2023-10-13 15:00:01
Kilian Jornet, the star of ultra trail and ski mountaineering, has just achieved an extraordinary feat. He crossed the Pyrenees, the land of his childhood, in 8 days, 155 hours of running, 43,000 meters of elevation gain and 486 kilometers covered. In the video of his interview with the trail newspaper, he appears exhausted, but happy.
He has difficulty finding his words, his eyes drooping with fatigue. But it is in French that the Catalan ultra-trail runner speaks following his crossing of the disproportionately large Pyrenees. 43,000 meters of elevation gain, 486 kilometers covered in just 8 days.
The runner spoke to @vincentgaudineditor-in-chief of trail journal. Here is the interview published on X (formerly Twitter).
The adventure started on October 2 at the foot of the Pic de la Frondella. To reach the Pique d’Estats on October 10, the highest point in Catalonia. Only 8 days to cover the 486 km of the circuit.
I’m super happy, but above all very very very tired
He came out happy with this project, which he thought carefully regarding and whose course he mapped out. He didn’t know if he might go to the end, it was done even though the runner had to give up the summer races due to an injury. He took his revenge.
Also read: “Why do I do this? Because it’s fun!” : 260 kilometers in 5 days, 30,000 meters of altitude difference, Kilian Jornet’s crazy bet
With his parents, he hiked and climbed the peaks of the 3,000 Catalans. It is therefore a return to native land. It connected the 177 peaks over 3,000 meters of the Pyrenees, including some of the most emblematic: Balaitus, Garmo Negro, Vignemale, Marboré cylinder, Mont Perdu, Pic Long, Pic de Posets, Pointe de Literole, Pic d’Aneto , Pic Sayó, Pic du Montcalm and Pic d’Estats.
One of the hardest adventures of my life
KIlian Jornet, ultra trailer
He clearly enjoyed this adventure. Kilian shares his feelings saying: “Exploring these ridges was a most enjoyable experience, I really enjoyed the paths. I had already climbed these peaks when I was 13, but I no longer remembered them. It gave me an intense visual experience“.
During this time, Kilian accomplished various impressive feats. He managed to hike over 40 peaks in a single day, hike for 39 hours straight, and use a bike to connect different sections of his route.
His journey ended on the morning of October 10, 2023, when the first rays of the sun illuminated the highest peak in Catalonia, Pic d’Estats, located in the Alt Pirineu Natural Park.
After this last masterstroke on the trail scene, the athlete has nothing more to prove. He still has to take the time necessary to recover and return to the playing field of his last years in Norway.
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