At the end of the line, the voice is clear and the tone playful. Despite the fatigue still present, Sébastien Raichon was a happy man on Monday afternoon when we contacted him. On the night of Sunday to Monday, this 51-year-old PE teacher was the first athlete to overcome the Chartreuse Terminorum ultra-trail since its creation in 2017. The Vaucluse completed the 300 km course (in six loops) and its 25,000 meters of elevation after 71h26 of effort, with more than eight hours ahead of the time barrier (80 hours).
Four other competitors completed the challenge after him. “I’m on my cloud,” he admitted, Monday afternoon, coming out of a little saving nap. For Le Figaro, the winner of the Tor des Glaciers (450 km) last September looks back on this exploit torn off at the end of the effort.
Sebastien, how are you feeling after your achievement on the night of Sunday to Monday?
Sebastien Raichon: I’m fine. When you achieve a performance like that, of course, you tend to recover better (laughs). It’s still better than last night when I arrived even though I’m used to doing long-distance ultratrails. Obviously, when you are the first athlete to complete the Terminorum, a race that many considered inaccessible and impossible, there is a very rewarding side. For someone who has done 300 km, I walk almost normally even if there are some aches. Today my body is used to these very long distance races, which was not the case a few years ago.
Back to your arrival, what was your first instinct when you crossed the line?
I sat down and enjoyed a nice soda because I really wanted it. I was disgusted with plain water, I couldn’t take it anymore (laughs). I had a craving for a sweet drink and during the whole last lap, I thought only of that. However, I had drinks in my space at the base camp but I had forgotten to take some…
Did you go to bed right away?
No. It was surprising because usually, at three or four o’clock in the morning, there are often few people to welcome you at the finish of the races and there, all the runners who had abandoned and the organizers were present. We talked a bit about the race and I went to rest for two hours. Then I got up to greet the other competitors who were coming up behind. Otherwise, I took an hour and a half nap in the afternoon but no more. There is still a lot of excitement and the media calling me. It’s quite fun to live. But I promise you that next night (from Monday to Tuesday, editor’s note) will be long and restorative.
What was the most critical moment of your race?
Curiously, the first hours did not go very well. I didn’t feel like I was flying at all and my feelings weren’t good. And then after ten hours, I was reassured because I was following the rhythm of the best. But the hardest was undoubtedly the third round, with the urge to vomit, gastric lifts. I couldn’t swallow anything anymore. It worried me a bit and above all it spoiled the pleasure of being in nature.
Because we have time to enjoy nature despite everything?
Yes of course. It was magnificent, extraordinary with these huge cliffs. We were very often in the forest, so protected from the sun and there is always a cool wind in the Chartreuse massif. We must admit that we benefited from ideal weather conditions this year: no mud, not too much heat… To this, we must add the mystical side and the very special monastic atmosphere that permeates this forest.
Ultra-trailers often suffer from digestive issues, how did you manage your diet?
It was difficult for three laps (180 km, editor’s note), nothing passed through my body except custard. I worked only on my lipid reserves and it was not easy because the body needs 4,000 calories a day to function well.
And how did you manage your sleep over three days?
It’s a real problem. The first night passed without difficulty, the second was already very hard and the third night was hell. When I felt myself falling asleep and staggering, I lay down anywhere for a twenty minute nap. I was forced to sleep three times twenty minutes but I guarantee you that when you haven’t slept for three days, you fall on the floor, close your eyes and leave, no matter where and how comfortable. With the advance that I had accumulated, I was also able to sleep a little at the assistance, three times thirty minutes.
Was this extreme fatigue accompanied by hallucinations?
A little yes. On the last night I felt like seeing people and all the rocks I looked at turned into buddies cheering me on. It was rather funny. And then you get closer to the rock and you think, “Oh no, actually, it’s just a pebble.” There are runners who leave in impossible spheres, this is fortunately not my case. I manage to stay lucid in general. My great strength is to have great endurance. I would be unable to follow a Kylian Jornet over twenty-four hours but over time I can maintain the same speed for a very long time.
Did you have any problems with orientation at night?
In the Terminorum, we do the same 60 km tour five times (to be completed in 16 hours maximum, editor’s note). The start was given at five o’clock in the morning and the day dawned quickly, suddenly I managed to take good points of the day by staying with former runners who were not at their first attempt like Me. It helped me find the places where the books were hidden (pages torn out at checkpoints serve as proof of passage, editor’s note). I was very observant and in the end I didn’t even need the card I had put away.
When did you realize you were going to finish the race on time?
After two laps, when I saw that I had accumulated a good lead, I was convinced that I was going to get there. I had already done very long distance races, such as the record crossing of the Alps, which is 600 km. Distance is no problem for me. The real uncertainty was knowing if it was going to pass before the time barrier.
Do you realize that you’ve somewhat dented the myth of the Terminorum, the race that no one has completed on time since its inception?
(Laughs) Yes, but I’m counting on the organizers to toughen up the race next year! It’s very good like that. This is how the Barkley (an ultra-trail in Tennessee) became ultra-famous.
Reputed to be one of the toughest races in the world, is the Barkley a goal now?
It is a dream. I had applied this year but I had not been selected. I hope the organizers followed what happened this weekend here to be selected in the future (laughs). But I will come back to do the Terminorum one day, that’s for sure.