A man who is isolating amid the coronavirus in France spent nearly seven hours jogging up and down his balcony until he ran the equivalent of a marathon.
Elisha Nochomovitz described how he felt “like throwing up” after running more than 26 miles along his balcony, which measures seven meters by one meter, at his home in Toulouse.
To complete the distance, Nochomovitz ran over the same stretch of balcony around 6,000 times, taking him a total of six hours and 48 minutes to achieve.
Nochomovitz underwent the mammoth task as residents in France were placed under a minimum 15-day national lockdown as of Tuesday, with the government warning the quarantine could last longer as they look to control the spread of COVID-19.
“I had the opportunity to go out to run around [outside] the house, but if everyone thinks the same we would have been out there,” Nochomovitz explained in a Facebook post.
“The instructions were to stay home, that’s what I did. Just to show you that we have no excuses, and please think of all those caregivers who are on the front line in the face of this virus.”
Speaking to the Huff Post France, Nochomovitz added that he wanted to “bring something playful” to the containment. “Part of my goal was to kill as much time as possible.”
Nochomovitz said he is now thinking of what his next challenge could be if authorities extend the 15-day lockdown in France.
“How about another marathon to improve my record. Or a 12-hour home trainer session, on my balcony,” he said.
There are nearly 11,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in France with 371 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. A total of 12 people have managed to recover from the virus.
Videos of the veteran marathon runner undergoing his challenge were posted on social media.
World Health Organization advice for avoiding spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
Hygiene advice
- Clean hands frequently with soap and water, or alcohol-based hand rub.
- Wash hands after coughing or sneezing; when caring for the sick; before, during and after food preparation; before eating; after using the toilet; when hands are visibly dirty; and after handling animals or waste.
- Maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet) distance from anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
- Avoid touching your hands, nose and mouth. Do not spit in public.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or bent elbow when coughing or sneezing. Discard the tissue immediately and clean your hands.
Medical advice
- If you feel unwell (fever, cough, difficulty breathing) seek medical care early and call local health authorities in advance.
- Stay up to date on COVID-19 developments issued by health authorities and follow their guidance.
Mask usage
- Healthy individuals only need to wear a mask if taking care of a sick person.
- Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing.
- Masks are effective when used in combination with frequent hand cleaning.
- Do not touch the mask while wearing it. Clean hands if you touch the mask.
- Learn how to properly put on, remove and dispose of masks. Clean hands after disposing of mask.
- Do not reuse single-use masks.
