Silke Seecamp "back to civilization"
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The runner Ms Silke Seecamp from Hilchenbach-Lützel (Germany) was running for six days through Aquitaine province in Southern France.
by Maurice Hein
Hilchenbach-Lützel. Silke Seecamp is back from a tough 230 km run crossing the region Aquitaine in Southern France and shares her experience: "This was not running, this was survival", she explains on the terrace of her home in Lützel and shows the scars and blister marks that cover her legs. During the 230 km tour - the 39 year old woman expresses - her legs have been a lot worse - verifying this by showing photos taken during the run. It seems that she is considering these photos as trophies.
Food was always available.
Together with runners from all over the world, Silke crossed the Aquitaine region along the Atlantic coast in six legs. They had to carry their basic equipment (minimum 3.5 kg, maximum 8 kg) according to the strict rules. "Any outside help would result in penalties – up to exclusion from the run", she tells – now laughing again, remembering very well how she had to hide her pain passing the control points.
20 runners had to drop out during the race.
Silke's result: Rank 98 - after 36:35:55 hours.
Rank 98 after 36:35:55 hours is a great success for Silke especially as her former experience is more in the field of biking. Last year she participated as part of the "Team Joachim Franz" in the bike from Alaska to Patagonia.
The "Trans-Aqu" run will be only the beginning of Silke's running career. "This run was part of a preparation programme for a great project in year 2008", she explains smiling secretly: "no more information". She was part of the Runex Team of the physician Dr. Holger Finkernagel, who also did some medical research during the run.
Part of the team were also Jordanian twins: "Dirma and Lama Hattap are real stars in the home country", explains Silke.
For Runex, Silke will travel to the US next year in July. She will support the runner Stefan Schlett during the Badwater Ultramarathon from the Death Valley (85 m below sea level) to Mount Whitney (2.530 m).
In July, 2007, Silke plans to participate in the Badwater Ultramarathon. And to make it even harder, she wants to combine this torture with bake race 'Furnace Creek 508'.
The task ahead - Badwater Ultra Marathon!
The sufferings of the Trans-Aqu run seem to be nearly forgotten facing these ambitious plans for the future.
The sun has now disappeared on her terrace in Lützel. "This", she tells with shinning eyes, "was the highlight during the run: seeing the sun disappear over the Atlantic, while sitting on the dunes of Pilat".
Westfälische Rundschau (June 24, 2006)
