The 42 kilometers and 195 meters of the Alpes-Maritimes marathon brought together 11,700 athletes Sunday morning along the Mediterranean. Starting at 8 a.m. from the Promenade des Anglais, the fastest runners completed the course in about two hours and 10 minutes.
At 8:15 a.m. on Sunday morning, on the Baie des Anges, the starting gun was fired and the 11,700 runners took on the challenge of the 42.195 km race. Whether in teams or running alone against the clock, the goal was the same for everyone: to reach La Croisette as quickly as possible. The seaside path to Cannes seemed long, very long. Fortunately for everyone who decided to lace up their sneakers that morning, the weather was clearly on their side. The conditions were ideal for running: an overcast sky to maintain cool temperatures but not enough to deter the public. As a result, the times were good, and many spectators were present not only at the start and finish but also in Antibes and throughout the course.
Behind the ever-impressive Kenyans and Ethiopians (with Botoru Tsegaye’s victory in 2h 10min and 27s), the athletes, whether anonymous or known, kept going for many hours. Denis Chardenas, celebrating his 80th birthday that Sunday, marked the occasion in his own way by crossing the finish line after 5 hours and 25 minutes of effort. He is just one example among many. These sports enthusiasts come from Italy, England, and all over the world simply for the pleasure of pounding the pavement in the Cannes marathon.
A passion shared by Thierry Guibault (9th French finisher in 2h 24min 20s). He shared his race experience: “The conditions were great: the crowd, the weather, the organization. I started the race in a group of four, and it went well, but then I hit a bit of a wall… Marathons are tough! Fortunately, it’s truly a beautiful race! We have time to look around a bit, but we stay focused on our kilometers and the refreshment stations.”
