A 57 year-old ‘lady next door’; blonde, calm, and with her mind made up, surrounded by young people and strapping figures dressed in black, all set for the big start of this 1st stage: this was the scene to bring a smile to one’s lips this morning. We met again in the evening, after the race. Still in equally good company and smiling just as much, Francine welcomed me to her tent whilst cooking pasta with tomato sauce.
Everything ok? This 57 year-old nurse is in fine form and points out to me that she is walking the whole marathon on foot. Having left at 10am, she arrived calmly 6 hours later and rejoined her team. In particular her ‘hard core’, Georges, René, Fabrice and Toune, her four friends with whom she is sharing the tent and who had finished much before, were waiting for her. There are very different people in this tent, of all ages, from 29 to 57, showing much friendship and great pleasure to be sharing this experience, each at their own level.
Nurse Francine explains: my motivation, my internal drive, is to dedicate this marathon to maltreated children who aren’t as lucky as Baptiste, my four year-old grandson. 
I have been coming for 5 years and each time I decide not to come back and then, each time, I’m here again!
An old hand, then, who continues calmly on her path breaching the difficulties of the various stages and transforming them into a human adventure.