That’s what they’re called. The “6-days”. These forty participants who come to swallow as many kilometers as possible during the week of the No Finish Line in Monaco. Among them, Pierre and his soon to be 81 years old. “This is my 19th edition. I am one of the last runners to have known the time when we ran on a pier which has disappeared. At the beginning I was with a friend who wanted to do a 24 hour and we fell on Monaco from there, I was taken by the atmosphere but above all by the objective of treating children with Children & Future.”
“In 64 years of racing, I have never experienced anything like this”
Sitting on his camp bed with a big smile, this former computer scientist and high-level athlete goes back in time to arrive at this motivation which still makes him run today. Every year, Pierre prepares his things a week in advance with the impatience of a child on Christmas Eve. Travels 700km from his village in the Pyrenees to reach the Principality where he finds “his” dressing room in the Fontvieille marquee. “We are privileged. We have hot water, we have something to store our things, when it rains we can take shelter. I have been running competitively for 64 years and I have never experienced anything like this! It’s a studio for me. I have my own bathroom with a sink, the showers and toilets are shared right next to it. “
At the time of registration, all “6-dayers” have the choice between an artist’s dressing room, an alcove under the marquee or a parking space where they can park their camper van for a financial commitment ranging from 200 to 260 euros.
“Not a summer camp”
In his isolated lodge of a few square meters, this native of Auvergne has everything he needs for his routine. “It is based on the common evening meal at 7 p.m. which is offered to us. Then, it’s the start of my day. I go running to do 5 or 6 laps, I go home to stretch, I finish eating with hot tea and I sleep for 4 or 5 hours on my camp bed. Around 3 a.m., I get up and go for 4 or 5 rounds again. Then I have breakfast with chocolate powder. [il la prend dans ses mains pour la montrer et lit la description]. It says ”for elderly and sporty people”. I combine both. [rires] At 9 a.m. I make myself an Auvergne snack with ham, cheese, sausage, red wine, and I continue my day. I do sets of 3 to 5 rounds depending on fatigue. For lunch I make freeze-dried meals before going back for two laps and a 30 to 45 minute nap.”
To complete the loop until 7 p.m., Pierre alternates between going out for several laps and a few minutes of rest in his dressing room where he meets some of the regulars whom he invites to chat. “We are a small core that has been formed over the past ten years. Be careful, this is not a summer camp, we are making do! Personally, I am in the 75 year old category [pour les 6-jours, un classement par catégorie d’âge est établi à la fin de l’édition, ndlr]. It’s been three years in a row that I’ve won, but this year it’s a Greek who is in front of me and he’s already put 100 kilometers in my sights! The years advance and the kilometers recede. [rires] Until now I run between 400 and 500 kilometers per edition.”
“Mimi”, as she calls herself here, is 61 years old. She too is motivated by a good cause. She is participating for the 13th time in the No Finish Line over several days with a record edition of more than 800km.
“Mimi”, night marathon runner for 13 years
“I came in a campervan from Clermont-Ferrandshares the sixty-year-old. I arrived Friday evening and we left Sunday evening with my husband. As for the race, I do it by feeling. When I feel good I continue, when I don’t feel well or I want to sleep, I go and lie down a little.”
Small particularity for this long-distance race regular, a preference for night running. “There are fewer people but, as a result, I don’t sleep much. I only rested for two hours last night. I went to bed at 10 p.m. and got up at midnight to run. I needed it because I didn’t sleep the first 24 hours I had breakfast around 7 a.m. and I lay down for half an hour, that’s all. It’s always like that on the 6 days I run. “It’s difficult but it’s 80% mental.”
Despite his boundless energy, Pierre also admits to some difficult moments. “There are little slackssays the octogenarian with a smile. In this case, let’s lie down! Sometimes I say to myself ”what am I doing here?” and then we say to ourselves that it’s the last year but we systematically come back!
But now, next year risks being the last for Pierre, who makes no secret of it. “I want to do my 20th edition! Afterwards I will be 83…”
**Editor:** Good morning, Pierre! Thank you for joining us today. It’s impressive to hear that this is your 19th edition of the No Finish Line in Monaco. Could you share a bit about what keeps you coming back year after year?
**Pierre:** Good morning! It’s always a pleasure to talk about this event. What keeps me coming back is the unique atmosphere of Monaco and, more importantly, the cause we are supporting: helping children through Children & Future. The energy here is infectious, and I feel a deep sense of purpose every time I run.
**Editor:** You mentioned that you’ve been running for 64 years. That’s quite a legacy! Can you tell us how the event has changed over the years?
**Pierre:** Oh, absolutely! I remember when we ran on the old pier that has since disappeared. Nowadays, it’s more organized and we have much better facilities, which I truly appreciate. For example, I have my own dressing room where I can store my things and freshen up, which makes a big difference during long events like this.
**Editor:** It sounds like you have a solid routine established for the week. What does a typical day look like for you during the event?
**Pierre:** Well, I eat a nutritious breakfast, typically an Auvergne snack, and then I go out for several laps. I balance my running with stretches and naps to ensure I’m ready for the next round. I’ve even got my chocolate powder which is designed for “elderly and sporty people”! [laughs]
**Editor:** You’ve achieved amazing mileage in past editions. How does it feel to be competing against younger runners now?
**Pierre:** It’s certainly a challenge! I’ve won my age category for the last three years, but this year there’s a young Greek runner ahead of me. He’s already ahead by 100 kilometers! [laughs] But that’s what makes it exciting. I plan to run between 400 and 500 kilometers again, just as I’ve done in previous years.
**Editor:** You’ve built a community of fellow runners over the years. How does that camaraderie influence your experience at the No Finish Line?
**Pierre:** We’ve formed a tight-knit group of regulars. We share meals and stories, which creates a wonderful bond. However, this is serious business and certainly not a summer camp! We may joke and laugh, but we all come here with the same goal in mind—to push ourselves while supporting a great cause.
**Editor:** Thank you for sharing your insights, Pierre. Your dedication to both running and supporting children is truly inspiring. Best of luck in this year’s edition!
**Pierre:** Thank you! It’s been a joy to talk about it, and I’m looking forward to another challenging and rewarding week!
