© @0riles / Jérémy Melloul
The rapper Rilès in “Survival Mode” for his wild 24-hour treadmill run
Exploring the limits of body and mind, questioning the blurry line between obsession and perseverance, as well as between control and surrender. Last February 8 and 9, rapper Rilès tackled these themes around self-transcendence, time, discipline, and resilience through an extraordinary challenge. The 29-year-old from Rouen ran 24 hours non-stop on a treadmill, after several years of training to succeed. A marketing move for the release of his latest album, Survival Mode, unveiled last January 10, yet also a visual and auditory work to extend the universe of his album, Rilès Kacimi chose running as a means of expression and… survival.
| An impressive 24-hour run as a work of art.
The rapper Rilès, a self-taught artist who produces and composes his pieces alone, has been making a name for himself as a unique figure in the music scene for several years. On February 8 and 9, he made a significant impact. As announced on his social networks, he embarked on a 24-hour treadmill run, without breaks or music. Just weeks after his latest album Survival Mode was released, five years after the previous one, he placed himself in “survival mode” and introspection.
A treadmill installed in a white room, in the heart of a glass arena under a skylight at the Commines space in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris. Minimal decoration, just a timer facing the runner, for the most streamlined decoration possible. Behind the treadmill, three huge ruthless circular saws, marked with Roman numerals akin to a clock. Rilès ran in this almost clinical space for 24 hours and 3 minutes, covering a total of 205.22km, at a pace of 7’02/km. The event was open to the public and broadcast live on YouTube and TikTok, to offer encouragement to the creator of the work. The artist never stopped during the 24 hours, not even to eat, drink, or urinate (his team discreetly covered him with a black cloth when needed.)
| 3 years of training, advice from the best ultra runners, an iron will
The musician diligently prepared for three years, repeatedly undertaking running sessions of 4h, 5h, 6h, 9h, always on a treadmill, without exceeding 12h. On January 1, 2025, he ran 100 km on a treadmill in 9h24 (5’38/km), without distraction and without stopping. On January 24, he again ran 119 km in 12h11 (6’00/km), once more without breaks and in silence. During this preparation, the artist embodied the spirit of his album. Rilès transformed physically, losing significant weight and cutting his hair, even though long hair was his trademark. A physical change to embody a resounding return to the music world.
The rapper surrounded himself with the best. He received invaluable advice from ultra runners like Lithuanian Aleksandr Sorokin, world record holder for 100 km, 6h, 12h, and 24h, and French Stéphanie Gicquel, recent French record holder for 24h on track. He also received guidance from Thomas Lepers (member of the French 24-hour team), Matthieu Bonne (multiple world champion for the most kilometres covered in 6 days on foot, and also on bike in 7 days and for the longest non-stop swim crossing), Nick Coury (ultra trail runner), and the renowned ultrarunner Yiannis Kouros.
In his final weeks of training, his staggering Strava graphs attest to his unwavering commitment. Training distances ranged between 150 and 246 km per week for December and January, mostly on a treadmill. This meant between 12h and 22h of training weekly. A weekly volume to make kilometre enthusiasts envious, even though the artist claims he doesn’t consider himself an elite athlete.
| A metaphor for the human condition and a deeply personal introspection
The singer discovered a passion for running, which he intends to retain as a lifestyle and the best way to maintain his mental health. The day after his “Survival Run,” Rilès humbly thanked his new Strava followers: “I didn’t expect so much buzz from these 24h, thank you, I’m not an athlete to follow, others are far better than me. Back to my usual schedule, I’ll never stop running, it helps me think and face my demons ” Since then, the singer has left the monotony of the treadmill for long outdoor runs of 20-30 km. The self-taught artist explained on the YouTube show The Code that this survival mode embodies his resilience and reconstruction in the face of the dark moments in his life that led him to a suicide attempt years ago. Rilès ultimately found balance in running.
This artistic, philosophical, and sporting performance embodies for the singer “a symbol of the contemporary human condition – an endless race where progress is just an illusion.” Rilès even chose to shoot his music video for “Dead or Alive” just minutes after completing his wild challenge.
On the one hand, the treadmill is a metaphor for the endless race of life, more specifically the contemporary human condition where moving forward is ultimately just an illusion. On the other hand, the saws symbolize “social and personal pressures that push us to go further despite fatigue, pain, or fear” (from the text accompanying the live stream). Through running, the artist embodies the spirit of his album, testing his mental capacity to physically surpass himself in a situation resembling survival.
| The final hours, unbearable for the artist
Clad in black from head to toe with “Survival Mode” inscribed on his back, wearing New Balance Fresh Foam X More V4, the rapper finished with bloody feet, numb hands, and vomited. Yet nothing stopped him, even as he felt unwell after 22 hours. Rilès admitted the feat was harder than he imagined, especially nearing the end.
He posted two photos of his face on Instagram, one before the challenge and the other, stark after. His face marked by effort, he explained he lost 4 kg during the feat, representing between 10,000 and 14,000 calories burned.
Through this work he describes as physical and artistic, the rapper embodies the spirit of his latest album, Survival Mode, which is about surpassing oneself regardless of difficulties, in a society that seeks comfort and avoids challenges. He thus questions notions of self-struggle, stepping out of one’s comfort zone, resilience, and the physical and psychological limits of human beings.
