuel Lassus (Paris) announces an Ecotrail in 10h50 and a 6000D in 10h30. That should give a Trans Aq' of a little over 25 hours and a good position in the rankings!
Valérie Lacarrière (Var – South of France) gives no honours list, the minx! Frightened that I'll write some nonsense? Modest? Google tells us that during a Raidlight training course, Alexandra said of her that she was full of talent. To be kept an eye on, then...
Jean-Louis Maache (Ain – Eastern edge of France) announces "MSD, Desert Cup, Mauritainia". He'll have to add "The Trans Aq'" to his visiting card, won't you Jean-Louis! And you'll have to run too. (Sorry everyone, yet another GC play on words that won't translate... I knew he'd put one in here somewhere! – Maache sounds a bit like march when pronounce).
Nicolas Corrihons (St. Sauveur, Gironde, just a stone's throw from me...) announces a victory during the first edition of the Raid du Nord – Alsace (Northeastern France) in 2001. Veni, vidi, vici. If he does the same in June...
Didier Justel (Tours – Central France) is an Iron Man… and a 3h30 marathon runner. The Trans Aq' will be easy for him, he can even swim across the Arcachon Bay, just to relax! As for the bike, in sand...
Sylvie Leteyre (Haute Vienne – Western-central France) says she hasn't got a "big" honours list. Doesn't matter, on the Trans Aq' there are no "little runners", you find that out really quickly, Sylvie, you're all treated on the same equal footing (brotherhood...).
Christian Lemeur (Eure-et-Loir – Central France) joins Pascal Spaur in the "Maratouriste de Dreux" team. A specialist of mountain Ultra trails (UTMB in 40h), he's a "customer" for the V3 podium or at least for the runners up shirt!
Didier Marie (Eure – Normandy) also a member of the "Maratouriste de Dreux" team is an adventurer: MDS, Réunion, Trolls, UTMB. So, no problem for the Trans Aq'...
Joël Plat (Essonne – South of Paris) tells us how happy he is to have run a Trans Aq'. His full honours list predicts a second star, in fun and good humour.
Caroline Caumon* (Paris) is coming back this year and bringing the "Vamps" team with her, just to spice up the bivouac a bit. Oh yes Caroline! She's also and above all a finisher of the "petite trotte à Léon in 2009".
Martine Duparc (Essonne – South of Paris) gives no honours list but will be a perfect "Vamp" without a doubt!
So, who's next?
+22
Twenty-two confirmed registrations this week!
Bern Debus (Germany) is the 5th member of the "MDS 2008 Tent 70" team. 80 marathons and one MDS to his name, he should be able to do the Trans Aq' even reading while he runs...
Alain Carette (Belgium) will have no difficulty getting to the end of the Trans Aq'/ 180km in 4 days in Poland, the Verdon Trail, l'Oisan, etc. There will be at least 2 Belgians this year, so much the better!
Thierry Zaghet** (Nievre – Centre-East of France) will again be part of the Cutiots team. His 2nd place last year must have opened his eyes, he'll be in the running for winning this year. A discrete and kind runner, he has exactly the profile of the champion that we appreciate!
Michel Laporte**** (yes, 4 stars) often gives himself the role of Saint Bernard in the race: he helps those who are in need, to cross the day's finish line. He doesn't hesitate to stay with them at the risk of putting himself outside of the cut off time. By the way, Michel, I can't remember if I "returned" the 20 minutes that you took to take care of Sue in the roller coasters? Yes, I know, you don't care... Thanks Michel, for that and everything else.(Yes, my guardian angel – Sue)
David Brousse (Toulouse – Southwest France) should also get through the TA obstacles: Templiers, Citadelles and the Marensin, 2-stage trail organised by our friend Gérard in the Landes...
Patrick Valot* (Seine et Marne – department East of Paris) one star and a half… yes, the second Trans Aq' isn't always as easy as the first! So it's a good reason to come back this year, isn't it? This time he's going to do it "his eyes shut" (not very practical for running...) (See, Gérard, we got round that one OK!).
Pascal Tesnière (Seine Maritime – Normandy) is the organiser of the great "Trail de la Pointe de Caux" (...pène). He has 2 forks (twice a helper on the Trans Aq') and a half star... He can't do the same as everyone else! The proof, he's going to participate in a Transat (not Trans Aq' but Transat) by rowing!!! He's in a photo in our "Photos" page, "Divers", photo N°58, a funny photo (he's climbing the Dune du Pyla on hands and knees, road book in his mouth). Yep, nothing like the others, and it's a good thing! He'll be a member of the "ti rayons" team.
Clara Baechler* (Essonne – South of Paris) will be the "road (track) leader" for the "Ti rayons" team. It's the name of an association dedicated to helping disadvantaged children in Mauritius. Generous, discrete, Clare is an experienced runner; she participates in any stage race that she finds. She'll be a great coordinator for the groupetto! (group forming naturally over each stage and made up of runners whose only goal is to finish, if possible in fun and good humour).
Patrick Grandin* (Essonne – South of Paris) will also be a member of the Ti rayons team with Clara. He's a strong runner, takes part in all Trail runs and finished in 17th position in the 2009 "Trail Tour", unofficial French championship for the discipline.
Emmanuel Cholou* (Gironde – our region) is also an experience trail runner. One Cannonball and one Trans Aq' make him a specialist of the Aquitaine coastline. He's an (identified) UFO.
Marie-Laure Lagarde (Bordeaux). We know nothing about her. Google gives no information either. So, as would say Coluche (French stand-up comic - deceased), when you don't know, you shut up! OK I'll shut up...
Hakim Méziane* (Val d'Oise – North of Paris) will be the captain of Team Domont. A training course with us last year (NavSat champion), the MDS and the 3rd place in la Trans Aq'. Excuse me but he's also a big champion: injured this year, he's still decided to come back, even if it means being last in the pack rankings, just to be with us. Well done!
Marc Simoni* (Val d'Oise – North of Paris) Team Domont too, training course too, NavSat champion too (...) and a big champion himself too, but also a little bit less leg power, a lot more tongue power; what a joker! His only fault: He's Corsican! (Damn, I'm going to have all the Corsicans attacking me!)
Armando Lopes Costa (Seine et Marne – department East of Paris) also has half a star (but unlike Pascal, no fork...). He tells me that his motivation to finish this year is stronger than his deception of last year. Armando, OK for all that you've asked of me, but this time I'll not offer you my picnic lunch in the forest of the 3rd stage !
Caroline Kraemer (Colmar – Eastern France) is a contestant for the "suicide candidates" No, only joking, she's part of the novice runners who impress me with their willpower! Specialist of synchronised swimming, she should melt into the groupetto's to keep her head above water. She'll find there all the support necessary to finish. Generous, she's running for the Association Espoir (Hope) who " fight against poverty but not the poor".
Denis Chadourne** (Dordogne – Southwest France) two and a half stars, is a loyal amongst loyal, devoted fan of the Trans Aq', in good form or not, he's at the start line "so as not to miss it"!
Sylvie Michon* (Bordeaux), a star and a half, gives us the pleasure of coming back after a year without TA. Member of the "Extraordinary Three" team what more can be said! Ah ! Yes she's an IMB'ist... That says it all!
Philippe Deboeuf (Niort – Western France). We know nothing about him. So I'll say nothing. You'll notice that I only say rubbish when I know those concerned? So do your best to not know me, otherwise...
Laurence Ferret (Orne – Northwest France) is also a motivated novice (but enlightened) as seen above. A marathon in 4h05, 30km trails, hiking the GR20. In my opinion you'll have no problems if you don't try to do too much at the start and if you then melt into the groupetto...
Frédéric Ferrer (...) tells me "I've a non-Trans Aq' for 2009 to my name and a strong desire to delete this victory...". Yes a half star always stirs up the willpower for revenge. Know that all those who abandon, get to the finish line the following year. A question of motivation.
Tommy Boss (Germany) will also be a member of the MDS 2008 Tent 70 team. A desert specialist (MDS, Gobi, Atakama), we will only give him half a bottle of water at the aid stations...
Franck Rose (Germany). We know nothing about him. (And what Gérard wrote in French is yet again untranslatable!).
So, that's it...........................
+10
Ten confirmed registrations this week, of which 6 Girondins (from the Bordeaux area):
In the Vimeney (Gironde) family, I'm asking for the father and son! Precocious son... after having following the Athletics school Guillaume, at 24 years, has already finished a dozen marathons not to mention the CCC!
Michel, the dad runs a marathon in 3h17 but this is going to be his big starter in ultra trails. It must be great to run the Trans Aq' in family mode, rich moments to share later...
Virginie Klotz* (Toulouse) is back to see us. A Trans Aq' training course, a Trans Aq', an MDS, she's is now an adventurer - no fear, no blame! Is that right Virginie?
Philippe Barat, from Gironde also, is a marathon runner. It's Virginie who's dragging him to the Trans Aq'! Hard lines or good thing for him?
Bruno Gaston (Gironde) is very acquainted with short trail runs but more particularly the Médoc marathon. It's normal he lives in Pauillac. So Bruno what will you be disguised as for the Trans Aq'? You have taken into account that there's no wine at the aid stations haven't you?
Frédéric Dupart (Gironde) announces 3h44 for a marathon and a 4-day stage race. "So all should go well" so no problem for the TA!
Christophe Rué* (Gironde) finished the last Trans Aq'. I think he liked it... the proof, he's back! We like him too!
Didier Durand (Gironde) is an ex handball player. He started running 5 years ago and has already finished the Templiers and ran the last Nice-Cannes marathon in 3h30... The Trans Aq' is his next objective.
Stéphane Gioria (Vendée – West central France) is an experienced ultra trail runner: many 100km races and the Morbihan this year. The Trans Aq' will not be a problem for him.
Victoria Freer (GB) finished the 2009 MDS. So she must know how to swim and play cards... Welcome Vicky!
Five
Another five registrations:
Isabelle Michalak, another French person living in Luxemburg! Started in 2004, Mont Blanc Marathon this year followed by the CCC. She's a member of the Raidlight team. No connection with the gentle rugby man of the same name...
Jean-Luc Giraudoux (department 93 – outskirts of Paris) will also be a member of the "Ensemble pour Chloé) team. He finished 164th in the 2009 MDS (So he knows how to swim!).
Pascale and Olivier* Basuyaux a couple participating together, so no one remains at home, frustrated. Olivier* came to scout out the event in 2008, to check it out before signing up his wife. He was also in the wadi of the MDS this year. Pascale runs a marathon in 3h54, sufficient to have fun on the TA.
Bailey Howard (Brit (GB)), yes, Brit like "Big Runner In Trails" (translators note – sorry about the "Brit" bit but I couldn't find something suitable to fit Gérard's play on words in French). An MDS in 2003 and the Kalahari this year, with a stroll in the Himalayas in his spare time. He should be able to survive the sands of the Aquitain and the Dune du Pyla...
Ten
Here are the pedigrees of the last 10 confirmed registrations:
Bernard Rongvaux allows traditions to be respected; each year two or three Walloons (French speaking Belgians) are with us and cheer up the bivouac with their superb accent. Bernard is a long trail runner with 2 CCC's to his name. He should be running with a team, a cosmopolitan team I've been lead to understand.
Stéphane Badie will come from the Puy de Dôme (a flat country!) He's a raider (Trail des Chaussées) and a trailer (Ultra trail du Sancy). We don't know much more…
Fred Meyer comes from Colmar (Eastern France) and that's all we know!
Xavier Mézière* from the department of Ile-et-Vilaine (heard in French this department could also sound like he's an ugly, nasty, naughty boy, generally not a nice person so it could be translated by "the good, the bad and the ugly") but he's strong. (You're right Gérard, this translator certainly did have fun trying to translate your play on words - which film is it?). Yes he's a strong runner: 4th position in the 2008 Trans Aq'! But it's going to be tough for him this year because if I've understood (by reading the forum) his nights are going to be... agitated!
Eric Barrère (Charente) a newcomer to the Trans Aq' but his participation in ultra trails (Aubrac, Templiers) will make him a very probable finisher.
Jacques Fatras* (Haute Savoie) is also one of our loyal participants, particularly on the forum under the pen name of Jacques74! Great he's back on the Trans Aq'!
Joêl Lavigne** and Marianne Lavigne* are our most loyal fans, three Trans Aq's between them but also a training course with us... They're "hard-cases", an UTMB confirms this. They live in Luxemburg but Joël is a pure Aquitainian and Marianne, Dutch. They both speak reasonable French, especially Marianne!
Olivier Goudet** (Touraine), two Trans Aq's (34th this year) and 28th in the Ecotrail. He's bringing a team with him this year (Ensemble pour Chloé) grouped around a sound cause, that of a small girls sickness.
Nadia Vétèle*, is Olivier's sister. An accomplished trailer and a Trans Aquitainian (remember her arrival when, for fun, she crawled across the final finish line next to Clodyne Yu Hing*!)
Patrick Gaillat comes from the Loire department (East-central of France). He admits (under torture) to 16 marathons with a PB of 2h58. So here's a runner who could run fast on the Trans Aq'! But only if the wild boar don't eat him on the way!
Philippe Clerton comes from the Essonne (South of Paris). Marathons, 100km but also the "Diagonale des Fous" in 57 hours makes him a sure finisher in June.
Jean-Patrick Robin from Ain (Eastern edge of France) is a solid runner, a list of victories as long as your arm and a 69th place in the last MDS. He'll be well positioned in June, perhaps in the top 10?
Christian Sabatier, hyper-active (at least on our forum, under the pseudonym of Talon pilard) lives in Bordeaux but works in Dubai! Not easy except for sand and sun training. A runner of long events (100km, 24 hours), the Trans Aq' should give him no difficulties.
Thomas Hilfiker (Swiss) is a marathon runner in 4h48. His objective is to wedge himself into the "groupetto", in order to get to the end within the time limits. A Japanese runner has already succeeded with a record of more than 5 hours!
Christian Bas. Has given us none of his running information and Google is mute about him too. So we know nothing about him apart from that he comes from the Essonne (South of Paris). So as the French comedian Coluche said "when you don't know, shut up!" So, I'll shut up?
Frédéric Bretaud (Charente – Western France) has told us that he participated in the Andorre Ultratrail and was well positioned in the Cognac marathon, the longest marathon in the world (after the Médoc).
+8
Here are the latest registration:
Corinne Brunette** 2 Trans Aq's to her name! She been living in the USA recently but will soon be back in France. She's missing the Aquitain and will be back to join the female team "Cutiotes". Welcome back Coco**!
Dominique Philippot*, comes from Paris (no one's perfect!). An important driving force of the website courirlemonde.org he's omnipresent at many events. Just for 2009 he's participated in all the events of your dreams!
Philippe Seurat comes from Saint-Chamond (Loire region). Modestly he's told us "It's my first trail adventure but I really just want to enjoy it". He's understood it all and will come to reinforce and contribute to the great atmosphere of "Groupetto" that will be substantial this year.
Karel de Bruijn* is Dutch but lives in Alsace (East of France). He speaks French (great accent, like Gidéon!) and is going to let his daughter discover the Aquitain! Kind of him isn't it?
Petra de Bruijn will probably be the youngest runner of the event. It's not an insult to think that she also will be reinforcing the "Groupetto": she admits that she has no running background. She's a cyclist (long distance) and footballer! Yep! What strength!
Stéphane Granet comes from the Puy-de Dome (South-Central France), he tells us nothing of his running career and Google tells us he's a Tri-athlete and that he runs a half marathon in 1h18, and that's no small deal!
Anton Seatter has added himself to the big group from the Island of Jersey. A marathon runner in 3h31, it's going to be his first Ultra run.
Pascale Ménard*** (Brittany) has 3 stars, just like a general! She says that she's coming for "the pleasure of being surrounded by friends and to finish, yet another time". That's the spirit that we love... welcome to the groupetto!
Note that on the list of registrations (confirmed), the above runners have been slipped into their teams with the other members, when they have one.
Five new registrations:
Like a large number of Trans Aquitainians each year, François Demars is from the North (not North of the Adour, but from the North of France). We know nothing about his running career, he likes to keep his secrets!
Martial Hurlisis* is also from the North of France. He's a part of all the "bad deals", that's to say long races or stage races (Desert Cup, Sahara Grand Raid...) but also and above all a Trans Aq'! (48th in 2007).
Pascal Spaur comes from the Eure-et-Loir (a region West of Paris). Very polyvalent (triathlon, mountain biking, orienteering, trail racing), Pascal has also taken part in one of our training courses to "test" the sand. All our students have successfully completed a Trans Aq', so all that's left is for him to collect his finishers star.
Andrew Hastie is from the North of England (near to Newcastle). He ran the 2005 MDS (312th), the CCC this year and a celebrated 160km walk in Great Britain (the LDWA Yoredale). All that is missing is a star won in Aquitain.
So, who's next?
+ 5
Five new registrations received:
New to the Trans Aq', Alain Simon comes from the Vienne department (centre-west of France). His 133rd place in the CCC this year shows that the Trans Aq' distance is right up his street.
Marielle Chabaud is will also discover the Trans Aq'. This lady from the Var department (South of France) is an experienced "mountaineer": 448th in the CCC, 333rd in the 6000D, Mont Blanc Marathon, etc. She's a serious contestant for the"spotted" shirt when she gets to the top of our dune du Pyla "mountain"!
Carglass (Autoglass in the UK), our N° 1 sponsor for the last 3 years has just registered a team, just like last year. Eric Dodin has revenge to take: he had to leave the race two years ago, on the evening of the 3rd stage for personal reasons. He's the only named member for the moment, but there's no doubt that many within Carglass are jostling for one of the 2 remaining places, there may even be replacements... (Autoglass repair or replace!)
Who's next?
Registered runners (continued)
Erwin de Quenetin*, from Brittany as his name indicates, was the ladies darling during the 2008 TA... he couldn't be at the start line for 2009 but will be there in 2010. Ladies get your encouragements ready!
Anne** and Vaughan** Wade**** (yes, 2 +2 =4!) are the lovers of the TA and are really active in promoting it in the UK. Anne will be celebrating her birthday at arrival day. It's going to be hot!
Marc Bevalet and his brother Bertand Bevalet* will be there. Bertrand, after one of our training courses, ran a really good TA in 2008. His enthusiasm convinced his brother to come and have some great TA family fun.
No need to go Google-ing to discover that Arnaud Reymond is an Iron Man. He runs as fast as he is active on our forum, he'll not be far from the podium... Go for it Arnaud!
Guy Arcicault*** has 3 stars and a fork. He couldn't run this year , he "preferred" to be a helper, but not just anywhere, it had to be the kitchen. Hey, not stupid! Once he's lost those extra kilos that he picked up, he can come and pick up his 4th star.
David Hutchinson (GB) finished 522nd in the 2004 MDS. We don't know much more about him, but it's enough to make him a Trans Aq' finisher.
Thomas Gahler (Germany) is the captain (Kapitan!) of a team named "mds2008 tent 70". That says it all!
Ralf Jacobi, was 666th, Alex Keller 637th, Joachim Cigan 427th and Bern Dubus 635th. All five will be serious candidates for a first finishers star.
We don't know anything about Massimo Passamonti. He's Italian, he lives in London and speaks French. It's not bad for a start, is it? So he's got all it takes to fill his hunger in the cosmopolitan Trans Aq' bivouac.
Corinne Peres-Lacaze registered 2 years ago. Injury by injury she's missed the start twice! This time it'll the the right time. To top it all she'll have plenty of support, because she's a team member of the Lous Cutiotes (feminine version of the Cutiots).
Franck Denaene** has 2 stars. He could have had a "Cannonballers" apostrophe but a big bout of laziness got the better of him at the halfway mark. A sure value in the middle of the Trans Aq' pack, follow his lead and you're sure to pass the final finish line. Unless this year he comes with his huskies and sleigh.
David Jelley** was part of the first Trans Aq', then came back with a strong team from his town of Ripon, in the middle of the UK. So every second year the Ripons are back and planning a team victory, as usual. And it's tea that we'll be smelling in the bivouac.
So now you know all of the registered runners who've confirmed their participation!
Will present those that follow as and when we receive their confirmations.
Who's next?
The first 10 registered runners
I'm picking up with my old habit (I think!) to write a few words concerning each runner (so watch out what you write in the "victories" space).
The first on the list (which doesn't mean bib number 1) is Thomas (Tom) Amy. He's from Jersey (Channel Islands, for those who know nothing about geography...), 3h16 for a Marathon and a few ultra runs for experience gives us a fast candidate in the Trans Aq' pack.
Scott Pitcher, also from Jersey is a high level tri-athlete, and runs a 3h16 marathon.
John Pirouet is a member of the "Team Jersey". 3h30 for a Marathon and an 80km ultra run will perhaps see him in the top half of the rankings.
Bruno Buquet, registered last year after taking part in one of our training courses, suffered knee injuries and could be here. Frustrated he transferred his full registration payment on to 2010. He has no ultra running experience, not even running, but an enormous heart full of good intentions! A finishers "star" is enough to keep him happy (like many others amongst you!)
Susan Serres*** (Sue for those who know her) no longer needs introducing. French by marriage but British by birth (and in heart?) she translates our website each day and also my briefings, when I don't manage to get her lost in my meanderings. Running out of steam, during the 3rd stage last year, prevented her from gaining her 4th star. She's back in 2010 for her revenge and for the fun, of course.
Philippe Mora** is loyal to the Trans Aq' (every second year more or less). He's as silent as he's tough. Candidate for a ranking within the first 10 or even 5. He's also lives in a back of beyond place called Caupenne (with two "n", nothing is perfect!).
Dominique Sikora***** (yes, 5 finishers stars) now lives South of the Adour river but his strong accent betrays him when he tries to make us believe that at his "home" the weather is always good. Always in good humour (when he's not throwing up...) he's a sure value for the Trans Aq', candidate for the podium if the weather is cool, but candidate for problems if the weather is as hot as in the South... of the Adour!
Paolo Casini* is our Italian correspondant. Difficult to find someone as kind as this guy! Co-organiser of the Libyan Challenge, he's talkative and happy, like an Italia. No need for a radio if you're sharing his tent.
Philippe Jost*** missed his 4th star this year because of a fracture a few days before the Trans Aq' (he hit a rickshaw or some other impossible machine... because Philippe spends more time travelling somewhere in the world than he spends working...)
Christophe Brondino, comes from the Yvelines (Paris area) but we know nothing about his running experience. Google tells us that he's a fireman and has his safety certificate! (that could be of some help to this friends!).
So there are the first 10 to register. I've perhaps not made many friends with all the nonsense I've written, but it keeps you amused, doesn't it!?
Tomorrow another wagon load of 10...
Resin pot mines
Yesterday evening, I went boar hunting… yes, yes, don't laugh!
Each year, it's the same thing! Getafix the druid is afraid of not having enough mistletoe for his magic potion, and I'm afraid that I'll not have enough resin pots* to offer you!
It's an item that is becoming more and more rare. When a whole pot is found, it's already a little miracle. Abandoned for 40 years or more, very few survive the plundering by tourists and the local population.
All that are left are crushed by the forestry machines.
All? Non! Some determined pots are buried under the moss resisting the invader. Or they're hidden in remote zones far from townies and roman patrols.
So each year, i'm off to boar hunt! Slip of the tongue? No, no! There is a link with the boar! The boar searches for roots and digs up the moss.
To go pot hunting you need a good 4x4, that goes everywhere (not the ones that look good in town), you have to go into deep forest at the time of day when the sun is low and lights up the clearings, you need a tube of insect repellent against flat flies**, and you have to have talent. Yes, talent. Little by little I've come to understand where the next ones may be found: on steep slopes, to the east of dunes in the form of burs. Where the machines can't go, where patrolmen are too lazy to go. It's there that sometimes it's possible to find 20 or 30 pots scattered over a hectare of land, those that have been uncovered by the snout of a boar. But mostly we go home empty handed.
At a rhythm like this, it's going to take a whole year to find the 200 that look like being necessary!
But the miracle of talent happens sometimes: the boar have uncovered a stock of pots, placed here 40 or 50 years ago by a far-sighted resin collector. Slotted together, one inside the other.
So, last night I went boar hunting and it was my lucky day: 215 pots and I couldn't take them all (the Lada 4x4 risked being overloaded!)
3 "mines" unearthed within 20 m of each other and an "open-air mine", lit up by a ray of sunshine...
Judge for yourselves!
*Resin pot (cutiot): Each finisher of the Trans Aq' receives one. It's an earthenware pot, remnant of an activity that died out 40 years ago. The pots were used to collect resin that ran from cuts on the trunks of pine trees. Once transformed this resin becomes turpentine or colophony. Today, it costs less to buy these products from China...
**Flat flies: "horse fly", an insect that has infested our region over the last 15 years and lives on the blood of wild game and anything that runs and sweats in the forest.
Open-air mine
Underground mine
Backpack weights
A few statistics, the same as every year.
Women:
Lightest backpack: 3.8kg (Chrystel Montant)
Average backpack weights: 5.321kg
Average weight of backpacks for those who abandoned: 6.34kg
Backpack weights of the first three winners: 4.6kg, 3.9kg, 6.26kg (!)
Average “podium” backpack weights: 4.92kg the highest average weight in the history of the Trans Aq’
Men:
Lightest backpack: 3.8kg (Stéphane Bordelais)
Average backpack weights: 5.412kg
Average weight of backpacks for those who abandoned: 6.248kg
Backpack weights of the first three winners: 5.96kg (!!), 3.9kg, 5.28kg
Average “podium” backpack weights: 5.3kg the highest weight in the history of the Trans Aq’
Tents
Flowers: the tents will be grouped three by three and there are3 places per tent. That is you’ll be grouped in “families of 9 members”. In the middle of each group of 3 tents will be a camping stove on a gas canister. Three tents around a central stove, looks a bit like a flower (with 3 petals). Each group of three tents will from now on be a “flower”.
Teams: there will be 17 teams on the start line. In order for members of these teams to remain together, we’ve placed one team in each flower. A team of 5 runners will, therefore, occupy 5 of the 9 places in a “flower”, a team of 3 members will leave 6 available places.
Individuals: runners not being members of a team will complete the places left in the flowers, the choice will be by affinity or at random.
Bivouac: these 17 flowers will be installed very close to each other, the bivouac will be very compact. We’ve numbered the flowers from 1 to17. They’ll always be installed in this order, to make it easier for you to find your space when you get in, because some of you may be a little “out”. But because numbers are not very poetic, we’ve also given each flower a name. These names are from localities in area (sometimes in dialect), places that the itinerary goes through, often in the middle of the forest.
For the anxious: Don’t ask us the favour of being placed in a specific flower, no matter what the reason. We refuse to manage that. Besides, perhaps you’ll miss out on one of those encounters that only destiny (pot luck?) allows!
Everything has always gone well each year, it’s even one of the treasures of the Trans Aq’.
The “flower” list: Patience, it’ll be published tomorrow.
Ouarzazate
Enough of complainers! Too expensive, not enough shuttles, etc. !
So, it’s decided, in 2010 the price goes from 680 to 2700 Euros. For this price, you’ll get a bonus: a week, full board in a hotel at Ouarzazate, flight included, trek on camelback in the desert included. Yes, a week of racing in Aquitaine + a week of holidays!
Shuttles included
And we’ll still make a profit.
Too expensive the Trans Aq’? Let me laugh...
Dédé
An anecdote, that only 2 or 3 are aware of:
It’s 2006, the second Trans Aq’, during the night run. Dédé is usually the volunteer that opens the race. But for the night run, I gave him the mission of “marking up” the most complicated part of the itinerary, the most hilly.
He knows the quirks of the La Teste forest like the back of his hand. But, careful and responsible, he decides to take a “guide” to help him through the darkness, just in case... On the map that I give him, I’ve underlined in red the tracks that are too sandy, where he must not adventure with his Chevrolet, under threat of becoming bogged down. His guide, an agent of the local NFO, Jean-François Deutch, who will later become one of the pillars of the organisation. Being short of time, the running pack is only 30 minutes behind him, he decides to take a short cut. Underlined in red on the map. The Chevrolet gets bogged down. And it will be stuck there until the following day.
No radio or telephone network in this zone.
Dédé understands the danger for the race and obviously for the runners. He must place a maximum of markers, on foot. He hopes that on my side, not seeing him get to the end of his task within the time limits (I’m covering the following zone), I’ll understand that I have to take his place...
With Jean, they take the ribbon, but also the beacon that they must place at “Curepipe” and start out on foot, running. He who didn’t like running! In the sand, and in the dark.
Effectively, 15 minutes later, my conscience gets the better of me and I check out the track where he should have already been along. Nothing. No markers.
I guess the story and start marking up as best I can 3km of tracks, just 5 minutes ahead of the running pack, praying that Dédé has had the idea of going ahead on foot.
Arriving at Curepipe he discovers that he’s lost the clip for the beacon... he decides to stay there and counts on my trust and understanding of what has happened. He’ll spend 3 hours, sitting in the dark with Jean, at the beacon spot. To reassure the runners, he ticks their cards using an indelible ink pen. And informs them that there are no tape markers for the next km. Because of his knowledge of the zone, he understands that I won’t have had time to cover this part of the track, and it being a straight line it is easy for the runners to follow. He understands that I’ll consecrate my time to the following km.
Yes, that night, the symbiosis between our ways of thinking, but more the composure, the sense of responsibility and the analytic qualities of Dédé, saved the night run.
In the early morning, Jean with a shovel, Dédé directing the manoeuvres.
Operation nearly over
Au petit matin, Jean à la pelle, Dédé dirige la manoeuvre. Opération presque terminée.
André Broutouly
Faithful volunteer from the first Trans Aq’, André Broutouly (Dédé) has been taken from us, victim of an heart attack.
You know that we don’t go in for “sentimentality” but by force we must say that we are deeply affected by this drama. Next June it will be hard not seeing him behind the wheel of his Land Rover, very difficult not to hear his voice over the radio, his laughter at the bivouac...
His funeral was held yesterday morning at the Notre Dame des Passes church in Mouleau (Arcachon).
Our heart-felt condolences go to his family and friends.
Cécile Bertin is the founder and presenter of a different type of website. It’s dedicated to running for women.
Her declared objectives are:
-Give women the incentive to launch themselves into this sport that is more complete than thought.
-Give women the incentive to launch themselves into sports projects of which they dream, without having the courage to do it, like running their first marathon
-Bring answers to their questions that they sometimes judge as idiotic and that they don’t dare ask anyone…
-Create a community united by the same way of approaching running: pleasure before all!
“My Trans Aq’ gift, the T-shirt has been delivered. I wear it day and night. Is this normal? The wait until June is going to be a long one…”
Lionel Nédélec, future Trans Aquitainian
Stars
You know that we’re in the habit of sticking one or more stars to competitors names when they’ve finished one or more Trans Aq’ (and an ‘apostrophe’ for those who’ve finished a Cannonball).
On the left-hand side of this page under its name “Stars” is our new web page, we’ve published the full list of finishers, but also the non-finishers.
Please let us know if you find any mistakes.
Number of Abandons
2008: 168 starters, 10 abandons = 5.91%
Because of the weather, let’s say, clement, the rate of abandons was small this year. Note that the runners eliminated the first day are not included in these ratings, which would take them up to 8.28%
2007: 128 starters, 8 abandons = 6.25%
With weather showing no rain and no big heat, the rate of abandons was also small (and no runners were eliminated).
2006: 152 starters, 23 abandons = 15.13%
Heat wave (+35°C in the shade at some moments). Many health failures. One eliminated.
2005: 62 starters, 12 abandons = 19.35%
Heat wave and a difficult first stage (48km). 4 abandons the first day! One eliminated.
Bag weights 2008
The (hand) bags for the women’s podium were the following : 5.520kg for Edith Doyen*, 6.620kg for Carole Diest* and 6.220kg for Irina Guarghias*. The lightest womens pack was that of Corinne Arbez*** (4.120kg) and the heaviest (7.000kg) for Tess Geddes and Nathalie Chevallay, both eliminated the first day in fact.
For the men, Walter Jeannin* 4.900kg, Jérôme Béréziat* 4.860kg and Dominique Sikora**** 4.700kg. Many packs (10) were at the 7.000kg limit, this includes the 3 last runners in the general rankings. The lightest pack was that of Gideon Zadok* 3.780kg.
For these weights to be more meaningful they should be linked to the body weights of the runners.
Long-life blisters
Costly, but well worth it in the long run! No, I’m only joking… I’m, of course, going to talk about your feet!
Read clauses 16, 23 and 32 of the Rules and Regulations.
It’s a sure thing that the Trans Aq’ bivouac will not look like a camp hospital each evening. The Trans Aq’ is aimed at responsible runners. That means you take care of yourselves, feet included.
The rules obligate you to carry the necessary equipment for treating your feet. That means if you play with words and you go through the control points with just one plaster and a mini bottle of antiseptic, then don’t expect to find an “understanding jury”.
Our chiropodists will do a tent tour and give you solid and precise advice.
The same goes for the physiotherapists, strapping and other amputations!
Re-read carefully articles 16, 23, and 32. S’il vous plait!
Speed
For those who have never taken part in the Trans Aq’ or run in Africa, it’s important for you to understand what awaits you…
Backpack + more or less sandy tracks + relief + heat = -20% to -30% of moving speed. Yes, if you usually run a marathon in 4 hours, then it will take you 6 hours or even more to run a stage of 42 km.
This theory has been verified even for the best runners, because the Trans Aq’ is won at a speed of 10 to 11km/h (depending on the year) by runners capable of running these distances at 14 to 15km/h without a backpack, no sand, etc…
1. Quality – run quickly
This is why it’s important to include quality (speed-work) in your training sessions, to increase your value so you’ll not be forced to walk 90% of the Trans Aq’.
E.g. if you run a marathon in 4h10m, your speed is an average 10km/h. With a backpack weighing 5kg (day 1), you lose about 2km/h at the same level of effort. With temperatures at 27°C to 30°C you’ll lose at least another km/h in comparison to 20°C still at the same level of effort. And the average state of the ground on the Trans Aq’ will make you lose another 1 to 2km/h. So, the first day, if it’s hot, in order to not overdo it, you’ll have to run at 7km/h in the morning (when it’s cool) then 6km/h if the heat remains until the end of the stage, always at the same level of effort for a 4h10m marathon…
This is only an average. To resume, if the backpack is heavier, if the weather is hotter and in sandy passages, you’ll be at a maximum 5km/h, if you don’t want to put yourselves into the “red zone”. It’s essential to understand this if you want your Trans Aq’ to be a success.
A 4h10m marathon runner will, therefore, walk often. At each sandy passage, at each uphill passage.
A 3h marathon runner, if he knows how to manage his effort, will probably never have to walk because his average speed will be between 9 to 10km/h.
So, this is why it’s useful to do some quality training sessions, otherwise you’ll be forced to walk often.
2. Specific – slow running
On the contrary, I know many runners where the Trans Aq’ has “completely passed them by” because they didn’t take the time to learn how to run slowly. When you’re used to training at 11 to 13km/h, it’s very difficult muscularly to run at 8 or 9km/h. But it will very often be necessary so as not to “explode” and have to finish a stage by walking. It is, therefore, necessary during training sessions to run for at least 2 hours using these specific speeds. Thigh muscles will become accustomed to work under compression and you’ll avoid pain and injury when you’ll be forced to run at these speeds over many hours (the long stage).
The same goes for the slower runners; they’ll have to walk often (as shown above) and so it’s useful to train yourself to walk because the tendons and muscles don’t work in the same way.
Blisters
Many runners suffer from blisters when usually they never have them… If it’s not owing to shoe size or even new shoes, it’s often because you’ll provoke unusual rubbing/friction. By walking, you may suffer from blisters on the heels if you usually don’t walk, whereas when running you never get blisters, except on the toes.
To sum up, teach yourself to run slowly, or do speed training, running at your marathon speed is unnecessary for preparing the Trans Aq’.
This is only my opinion, it’s not advice carved in stone.
Blondes
Corinne Brunette is registered, Frédérique Chatain (Chestnut) is pre-registered, Alexandra Rousset (Redhead) will not be with us this year… If there’s a blonde out there who would like to register, she can do it under her real name!
Spreading the weight
In the forum, I’ve read that some teams are spreading out the weight between different members. A tube of sunscreen, a cooking pot, etc. It’s clever, logic and not really forbidden. We can’t, after all, forbid everything! But we would like to appose some reservations: It’s clear that the mandatory equipment can’t be transported in the bag of a spouse, friend or team member. Why? Suppose that (s)he has to abandon! (S)he hasn’t the right or the possibility of handing over the shared equipment.
The mandatory equipment is listed in clause 23 of the rules and regulations. It concerns equally and especially the foodstuffs.
Our controls will be systematic and regular. We’ve established a table of the weight that we should find for your backpack at the different stages, in function of the initial weight and the weight of the calories. If the weight is not in accordance (too light or too heavy) we’ll open the pack to try and understand where the problem lies. The same goes for clothes, wearing the spare set of clothes of a friend is not in the spirit of the event.
The objective of this rule is not to penalise the frail or those who are there for the pleasure, but to respect a certain equity, especially for those who want a good place at the finish line and who wouldn’t appreciate being beaten by someone who didn’t run under the same set of rules.
Gentlemen, if we find a make-up bag in your backpack, you may have to answer in front of a suspicious and sardonic audience!
“I am a fly”
“I am a fly, posed on your lips!” sang Polnareff (French pop singer). He didn’t know about the flat flies…
It’s the “horse-fly” well known by riders. It came to our region about 15-20 years ago and has proliferated over the last 8 years, ever since the wild game has hugely increased, because it lives on their blood.
Their number and aggressiveness depends strongly on the weather. The worst is a few days after a rainy period with heavy, stormy atmosphere.
The first 3 editions of the Trans Aq’ luckily escaped this period, but it won’t, necessarily, always be the same.
How to fight them: repellents “Cinq sur Cinq”, “Prebutix” or even “Tiger Balm” are only relatively effective, they won’t give you total protection. These repellents only ward them off for a short time. That is to say that the fly will hesitate to settle, hesitate to sting. It will just leave you the time to pinch it off (it will let you) and to squash it between your finger nails. It’s no use just swatting it, it’ll just come back with a vengeance.
To limit the stings, wear long running shorts and a long sleeved t-shirt and a cap. You’ll just have to keep an eye on your neck, the back of you knees, you shins and calves.
This fly has the ability to hang on to hair, so we advise shaving exposed areas.
They are not to be found on the beach, but those that you’ve not been able to kill or avoid will follow you.
At night, ahh!… they sleep.
Hippobosca Equina (flat fly or horse fly)
Ultra book
Raidlight have just published a book talking about ultra stage racing. The MDS and La Trans Aq’ have been well covered. The writers of this book are the “leeks” so dear to our hearts, i.e., anonymous runners to be found in the middle of the bunch. One is a Trans Aquitainian, Foued Bérahou*
Start with the second one!
We often hear: “the first year, I had too much food, my scissors were too heavy, I took too much useless stuff in my pack. For my second go, I’ll not make the same mistakes!”
We suggest that you run your first Trans Aq’ as though it was already the second!
Listen to our advice; listen to the “oldies”.
We’ll soon be opening up a forum in which oldies and newcomers can “exchange” ideas. Summaries of each others’ experiences, our news articles will reflect week after week all the tricks of the trade from the “oldies”.
Avoid the first attempt and start straight off with your second Trans Aq’…
For those who grumble
Here’s a Senegalese proverb for those who grumble, of course we’re not pointing at anyone in particular:
“It is better to walk fast than to grow angry at the forest.”
Soul
Russian proverb: “The soul of others is often a deep forest.”
The Trans Aq’ has a soul; it’s not us who says so, but your testimonies. A soul, difficult to perceive, for those who have not run in the …deep forests of the Trans Aq” route.
Screening
We are happy to announce the arrival of a new major partner: Carglass, The number one specialist in France for windscreen replacements and repairs.
We are pleased to note that a major company like this doesn’t give in to easy projects by helping popular events, but on the contrary it decides to support a race that defends other values. The decision that gave origin to this agreement came straight from the heart of a senior executive of this firm. A Trans Aquitainian himself. Thank you for the Trans Aq’ and Welcome!
Cutiots (Resin Pots)
It’s not only the name of the winning team in 2007, it’s also the “Landais” name for the resin pots that are becoming more and more difficult to find in the forest. There were “truffle” pigs, now the place has been taken by “Gerard-the-resin-pot-tracker” (or “resin-pot-pig”?). Mushrooms are too easy! The cutiot, now that’s sport: don’t try and beat me at this, I’m much too good: I can “smell” them, yet another 110 have been found in 3 expeditions. We’ve got 180 in stock. Will you be 180 finishers next year? For a 2nd cutiot and umpteenth star?
The Cutiots team will be back in 2008 with, to top it off, a girls team “the Cutiotes” to join them!
Au petit matin, Jean à la pelle, Dédé dirige la manoeuvre. Opération presque terminée.
