French adventurer releases film of record-breaking run

Originally from Lyon, ultra long distance trail runner Mr d’Haene completed the 359 km John Muir Trail in California five months ago.

He broke the record for the route - including 14,630 metres of mountainous ascent - finishing it in less than three days, for a final time of two days, 19 hours and 26 minutes.

The film, named John Muir Trail: A 359km Collective Adventure documented the journey. It is available online as a 14-minute short version, and a longer version is set to be presented to a number of film festivals in the coming months.

In the introduction, Mr d’Haene explains: “The John Muir Trail is still seen as something big.”

Mr d’Haene released the film, he has said, not only to show the behind-the-scenes experience of the journey, but also to champion what he called “the collective side of this adventure”.

Six of his closest friends and colleagues, including his brother Pierre, followed Mr d’Haene during his race, in support vehicles where possible, and on foot at other times.

They took on the role of “pacers”, accompanying Mr d’Haene and ensuring he stayed healthy and hydrated along the route.

They also helped to plan the logistics of the race, and act as a support team to encourage the runner when he needed it.

Mr d’Haene - who is also the three-time winner of the Ultra-Trail of Mont Blanc, the winner of the Grand Raid on the island of Réunion, and won the first Ultra-Trail World Tour in 2014 - has said that he hopes to inspire people to take on their own challenges.

“If discovering our film helps to push people towards challenging themselves [with similar races], then so much the better,” he said, speaking to news source 20 Minutes.

Mr d’Haene - who is married with two children and works as a wine grower in the Beaujolais region when not competing - is currently training for the gruelling Pierra Menta alpine skiing race, which is set to take place from March 14-17 in Savoie.