So a journey, not intended for some time now (well compared to my average), rather prepared in training and logistics and a. .. petered out.
course in recent weeks, the events in neighboring countries, Tunisia and Egypt, could worry us. Libya, because of its political system, would logically end up moving a little too. Good afternoon, revolution or not, safe or not, until the last moment nothing was safe. It is true that the situation was becoming apparent, "hot" this latest week. Anyway, the events from the far north east of the country and the race itself being very south west it still seemed possible. The day before takeoff, even a message from the organization told us that everything was kept, the situation does not present a danger that a message from the Embassy of France in Libya confirmed.
Confident but still not totally sure of the coming weekend, so I headed toward the capital Friday morning, to get to Roissy, specifically Goussainville, to spend a night at the hotel near the airport to catch a plane so early the next morning to Ghat, near the desert Akakus ...
So now, after 3 hours by TGV, a few miles of walks in Paris, a small subway ride and 25 minutes Train, I landed in Goussainville. Goussainville is one of the jewels of the Paris suburbs as the only (or almost) the 9-3 has to offer: an RER station, a few bars and Khebab front, a little further wasteland leading to a beautiful area Artisanal and commercial, with a Carrefour and many chain hotels (well I am in bad faith, I have not traveled the entire city). It is near the airport, if we judge the aircraft that appear to raze the roof. A perfect setting, however, for a brief stopover before flying away ... because it really makes you want to leave!
I'm very well received by a great staff at Comfort Hotel, where I found my friend Mohamad Ahansal came from Morocco especially for this race that it is one of the favorites. In preparation for the full MDS, Mohammed is not "100%" but still sharp. It has also been making rounds stage to stretch his legs and his form before completing the 220 miles of desert ahead. Some
Loved son and a dinner at the pizzeria on the corner (a pizzeria chain of course) where you spend still a nice moment to discuss race, projects, gazelles ... We are about to us bed early enough to be fit for the start when I take a look on my blackberry: the last post titled: Libyan Challenge-Cancels. The content has been taken by the main specialized sites, he said that due to developments in the last few hours the organizers were forced to reconsider their position, and death in the soul, to cancel race! Say that this message find myself totally, it is of course not, in fact, as we were not on the starting line, I kept some doubts about the developments. But still, too late and already almost in the plane ...
Finally, it is so, the Libyans were certainly lots of good reasons to start a revolution and the cancellation of our race is really a small anecdote in the whirlwind that has shaken the Arab world these days .. . But still good, hard blow. For me it's no big deal, a move to Paris, a few rods of lost, a beautiful story and a race, a journey of less. For those like Momo, are far from over, that's more annoying. For the organizers, who see their race is canceled for the second time, it is certainly terrible. I sincerely hope they will recover and that a better political situation and more stable will make Libya a country where we can run and fly more quietly. The Libyan had anything to challenge it and the potential remains, I think, intact. We'll see ...
Cancellations are decidedly left of my travels: Already last year I saw at the last moment, a private flight (due to strike the blow is very French!) To run in Italy on Lavaredo. I again fail in any of these unlikely "hotel zone" near the airport, where a hotel overbooked I shared my room with a math teacher at the University of Melbourne, in transit between two conferences. It's part of the game and uncertainties, even if it turn out well. Memories of reading, the obsession of the learned Cosine, where the poor scholar (taking it very badly indeed) can never turn out for the world or the most recent trip to Trulala where the hero finds himself in totally different places where he had planned to visit, come to my mind the next morning, when I say yes my trip to Libya was arrested in Goussainville. ..
We spend a morning with Mohamad curious to wait for a package of Solomon was to happen early and which will not happen ... Not to be totally came to nothing and after much procrastination Mohamad decided to wait until Monday to be sure to be well equipped for the MDS. On the stroke of 13h I leave for my 93 for Poitiers is the birthday of my mother and suddenly I can be there.
Instead of running 220 km in the desert, I run with my EVO 1:30 barefoot in the paths Poitevin, a curious desire to feel the earth beneath my feet and running light ... To benefit from physical sensations failing to discover a desert. Well I'm leaving anyway, in principle, to a big week for Gran Canaria, and there is a long race scheduled there ... I'll get over it quickly even if the move which perpetually agitates me is not satisfied today!
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