It's nearly d-day, one day before the Western States 100
about three months since we started filming with Francois. We remember those
first stories at the Pierra Menta...
Three months following one person. Yes, indeed he's one of the best ultra runners
in the world. In exactly 24 hours, we'll start his a biggest project of the summer:
the Western States 100 and we've been following him through ups and downs
If you remember in China, he was injured and he was hardly thinking about coming here
If it's not good here, I'll want to stop because I don't want to destroy my chances.
Better to take a few steps back to then go forward...
Now we've spent a week with him here in America. The big race is going to start
tomorrow, the Western States. This race being so special as we could, you'll
discover this, the local people in this community is incredibly strong.
I really like the vibes here. We all think the American running scene is something
special.
A quick rip after a 24h plane ride. Let's get the legs moving.
We'll try a traditional training program for now.
Idea is to train for the next 4 days, while acclimatising to the heat.
It's a special race. It's a historic trail, that means a
lot to the American people around the discovery of gold, around the expansion
to the west. It's a special race. What makes it more special to me is it's just
something that tests who you are and tests who you are inside, it tests who you
are outside. It actually defines who you are. If you really really pay attention,
to it.
How many times did you race it? I've run the Western States ten times
I got 2nd place; it's the best thing I ever did at this race and no one can
ever take that away from me god damn it.
We'll see what's going on tomorrow, but anyway, it's been a great story with a
great unique person. I mean, Francois is somehow really sort of, you know, chilly
sort of very humble, but he has high values, he likes being amongst his friend
he likes to be amongst a team, and this was his number one quality I think.
The friendship and the authenticity of the guy.
At the start of the Broken Arrow Skyrace's Vertical K, an important and big race
on the American skyrunning scene,
Francois is gonna be running the Vertical K, just after a week of recovery and resting. He wants to
kind of start off with with the bang and then really kind of ramp up the effort
I'm Kareem Malcolm!
Is this your first participation to the Western?
Yeah!
It's my first race yeah!
If I could describe Western States in one word,
! think it would be: community. Because it is... I paced last year and crude... and it
was just... you want to be part of it and the community around it is so phenomenal
People, crew and pace and it's like a giant party. They're like going through
Forest Hill at Mile 62, it's just like everyone out there... people with their
babies and dogs and just everyone's having a good time and so to be part of
it even if you're not running it becomes like this big like family
So we are heading up this morning on the first part of the Western
States course - to just get a feel for things. The high country is
always my favorite part of the course and it was rad just to be running out
with Francois and just experiencing Western States
Western States in 1 word? It's really hard,
but the main thing is heat. A landmark American race.
An insanely diversified network of trails.Right in the High Sierras,
it's incredibly beautiful.
The atmosphere is great,
historical, authentic; that's pretty much why I'm here.
This is what I'll be dreaming of when running tomorrow.
What I'm expecting of my pacer tomorrow? A lot.
Because it's Ryan, he'll bring a lot of experience.
It takes a big weight off my shoulder, knowing I can trust him.
We can chat, and I can focus on my performance.
Also, to entertain me!
He'll be jumping in at KM 100.
There will be about 60 more to run.
He also gave me his impressions on last year's race so I can prepare.
It's supposed to be fairly warm tomorrow, but not crazy warm.
What does that mean not crazy warm? How high can it go?
It's quite tricky because often
it says like it's only 33 degrees in Auburn but yeah I'm gonna get to the
canyons it's like five to ten degrees warmer because all the heat just sits in
the canyon and bakes. And I remember last year, you were riding along and
you're feeling fine. The next thing you know: you just hit this hot pocket of air and then
you just feel this heat.
What is the warmest that has been recorded?
I think pretty close to 50 degrees !
High 40's. Celsius.
This place can get crazy.
We have some rapids up here that commercially that the guests got to get out and walk
around. It's too crazy. That's why they would
use a rope at the western states?
Yeah!
Yesterday was hot, but bearable. Today is on another level.
We ran for about 2-3h today, more than enough.
Last round of training is in the books.
I don't know about you, but I've had a lot of fun this past week training.
How do you really prepare for your first 100-miler?
I guess you gotta have a big sense of humor going into it and there's so much out of
your control that if you take it too seriously, it's not gonna go well...
Eat, drink, take care of yourself and if you love others you're going to allow them
to come into your life to help you today to get to the finish. So, open your heart
today when you're out there running.
When you see an aid station volunteer, and they're
looking at you and you know that they're there to help you,
reach out and give them a hug. Let them help you. Let their energy enter your story today.
Let their story become your story. As you're running out there, you're never
alone. There's always somebody out there
You're all here for a reason. You're here to run a 100 miles,
but you brought friends and family with you.
So, at some point today, promise me when
you're out there, do think about the people that you love
and how they've helped. And if you can, when you're tired, smile!
Think about how much you love them and how grateful you are that you're out here today
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