In a feat that redefines endurance and challenges conventional wisdom in extreme sports,Nicolas Duplàa,a dedicated marathon runner with a penchant for the unconventional,has achieved a remarkable victory. On November 6th, Duplàa crossed the finish line first in the grueling 100-kilometer Marathon des Sables, held in the unforgiving desert landscape of Jordan. His secret weapon? A pair of traditional espadrilles, handcrafted in his native Basque Country.

This isn’t just any running shoe; espadrilles, characterized by their distinctive rope soles, offer virtually no cushioning. For Duplàa, this presented a unique set of challenges. I exceeded my goal! he exclaimed,reflecting on the immense difficulty of navigating the course in footwear that provides minimal shock absorption. It’s always more complex to run in espadrilles. These shoes have no cushioning. On the slopes, it was a little more tiring than in the soft sand. Despite these hurdles, Duplàa completed the demanding 100 kilometers in an astonishing 10 hours and 20 minutes, outpacing 149 other elite runners.

Defying the Desert in Traditional Footwear

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