Chris Seynaeve completes checkpoint after checkpoint in the 6633 Arctic Ultra. — © 6633 Arctic Ultra
Izegem –
With twelve athletes they appeared at the start of the tough 6633 Arctic Ultra. Halfway through the 400 km journey, one remains: Chris Seynaeve (43) from Izegem and he does not give up. When he reaches the finish he will be the first Belgian to achieve this. In fact, only nineteen people ever completed the journey successfully.
More and more people from Izegem and the surrounding area are glued to the computer screen. Via tracking you can accurately follow the journey that Chris Seynaeve is currently taking. That is, if the connection around the Arctic does not fail. “That’s why the tension is palpable for us. Every now and then the connection is lost and then it is as if he is standing still,” says his mentor Tinne Seys, with whom he has successfully completed various challenges, always for a good cause. With his Ironforce for Children he is now running a project against empty sandwich boxes among children.
“Even now that he is halfway through, there were fearful moments for us: would he call it a day like the other participants?” But he didn’t. After a while, the dot representing Chris on the digital map started moving again.
Fatigue
“There was contact with the organization and Chris is doing relatively well under the circumstances,” says Tinne. “Of course the cold plays tricks on him and fatigue sets in, making it difficult for him to sleep. It is so cold there that the equipment to keep the drinking water from freezing sputters.”
The journey does not happen overnight, literally. Saturday started in Dempster, Canada for the 400 kilometer long step that crosses the Arctic Circle. Temperatures drop to over minus 40 degrees Celsius. On Tuesday, only five starters were on their way. The other athletes had already given up. Scratched or deleted appeared next to their name. (Read more below the photo)
Participants must also carry their own luggage along the way. — © 6633 Arctic Ultra
At the Engineers Creek checkpoint about halfway through the 6633 Arctic Ultra, athletes still in the running could choose to finish there or continue. Everyone except Chris decided to keep the trip aside. Unfortunately, encouraging each other is no longer possible at the rest points, but conversely Chris now gets the full attention of the crew.
Formerly a real Burgundian
“If Chris had stopped there, he would have been assured of silver because he crossed the line in second place. But he only wants one thing: to reach the finish,” says his entourage. “Then he wins gold and the other participants advance. If he decides against all expectations, then he is at least the mental winner.”
But that is by no means the case. At a decent pace it goes towards two thirds of the distance. “There is now a very tough stage ahead and it will also be extremely difficult towards the finish,” he added. But Chris already said it himself: “Giving up is not in my dictionary.”
What makes it even more impressive is that Chris was a real Burgundian a few years ago. But the loss of a cousin with whom he once wanted to complete a marathon caused a turning point in his life. From Iron Man to Marathon des Sables, he has successfully completed them all. There was one more challenge: the 6633 Arctic Ultra. And he is currently fighting that.