Depending on how you measure it (including its presence in Inner Mongolia or not), the Great Wall of China stretches between 6,400-6,700 kilometers.
Philippe Fuchs has just run over 27-32 percent a longer distance than the Great Wall of China.
Has it sunk in yet?
Let me put it another way. In just 24 weeks and 161 days, after having started his V+R Challenge run in Paris on March 7, Philippe Fuchs has worn out 10 pairs of running shoes and made it to Beijing after footing 8,500 kilometers across 2 continents and 7 countries. (Breath here)
Before getting to the congratulations bit, I can’t help but reflect about the V+R Challenge and the Great Wall of China.
A wall is at the same time a boundary and something to overcome or breach. The Great Wall of China was built to protect the Chinese Empire’s territory. It was a place to watch for the enemy and at times the scene of battle. At one point over a million men guarded it. It was also a passageway for those who earned the right, whether by birth, trade or combat, to enter China. Even today its mere presence instills awe, respect and a desire to conquer.
The V+R Challenge was in several ways a monumental boundary to overcome. For one, the idea of running from Paris to Beijing in 24 consecutive weeks is a pretty big blocking point for any athlete. Doing it means ‘running up against the wall’ day after day, having to overcome your joggling physical, mental and emotional conditions, as well as escaping unharmed from attacking dogs, nasty customs officers, icy snow and suffocating dessert heat. 8,500 kilometers.
The V+R Challenge is also the beginning of breaking through a scientific wall. Not Trojan Horse style, but the old fashioned way, step by step. In wall-breaking terms, the data gathered from Fuchs’ feet represents a warrior approaching the Great Wall and hacking out some stones with his axe. A lot more maneuvering is needed before breaking through. By breaking through I mean creating the world’s first scientifically valid virtual human foot, one that functions exactly as it would in the real world (with all 26 bones, 16 joints, 107 ligaments and 20 muscles).
Thanks to support generated for the charity Sports Without Borders through Philippe’s physical and your virtual kilometers run, the NGO is better armed to help international children overcome their own ‘walls’ through adapted therapeutic and rehabilitative sports programs.
So that they may progressively help more and more children surmount their difficulties, the France-headquartered NGO also hoped to overcome worldwide awareness ‘borders’ and boost international awareness necessary for fundraising. A relatively young NGO on the international scene, Sports Without Borders has made a global splash with the V+R Challenge. So far the V+R website has been visited by close to 150,000 Internet users from around the world (161 countries/territories to be exact). China, USA, Israel, France, and Morocco . . . Panama, Ukraine, Finland, Vietnam, Iran, Greece, Romania, India, Mexico . . .
(I’m happy to say that 3DSports has received visitors from 91 countries and territories.)
On a less serious but irresistible note, if you look at maps of the Great Wall of China like the one below, doesn’t it remind you of the V+R Challenge route?
I saved the best for last. Philippe Fuchs and the V+R Boys, Daniel Grassy and Bernard Robutel, as well as our intermittent V+R Gal, Anouk Garcia, literally surmounted the Great Wall of China! Here’s a victory photo taken by Anouk featuring from left to right Bernard, Philippe and Daniel. Look carefully, and you’ll see that they’re not doing the YMCA, they’re doing the WOW! Body language is powerful, eh?
Please join me in congratulating Philippe Fuchs and his cohorts in their accomplishment of a Great-Wall monumental feat!
–Kate
P.S. Now it’s okay to go ahead, pop open your champagne bottle and start-a-sippin!
P.P.S. This is not the end of the V+R Challenge. Stay tuned to 3DSports for more . . .
ShareThis
The event we’ve all been waiting for will occur tomorrow, but not exactly as we’d expected. Philippe Fuchs will arrive in Beijing around 1,500 kilometers shy of his 10,000 planned.
What happened?
Global warming hasn’t yet shrunk our planet. There are several legitimate reasons Philippe will clock in with more like 8,600 kilometers instead of 10,000. Cartography issues and injury are mostly to blame.
In order to prep for tomorrow’s big event, why not comprehend the ‘mystery’ now so you can fully enjoy the glory of the V+R Challenge’s accomplishment tomorrow? The best thing to do is get the full story from the man himself by viewing Episode 22 of Philippe’s TVnima journal.
–Kate
P.S. Many thanks to Richard Breitner who graciously manned 3DSports during my Griswold vacation!
ShareThis
Today, I’ll give you some data about the desert Philippe is crossing right now.
The Gobi desert is Asia’s largest desertic area and one of the greatest desert in the world with a surface about 1.3 million square kilometers. Much of the Gobi desert is not sandy but is covered with bare rock.
It features a dramatic temperature amplitude, 90 celsius degrees between winter and summer!
In winter, it’s the coldest desert in the world with -40°c, while it can reach 45°c in summer. Those hot conditions are the ones Philippe is likely to face right now.
For instance, today Philippe faced a slight sand storm, but he’s OK (he phoned us today)
However, the Gobi desert is just fascinating because of the various landscapes it offers to the traveller, from steppe to rock desert, semi-desert plateau, mountains and dunes. We should soon get very nice pictures and video footages from Anouck!
The population is essentially made of nomadic herders living in the traditional yurts (white tents). They also hunt using golden eagles, an art of its own.
This desert also sustains some of the most endangered animal species in the world such as the desert bear, the Bactrian camel (less than 50 individuals remain today) or the Przeswalski horse, which was declared extinct in wild in the late 60’s, but was re-introduced thanks to breeding done with individuals from zoos around the world!
Although hard, this part of Philippe’s trip is likely to be one of the most beautiful and fascinating episode in his Paris to Beijing Challenge.
Stay tuned for more news!
ShareThis
I just received a new message from Philippe. Here it is:
It’s nap time, however I send this short email.
Everything’s ok, but it’s hot this afternoon : 40 Celsius degrees! I’ll run tonight!
I ran 75 kilometer in the Gobi desert during the first two days. However, I won’t keep such a pace, because I’m going to face heat and the road will end in 50 km. After that, there will be only a track and I must be careful not to hurt myself.
Grass becomes rare, we quickly left the steppe for a sand and rock desert.
Yesterday and the day after yesterday, I ran along with two horsemen: a great experience in Mongolia!
Tomorrow, we’ll have to leave our motor-home and go on with a car : goodbye comfort 
Friendly yours, have nice vacations
Philippe, after 7400 km, around Chyor.
ShareThis
Now, I owe it to myself to tell you, Mr. Griswold, that if you are thinking of taking the tribe cross country, this is your automobile. The Wagon Queen Family Truckster. You think you hate it now, but wait till you drive it.
–Ed in the National Lampoons 1983 film “Vacation”
Most everyone takes summer vacation (even the Griswolds), and now it’s my turn. In my absence I’m passing 3DSports over to Richard Breitner who I know will take good care of you.
In addition to being heavily involved in Dassault Systèmes’ Passion for Innovation program, Richard has a passion for fish and orchids. I can attest that on his desk, which is just three doors down from my office, Richard has three fish tanks including one pampered fish each, and three orchid plants including two babies and one adolescent.
Richard will keep you abreast of any Philippe Fuchs news, discuss with you should you wish to discuss, and might pop in a sports innovation/technology post in here and there. If you’d like to see what he looks like, watch his Virtual Relay (he’s #2 on the Hall of Fame).
I’ll be back mid-August to report on Philippe’s arrival in Beijing.
Happy holidays if you’re heading out!
–Kate
ShareThis
Last week the BBC posted an eyewitness story about the Mongolian election riots. Since Philippe Fuchs is scheduled to arrive in Mongolia’s capital Ulan Bator soon (July 13 at the earliest), I can’t help but wonder what he’ll encounter.
The BBC-cited eyewitness says that on the streets, “There are 10 or 12 military tanks with what look like big cannons outside. There are no protesters now although there are rumours that they will do it again.”
Hopefully things will be calm for our V+R Challenge champion!
–Kate
ShareThis
English
Franais
