The LAOS ACTION ASIA ULTRA MARATHON 60k & 100k is over and everyone is already asking where is the next one going to be with TEAM OF PARIS TAG Heuer Eyewear already putting their hands in the air saying they want more, all basking with huge smiles after meeting so many friendly people on the trip and bagging some podium positions at the same time.
It was Alexandre SYBILLAIN and Nora SENN who set the marathon pace on day 1 both crossing the line in 4 hours 38 minutes with Thorsten BRUCE, Damien LEVY and Emma BRUCE not far behind.
Day 2 participants started earlier with a 5:30am wakeup call, departing at 7am to a cool mountain air that made the first 10km to the checkpoint considerably easier and faster than day 1. After the 10km, the long course marathon runners had to do a 18km course passing a top village overlooking a stunning valley, while the explorer category had it considerably easier and went left to finish with 17km of rolling hills.
BRUCE crossed the line with SYBILLAIN in 5 hours and 9 minutes to cover almost 50 km of running.
Day 3 it was up and early with all departing in the trucks at 5:30am for a 1 hour+ ride to historic Pha Tok caves which served as hiding spots for the locals living in the Nong Khiew valley made up of large limestone Karst formation mountains. It was here participants started outside the caves and had to run thru a rice field paddy valley surrounded by large Karst mountains.
All participants ran hard with leaders finishing under 40 minutes with a sense of accomplishment and big high 5s at the Nongkiew boat finish.
Over the 3 days it was SYBILLAIN who took the men’s 100km championship in a total combined time of 10 hours 24 minutes with BRUCE 2nd overall in 10 hours 39 minutes with TEAM OF PARIS -TAG Heuer Eyewear runner LEVY taking 3rd overall in 10 hours 51 minutes.
In the Explorer 60km women’s category TEAM OF PARIS -TAG Heuer Eyewear runner Elsa JEAN DE DIEU won the category in a total time of 7 hours 27 minutes with Francesca ZINO taking 2nd in 8 hours 9 minutes and Lynsey HUGHES taking the final top 3 position in 8 hours 31 minutes for a good showing on the women’s side.
For the Explorer men’s category Adam CHINOOK was consistent winning in 7 hrs 27 minutes with Gil AZOULAY finishing 2nd overall in 8 hrs 12 minutes with TEAM OF PARIS -TAG Heuer Eyewear runner Jerome LABOULAIS taking 3rd in 8 hrs 33 minutes.
“It was an awesome race. It is my favorite Ultra Marathon. I feel like I was traveling into the past. No internet, no mobile, no hot water, no electricity, no brands... like 500 years ago. I really enjoyed running through villages. People were either very excited to see us like people watching “tour de France” or just amazed like we are E.T. coming from nowhere. The last day was just crazy. I can barely walk before the start. But right after start, the adrenaline gave me wings, and I was flying through the rice fields and the rivers. Thanks a lot” said Damien LEVY, team Leader of TEAM OF PARIS -TAG Heuer Eyewear after a strong performance over the 3 days and great results from his team members.
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