Video. "Sud Ouest" tested it for you: an XXL obstacle course during the heatwave

The Frappadingue, an obstacle course race held throughout France, stopped off in Trélissac. This was an opportunity for our journalist to represent "Sud Ouest" in this particularly heated event.

"Did they force you to do it?" other participants asked me when I introduced myself to them to question them. No, no one forced me to run the Frappadingue on Sunday, June 29, but I'm keen enough to take on a 12-kilometer race, littered with 40 obstacles, each more original than the last, all in stifling heat. So let's get the basics out of the way right away: I'm not a marathon runner, but I run fairly regularly. In terms of size, my 58 kilos weren't the most troublesome thing to carry around during the various events.

9:30 a.m., I'm off in the middle of the fifth wave (out of 12) of the day, from Place de la Résistance in Trélissac. My phone already shows 30°C. 500 meters later, traffic jams in front of the first obstacle. A two-meter wooden wall rises in the middle of the course. The participants are already helping each other, with the help of a short ladder. And a few hundred meters later, the group is already divided.

The challenges follow one after the other: rope climbing, tire dragging, wall jumping, and crawling. The sun is beating down. We can't wait for the first refreshment stop. But first, a quick jump in the river, a moment much appreciated by all the runners.

A break is in order. A glass of water and a slice of pâté on toast later, and I'm off again. My shoes, however, are heavy, but they'll dry quickly. I'm asked to crawl in the dark: a strange proposition, but not that unsettling. I continue. I then have to hoist a 75-kilogram weighted rope several meters high, then carry a bag of the same weight while completing a short distance. I'm surprised by this achievement, but I'm wasting a lot of energy. I'm suffering from the heat.

The race's flagship activity is here: 200 meters of mud to amuse the pigs. I find myself with a group of superheroes. Five mounds, each higher and more slippery as I progress. My neighbors support me. Although very brown, the pools separating each dune are refreshing. And to finish, a big mud bath for dozens of meters, crawling under a net. My cap gets caught in the mesh, I take it off. I lose it, buried in the mud. I find it again. My body is covered.

I then have to continue crawling, passing under electrically charged strings, which are safe, but they wake you up. The next obstacle is just as good as the previous ones. A swim in the Isle, nothing better for cooling off and washing off the mud sticking to your hair. I hear the church in Trélissac ringing: it's almost over! Alas, no, I can see the finish line, Place Napoléon-Magne, but only half the course is complete. The competitors in the six-kilometer race can breathe a sigh of relief, but not me. The hardest part begins: why did I choose the big loop?

The second part takes place in the forest. A little shade wouldn't hurt. But first, I have to cross those large, burning black plastic tubes. Thanks to those who helped me. My clothes have dried, the hills are steep, I'm very hot, and I wonder how I'm going to be able to run this much longer. Walking sections are essential, and most participants allow themselves to do so. After all, the race isn't timed.

What if we descended a cliff? Not everyone agrees. An alternative path has been set up for those who are afraid of heights. I descend by holding onto the net. Then we have to climb back up, again. This second loop is decidedly steep. The small path back down to the Firmin-Daudou stadium is just as steep. To avoid slipping, it's best to warm up your thighs. I pass basketball players, Minions, and Gauloises. In fact, most of the participants are in disguise.

The church bell rings again. Once I've completed my tour of the stadium, climbed a few walls, and swum one last breaststroke (in a pool this time), I find myself facing the final rampart. A huge wall. At its summit, a rope to grab. A few quick steps, and I grab my precious possession on the first try. Up there, the sun beats down on my cap, which I've rinsed and put back on since the mud. The finish line is right there. After 2 hours and 15 minutes of effort, I collect my "Finisher" medal. A final refreshment stop and an osteopath await the runners. There were 1,500 of us participating. A sandwich, fries, and a recovery beer helped me get through the rest of the day.