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The Herd | Edition 32
D'Haene, Perceived Effort, and Zurich Diamond League Results
The Herd | Edition No. 32
Hey runners!
Welcome to this week’s edition of The Herd! We’re diving into the world of ultra-running with the incredible accomplishments of François D’Haene, one of the sport’s true legends. We’ll also break down how to gauge your pace without a watch, a skill every runner should have in their back pocket. And to cap it off, we’ll relive the thrilling 1500m action from the Diamond League meet in Zurich. Let’s get started!
François D'Haene
François D'Haene is one of the worldʼs greatest ultramarathon runners, renowned for his dominance on the most challenging mountain courses and for remarkable consistency throughout his career. Born in Lille, France, in 1985, D'Haene quickly established himself at the top of the sport with multiple victories at the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc UTMB), winning the iconic race four times 2012, 2014, 2017, 2021) and setting course records in both 2017 and 2021. He also boasts four wins at the notorious Grand Raid de la Réunion Diagonale des Fous), and is the winner of the first Ultra-Trail World Tour in 2014, further highlighting his longevity and versatility at the elite level (1, 2).
DʼHaeneʼs resume includes course records on legendary routes like the John Muir Trail in California (211 miles), which he completed in just under three days, and winning some of the worldʼs toughest races such as the Hardrock 100 in Colorado. His approach to ultrarunning combines technical skill, relentless endurance, and tactical intelligence, all supported by his background as a physiotherapist and wine-grower. Even after injuries sidelined him in recent seasons, he rebounded to return to podium finishes, underscoring his exceptional resilience and passion for trail running (3).
Off the trail, DʼHaene balances his running achievements with family and work as a winemaker in the Beaujolais region of France. His personality—humble, unflappable, and willing to embrace adventure for its own sake—has earned him the respect of both competitors and fans worldwide. DʼHaene remains a role model for longevity in ultrarunning, showing that discipline and joy can coexist in the pursuit of ultra-distance greatness (1, 4).
Pacing Made Simple: Run by Feel, Not Just Your Watch ⏱️
Watches and apps are great tools, but learning to pace by feel is a skill every runner should have. Relying on perceived effort helps you tune into your body, run smarter, and adapt to any conditions—whether it’s heat, hills, or race-day nerves.
Here’s a quick guide to pacing by effort:
Easy Pace (2–3/10 effort): You can hold a full conversation without getting winded. Perfect for recovery runs.
Moderate Pace (5–6/10 effort): Talking in short sentences is doable, but singing a song is not. Great for long runs.
Hard Pace (7–8/10 effort): You can only get out a few words at a time. Use this for tempo runs and intervals.
All-Out (9–10/10 effort): Breathless, max push, finish-line kick. Save this for short sprints or races.
✨ Training your internal pace clock will give you confidence and control—no matter what the watch says.
Diamond League 1500m | Zurich
It was an all out finish in the women’s 1500m final at the Zurich Diamond League meet. Australian Jessica Hull pushed the pace the entire way, until 50m to go. Kenyan Nelly Chepchichir surged to catch Hull and narrowly passed her to win by .03 seconds. Chepchichir’s winning time was 3:56.99.
Catch all the action here:
That’s it for this week!
François d’Haene shows us what’s possible when grit meets mountains, and pacing without a watch reminds us that sometimes the best tools are already built in. Add the fireworks of Zurich’s 1500m race, and it’s been a week packed with inspiration and speed. Thanks for being part of The Herd—see you next week for more stories, strategies, and motivation
