Man who ran for 24 hours straight on treadmill in front of saws had a clever reason for doing so
The stunt could have ended in his death
French singer Rilès undertook a dangerous stunt over the weekend as he attempted to run for 24 hours straight on a treadmill.
While this would likely be difficult enough for most people, the artist also had the threat of three giant spinning saws behind him, ready for if he slipped up or stopped.
Taking place in the Espace Commines in Paris, Rilès stunt drew the attention of large crowds filled with fans, media, and keen onlookers that cheered him on for the entire 24 hour duration.
The day-long installation was titled "Survival Run" which shares its name with Rilès' recently released album, and its purpose - outside of being an impressive test of sporting endurance - was to shine a light on a concerning trend that affected the singer's life.
As reported by NSS Magazine, Rilès revealed in a podcast with Medhi Maïzi that he had been driven to a 'deep state of despair' by the music industry that had left his mental health 'shattered'.
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The recently released album was intended to be his last output, with its 14 songs farewell letters in essence as he planned to take his life shortly after, but instead he chose to persevere after a suicide attempt.
Looking at the performance art piece, you can see emblazoned on the side of the large saws a clock face, indicating that Rilès' desire to push forward is intrinsically a race against time and perhaps against death too.
But it's his survival instinct and desire to persevere that allowed him to continue on both in life and in this 24-hour grueling trial, and he eventually surpassed 200 kilometers (124 miles) when the bell rang at the end of the day-long run.
Having trained for the event for the last 2.5 years, Rilès explains on Instagram how he felt and utilized the 'energy' of those willing him on to continue and keep going.
"I'm forever grateful to my friends, family, and the entire staff who helped me push through these 24 hours," he explains in a post upon completion. "None of this would have been possible without them."
Like many other 'experiments' that push the body to its physical limits, Rilès test shows that it's as much about the mind and your willingness and desire to continue as it is about the body's capability to keep going.
Yet it still offers a pertinent commentary on society and, in Rilès' case, the industry's willingness to push you beyond your limits, almost to the point of death. But he kept going despite the dangers behind him, ensuring that he came out on the other side.
Rilès' perseverance has also impressed many on social media, with one comment on Reddit expressing their amazement at this achievement:
"This dude is the reason why humans conquered the world," the user details. "Endless endurance to chase prey, backed by incomprehensible willpower. The dude is a testament of humanity's inability to admit defeat. Very cool post."