Luca Papi has been very attached to the Canary Islands since the beginning of his very long distance adventures five years ago.

-

Janira Ojeda

  • Very long distances have never scared Luca Papi.

    The Italian ultra-traileur, employee of Disneyland Paris for 20 years, thus embarked on an

    off

    challenge

    of 1,100 km (39,200 m of elevation gain) on August 31 on the island of Gran Canaria.

  • After 12 days of racing and 850 km, he had to put an end to his adventure, marked by “extreme conditions”, with nights at over 30 ° C.

  • Very attached to the Canary Islands, Luca Papi will return in November for a new challenge, this time in pairs: to cover 800 km on the eight main islands.

You can therefore cover 850 km and 39,200 m of elevation gain in less than 12 days, and have "failed" in your

off-

challenge

.

Welcome to the life of the Italian ultra-traileur Luca Papi, who had been aiming to do four different loops of the Transgrancanaria since August 31 (a total of 1,100 km and 39,200 m of D +!).

Winner of this very demanding test of around 265 km in 2017 and 2019 in the Canaries, this attraction operator-host at Disneyland Paris has embarked on the longest adventure of his career, accompanied by friends on certain portions.

Embarrassed by a contracture in the thigh, the 40-year-old athlete of the WAA Team ended up giving up on Saturday after three loops, and this in "extreme conditions": "It is very rare that I give up.

But there, we were treated to days at 45 ° C, almost without shade, and nights up to 32 ° C ”.

Dehydration got the better of Luca Papi, notably winner of the prestigious Tor des Glaciers last year (450 km and 32,000 m of D +). 

1h30 maximum rest each night on the roads

"I want to keep a notion of pleasure, I do not run to hurt myself, and I made the choice of reason by stopping there", confides the one who was content to sleep "1h30 maximum each night on the floor in paths ".

True to his reputation as a bon vivant, Luca Papi made up for it over 12 days with supplies in the bars and restaurants of Gran Canaria.

“I love this island,” he enthuses.

I really started running there for long distances in 2015. It's a mix of beautiful landscapes, great weather all year round and very beautiful people.

"

Having informed the local population of his route, he received surprising attentions throughout his adventure: “I was left on the way of chocolate mousse in a cooler with my name on it.

Groups also waited for me to offer me a refreshment at 2 am, and someone I did not know at all traveled 70 km with me ”.

“This 1,000 km bar, which is downright playable”

So many experiences pushing Luca Papi not to be disappointed at having had to stop his challenge 250 km from his goal.

“I bring back a ton of wonderful memories and it is priceless.

It just gives me an excuse to come back and try this 1,000 km bar, which is downright playable, ”smiles the whimsical ultra-trail runner.

A job at Disneyland Paris, 10,000 terminals run in 2019, a success on the @tordesgeants (450 km and 32,000 m of elevation gain) in 134 h, @ 20Minutes presents "the ultra bulimic" Luca Papi.

#trail #ultratrail https://t.co/d3kjSxfV8g

- Jérémy Laugier (@JeremyLaugier) November 14, 2019

From November, the Parisian will be back, this time alongside his friend Philippe Verdier, with whom he won the Echapée Belle (144 km) last year.

They will try to complete a unique 800 km circuit on the eight main Canary Islands.

It would almost be like a vacation for him after that scorching attempt in September.

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