Qatar resident completes epic 475-km Run Around Qatar
Qatar resident Pierre Daniel completed his 475-km north to south run around Qatar in seven days (18–24 February), hopefully making a successful world record (awaiting ratification).
The solo event, Alone, A Run Around Qatar (#RunAroundQatar) finished this Sunday at Katara, with long-term resident Pierre Daniel finishing the last kilometre of his run with family, friends and sponsors.
Pierre took the Challenge, which includes an official world record attempt, supported by MBM Transport with key partners Katara and Aspire, out of his love for adventure and for the State of Qatar. He was thrilled to make it to the finish line.
Over the last seven days Pierre
- Has had less than 4.5 hours of sleep at a time, with as little as 2 hours most nights
- During long stage, he was moving for 35 hours without camping
- Has carried a pack weighing as much as 13 kg when loaded with water and all his clothing, necessary supplies including tent, sleeping bag and food
- Had to source water and food along the way, without assistance from his filming support team, from locals, farms, towns and stores
- Has burnt an estimated 48,000 calories (approximately 7,000 a day, almost 3 times the normal recommended amount for a man his age)
- Consumed 50-60 litres of water
- Done all his own navigation, using solely compass and maps. GPS technology was used only for monitoring vitals and tracking, to allow the public to follow Pierre’s progress live, and to record for official purposes
Pierre said that the last seven days pushed him to his physical limits. He said that he even has to endure mild hypothermia, 35-hour efforts, heat, headwinds and more.
‘But throughout, I have experienced the most amazing sights and scenery of Qatar, been supported by thousands of messages on
WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram. All throughout I have been supported in person by the locals I met, and touched by all the runners who have travelled out to run and support me. It is a true testament to the community in Qatar.’
He said he is thrilled to have finished the run and see his family and friends. He also can’t wait to tell more stories over the coming weeks to inspire others to tap their own potential and encourage them to go and see what he has seen.
The effect of his run was seen throughout the country. The engagement in the challenge has reached over 160,000 people on Facebook. It has attracted media attention and even school children and university students got engaged in his challenge. French schoolchildren sent Pierre pictures of support and university students at Texas A&M at Qatar have been using the data in statistical analysis.
Professor Raelene Gibson, of Texas A&M University at Qatar, explained that his calculus classes are studying derivatives now.
Pierre’s event provided a timely and relevant opportunity for my students to see calculus in action, as we formed calculus questions based on his heart rate and distance time data. We discussed how the data was relevant to planning Pierre’s journey and the safety consideration. Of course, I was happy to present Pierre as a role model to illustrate how perseverance, consistency, and self-reliance are necessary ingredients in achieving any goal, such as succeeding in a university.’
During the seven days, supporters could follow Pierre via a unique tracking portal developed by Aspire Zone’s IT team, which provided live tracking of Pierre’s progress including distance covered, speed, heart rate and more. People can check this link to see the final statistics on the challenge.
Saeed Mohamed Nazeer, Chief Executive Officer of MBM transport said that what Pierre has accomplished is beyond words.
As an individual, he has demonstrated such commitment and determination pushing through adversity, at times moving for over 35 hours without making camp. Hopefully this will inspire people to tap their own potential and to consider the benefits of a healthy lifestyle
Pierre has been supported by MBM transport, Katara, Aspire Zone, Garmin, Xtork and Pro-TV. He can be followed live on Alone.Aspirezone.Qa or via his Instagram PierreDaniel_Active or via the challenge hashtag #runaroundqatar on Instagram/Twitter and Facebook.
