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| Sold Out! |
Last I night I had the great pleasure
of attending a sell-out screening of
A Fine Line, part one of
KilianJornet and
Sebastien Montaz-Rosset's epic series,
Summits Of My Life,
at MK2 Paris. Kilian was in town for the weekend to run the
Equipe10km for charity. A novel idea for an athlete who is more accustomed
to 160km treks through rugged mountains. Kilian needs no
introduction. Really. He is the first global superstar of the
ultra-running world and people go nuts to get close to this modest,
diminutive Catalan. He reminds me of a monk. Quietly spoken, wise,
and with eyes that tell stories of things that most of us will never
see. His physical prowess is beyond what most people can grasp and
his pure love of the outdoors is like a conducting rod for runners
the world over.
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| A Fine Line equals a long line. |
I first found out about the screening
ten days ago on social media and was quick to snap up a ticket. Wise
move. Upon arrival (early) the queue already stretched the length of
the promenade with a hefty aggregation of lithe, weather-beaten faces
attired mostly in Salomon gear. I hopped in and waited. Eventually we
were led to a screening room with a six hundred seat capacity. Spaces
were few and I settled for a corner seat towards the back. Kilian and
an emcee arrived half an hour before the film rolled. Kilian spoke of
the experiences of shooting such a lofty project and how the death of
his climbing partner,
Stephane Brosse, left him wondering if indeed
they would release the film at all. The crowd hung on his every word.
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| Taking our places. |
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| Kilian discusses his passions. |
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| The signing, it was a long night for him. |
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| Spot the mountain runner. |
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| Running for Pearl. |
The screening itself was probably one
of the most moving experiences I've had whilst sitting in a chair.
The emotion, Seb's spectacular camera work, Kilian's incomprehensible
prowess...... He is more than an athlete, he is an artist. I felt
rejuvenated and without using the term tritely, inspired. I mean
really inspired. To the point where one exits in a daze and
sees everything in more detail, the sound of life being
fine-tuned to block out the white-noise of traffic and chatter, my
inner heartbeat the only auditory sensation. When it finished and
Kilian reappeared, the applause accompanying our ten minute standing
ovation was rapturous. He simply nodded and thanked the crowd
repeatedly and said he was looking forward to returning south to his
beloved mountains the next day. Having a seat at the back had its
perks. When I exited I managed to get funneled into a line with four
people in front of me for a book and DVD signing. Kilian took time to
dedicate each item to his fans. After telling him how much his
efforts were appreciated and recognised, he dedicated a message to
Pearl and told me I was courageous for what I did for her. My respect
for him could not be any higher. It is not because he is a running
idol that he is so well liked, it is because he really is a wonderful
person who loves what he does. Yes there may be sponsors and a crowd
following him wherever he goes but you can tell he is the real deal
just in the way he carries himself. I have met a few other
“ultra-stars” in my time and they could do with taking a few
lessons in humility from him. What I learned from that night is
simple, life is A Fine Line. One minute you can be here and the next
minute gone. The trappings of life and the excess baggage we feel we
need to carry in order to be fulfilled or acknowledged is the surest
way to never achieve anything lasting. Living in the moment with a
purposeful stride that is aimed at a cherished goal must surely be
the fuel to sustaining a simplistic and all encompassing happiness.
