Trail heads: portrait #3

Adil has made up his mind. Whatever his handicap, hope and perseverance enable him to conquer any race. Next objective: the 80 km EcoTrail Paris.

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Adil, 45, is like any other man his age. He has dreams and passions. Among them, trail running. In fact, his sporting CV is so impressive that you'd almost forget his disability. Adil is visually impaired. He lost his sight at the age of 25 following a retinal detachment. But nothing stops him from running. It's often very difficult for me, but the most important thing is that I'm alongside sighted people. I suffer, but we share the same world". The most important thing for this fighter with such a touching personality.

The story

He was determined to achieve this feat: run a marathon. Adil had already set himself this challenge when he was a sighted man. All the more reason for him to achieve it despite his illness and disability. In 2011, Adil completed the Sénart marathon in 4h11mn, accompanied by a sighted runner from the "Courir en duo" association. Although the young man experimented with solo running in the early days, he soon resigned himself to being guided in all circumstances. Too dangerous for him and for others. "When I started out, I ran with a cane and no one else. I was nicknamed the stuntman. That gives you an idea of the course I took, and especially of the falls I couldn't avoid. That first 42 km left a lasting impression on him, and he still can't get over it. "With this race, I entered the big league. I've reached my goal. But that doesn't mean I've stopped. This was followed by a second aborted marathon, then a third in Paris in 2012, completed in 4:14. His perseverance and dedication are impressive.  

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30, 45 and now 80 km

Adil's success is indeed dizzying. He has run (and finished) almost every race in Paris. It has to be said that this running bulimic puts a lot of effort into his preparations, with 4 or 5 outings a week, in Saint-Cloud or in the Bois de Boulogne. Nothing stops him. Not even the rain, which amuses him. Nor the mud that makes him slip. Adil accepts all obstacles and thwarts them with a relaxed attitude. The ideal attitude for finally tackling the trail. "I had a revelation. The EcoTrail Paris was an enormous joy for me". First the 30 km run in 2017 in 3h18. Then, the 45 km in 2018, which he was so happy to finish in 5h51 with four buddies. "I can't see but I can smell the trees, the mud, the race. It transports me. All that remains for Adil is to challenge himself for the 80 km in 2019. That's his new goal. His dream. A little less crazy than the 100km, which he also hopes to complete within the year. But a fine challenge for which he will be forced to step out of his comfort zone once again, to surpass himself and redouble his vigilance. "I have to give a lot more than the indicators to succeed. But it's priceless for me to share the same efforts. It just goes to show that, no matter what you go through, you can always change your life. A beautiful philosophy...

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