Adept at making long runs on perilous paths, Helene Dumais strings together unusual exploits.
She was the first woman to extol several challenges in recent years, such as crossing Florida by running from one end to the other in four and a half days. It was a 400- kilometre trot with a back-pack. «She’s my idol!» emitted teacher Manon Vezina while introducing her to the students gathered in the Howard S. Billings High School auditorium in Chateauguay on February 14. The adventuress had been invited to conduct a conference in the context of School Perseverance Week.
«This is to motivate the youngsters, and show them that they are capable of doing more than they think, » Vezina explained in an interview before the presentation. « An example such as Helene is going to inspire them a lot, show them that they must never get discouraged. » Vezina and her husband Jacques Daigneault are adept at obstacle races. Helene Dumais is a coach and a friend, they emphasizd.
Clicked at age 23
The guest speaker compared her running to the one of a superhero by inviting the youngsters to do the same as she. « Dream big and create something! You are the hero of your own adventure, » encouraged the ultra athlete. She specified that it could take time before discovering one’s passion and that life could reserve some surprises. « At your age, 13 or 14, I didn’t run at all. I didn’t like physical education courses. I began to run at the age of 23 because it was good for one’s health, » she exsplained.
Liking nature, she decided to run her first 10-kilometre trail race. And she won. « I said to myself why not try 21 kilos, then 50, 100 and 400? » she shared.
Mortal danger in Hawaii
According to an analysis, all the heros have the same run in 12 steps, Dumais observed. The idea of giving up because the mission appears impossible, the acquisition of new tools close to a mentor to overcome obstacles and reach the objective, are notably part of the cycle. For example, she cited Frodon in Lord of the Rings, who obtains the support of Gandalf the Magician.
In her case, it was a friend who initiated climbing with a view of running 80 kilos in the rough and perilous decor of the Island of Hawaii. « I had to learn » to climb and conquer my fear of heights, » Dumais explained.
Her dream was out of the ordinary : cross Ko’olau Summit Ridge autonomously with her photographer friend Liz Barney. Two men had achieved the exploit before them. And that was all. « The path is very narrow and along ravines. The vegetation is dense. People walk without seeing their feet, » the adventuress described. The biggest danger that lie in wait for the walkers is rain. « The place is not made of rock but of loose ground, » she explained. « When it rains, the earth tumbles down. That provokes landslides that can be fatal. »
Dumais and her partner had to retrace their footsteps during their first attempts because of the weather. They decided to try again in June , which is reputed to be drier. And they succeeded. « When we arrived at the end, we started to cry : we did it!!! » she exclaimed. « It was not an organized activity. There were no medals. But the reward was so great. It was as if we had killed the dragon, discovered the treasure or saved the princess! »
After this accomplishment, she decided to share her experience. « I gave myself the mission of motivating others, » she said.
And she continues to run. « My next challenge is an 888 kilos run in 10 days in May, » she divulged.
Wine-waiter
As a youth, Dumais loved the arts. « I wanted to me an actress, singer and dancer, » she says. After high school, she decided to travel. She discovered a passion for wine. « At the age of 20, I was a wine-waiter, » she says. She then became interested in the domain of health.
A few exploits
· 1st and only woman to finish the Survival Run Australia 2016
· 1st and only athlete to ever complete the Dingo’s Double challenge 2016 – Survival Run + 50k Buckley’s « Off » Trail Run, Australia
· 1st and only woman to ever finish the Survival Run Nicaragua
· 2nd – 100k Ultra Fuego Y Agua Nicaragua 2016
· 1st and only woman to ever complete the Devil’s Double challenge 2015 – Survival Run + 100k Ultra Fuego y Agua
· 1st woman to run self-supported the 250 mile route of the Cross Florida Individual Time Trial 2015
· 1st (5th overall) – 125k Ultra Trail Harricana Canada 2015
1st women in the world to cross the entire Ko’olau Summit Ridge in Hawaii in self-sufficiency
(Translation Dan Rosenburg)
