Force Mentale

Want to prove to yourself that you don't have the mental fortitude of a wet paper bag? Perfect. Organised by Flandres Ultra Endurance in Merckeghem, Force Mentale is a race that has you going round in circles until you can't go any further. Complete your lap? You head back out. Go over the hour? Thank you, goodbye. And no, negotiating with the clock probably won't be on the table.

What you'll find on site:

• A 7.9 km loop with 115 m of elevation gain to repeat over and over again;
• A base camp where you can rest, refuel with carbs, and catch your breath. A sofa bed and Netflix are, however, not mentioned in the rules;
• One assistant/pacer per runner, with a real role in the race: they can accompany you on all or part of the loop and assist you in the aid station zone;
• Permanent refreshments and more substantial aid stations at 4pm, 7pm, midnight, 3am and 7am. The rest of the time, you're on your own;
• No more than 100 participants, with each lap timed and a live leaderboard.

Course focus:

The concept can be summed up in a few words: a 7.9 km loop to be completed in under 60 minutes, for 24 hours. In Backyard style. Start Saturday at 12pm, end of race Sunday at 12pm. Safe to say you'll be savouring that Sunday roast chicken and chips.

For this race, it's up to you to build your race strategy, calculate your pace, plan your nutrition, choose your pacer and your support at the base camp (we recommend someone with nerves of steel).

The course passes through three local villages: Merckeghem, Millam and Volkerinckhove. Its 115 m of elevation gain doesn't make it the toughest country route on the calves, but "Force Mentale" doesn't carry its name for nothing.

Last rule of the game: to claim victory, you'll need to complete one final lap alone. If several runners are still in it after 23 hours and 23 laps, the rankings are decided by total time spent on the course.

In short, an event that pushes your limits and allows you to prove to yourself that anything is possible.

3 (very) good reasons to take part:

• Discover an original format where you start without knowing when you'll finish. 7.9 km? Easy. 10 laps? Now we're talking;
• Team up with your assistant/pacer, who can accompany you on the course, help you at the aid stations, shout encouragement at you or give you a hug depending on what's needed. It really bonds a friendship / romance;
• See how far you can push your limits against the night, the fatigue and that little voice telling you to stop: WE NEVER GIVE UP, CHAMPION.

The real question isn't how many kilometres you can run. It's how many times you're willing to head back out and meet yourself.