Victory in Diagonale des Fous

French trail runner Hugo Deck won the Diagonale des Fous, an 180-kilometer race on La Réunion, in a time of 22 hours and 54 minutes. He described the event as a long and challenging effort, though he is now recovering well, even though he still feels occasional fatigue.

Emotional journey

Deck said the emotions surrounding his victory are beginning to take over, and he felt a perfect mix of excitement and stress at the starting line. He had dreamed of this race for ten years and was impatient, but he believed the balance of emotions helped him perform well.

Challenges during the race

During the 23-hour run, Deck experienced a moment of stress at the 30th kilometer when his mother was not at the planned aid station. He shouted for her, like a child lost in a supermarket, and had to find an energy gel from a competitor. He described this moment as one he will never forget, highlighting the spirit of trail running.

Support from family

Deck relied on his family for aid stations, as his parents have always supported his passion. He said being able to share these emotions with them is meaningful, and seeing his grandmother at the aid station and crying at the finish line is hard to describe. This connection gives him a sense of serenity and trust.

Balancing performance and joy

Deck said this approach helps him maintain a more spontaneous and carefree attitude toward performance. He noted that carefreeness is often lost with time, but he tries to cultivate it by varying his activities, such as exploring new terrain or doing alpinism, to avoid being too rigid in his training.

Professionalization of trail running

Deck believes his approach helps him endure as trail running becomes more professional. He trains over 1,000 hours a year, but he said if you spend that much time in suffering without finding pleasure, it becomes complicated. His priority is to be happy in his sport, and he believes that happiness leads to good performance.

Post-race emotions

At the finish line, Deck felt a huge emptiness, but in a positive sense. He said the Reunionnais public was extraordinary and that he almost felt like a rock star for a few minutes. The joy was so strong that there was no room for negative thoughts.

Future goals

Deck, who is 26 years old, plans to rest and enjoy a different lifestyle after the race. His main goal for next year will be the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, a race he last participated in three years ago. He said he has grown in maturity and is ready for the challenge.