Running espadrilles is a hobby of Nicolas Duplàa, a marathon runner who loves extreme races. On November 6, his shoes made in his native Basque Country allowed him to achieve a feat: winning the 100 kilometer Marathon des Sables, which took place in Jordan.
“I exceeded my goal!” Running in espadrilles is always more complicated (the soles of which are made of rope, Editor’s Note). These shoes have no cushioning. “On the slopes it’s a little more tiring than on soft sand,” emphasized the athlete who took 10 hours and 20 minutes to complete the challenge, ahead of 149 other runners.
For three days and three nights, the sportsman, a project manager at an IT company, defied the laws of the desert in a bid for self-sufficiency. “There are three stages with a height of almost 2,300 m. At first I brought freeze-dried food, a sleeping bag and sleeping mat. Everything weighed 7.5 kg! I left the fur there,” said the man who has been an ambassador for Basque sandals for seven years.
“Show the power of shoes”
“I started using them in 2018 at Espelette (Pyrénées-Atlantiques) after the manufacturer, Prodiso, launched the idea on social networks. My goal? Get people talking about the Basque Country and show the solidity of the shoe.” For each adventure, this one is custom made – this time, the sock has been sewn in at the top to prevent sand from getting inside. Belgium, Kenya, the United States, Peru, Albania, Morocco…, Nicolas Duplàa may have left his mark all over the world, but he has not forgotten his beloved region: every August 15, the 39-year-old Basque rider holds his world race in the capital of the espadrille, Mauléon.
