the essentials The Toulouse marathon returns after 4 years of absence. It will bring together 30,000 participants in different events: marathon, half, 10 km and children’s race. The start will be given on Boulevard de Strasbourg, and the finish will be judged on Rue d’Alsace-Lorraine.
A record of participants
For its return, Sunday November 10, the Toulouse marathon, renamed “Toulouse Métropole Run Experience”, will break participation records. No less than 30,000 runners are expected: 6,500 in the marathon, 2,400 in the relay, 12,000 in the half, 8,000 in the 10 km, and 500 in the children’s race.
30,000 participants in the various races are expected DDM – XAVIER DE FENOYL
Never before seen in the streets of Toulouse, where the 13 editions of the marathon, organized between 2007 and 2019 without interruption, brought together 12,000 participants on average.
The route of the 2024 DDM marathon
“Marathons with 30,000 participants, there are not many in France, less than five certainly. We opened registrations in November 2023, and there were quickly 2,000 registered. And in the spring, it was the tidal wave”, says Jérémy Larson, director of General Public events at Playground.
The heritage of Toulouse highlighted
The marathon route, but also the half and 10 km will highlight the city’s heritage, while taking into account the need to pass on arteries wide enough to allow thousands of runners to pass, without jostling.
The arrival of the 2019 edition, the last of the marathon in Toulouse DDM – XAVIER DE FENOYL
Thus, after starting on Boulevard de Strasbourg, the runners will pass, for example, on the Piste des Géants, the Halle de la Machine, or in the gardens of the Cité de l’espace. Pont des Catalans, Cépière racecourse, Ramier island and its new footbridges over the Garonne will be visited. A 100% Toulouse course, as has been the case since 2016.
Why is it no longer the Metropolis which organizes
After the cancellation of the 2020 edition due to Covid, Toulouse Métropole highlighted the organizational cost – a hole of 350,000 euros to fill each year – for not relaunching the event, between 2021 and 2023. Playground, the private organizer, contacted the city and gained support for the event’s return.
The design of the bibs for the different Playground Event events
“Given the seriousness of the proposal and our ability to support such a project, we accepted and made sure to facilitate the organization of this event by working to secure the route, the runners and the public,” indicates Toulouse Métropole.
Traffic disrupted this Sunday
The entire route, available iciwill obviously be closed to traffic all day Sunday. It is therefore advisable to move your car if it is parked on the route, before Saturday evening at the latest. The Capitol parking lot will also be closed.
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Toulouse Marathon: parking and traffic disrupted in many neighborhoods this Sunday
A refreshment during the 2019 DDM edition – XAVIER DE FENOYL
Bus lines will be diverted, and the Capitole and Jean-Jaurès metro stations will be closed on Sunday. They will reopen in the afternoon, after the end of the tests. The tram will be interrupted between Arènes and Palais de Justice until the beginning of the afternoon.
No plastic bottles, tap water, wooden medals made in France
The event aims to be as “eco-responsible” as possible. Thus, it is the Metropolis’s water network which will be used for the supplies, served in reusable cups. There will be no plastic bottles.
The finishers’ medals, in 2019 at Square De Gaulle DDM – XAVIER DE FENOYL
The medals of the Toulouse Métropole Run Experience Playground Event
The event will not “give away” a souvenir t-shirt, but has sold nearly 5,000, made in Europe, at the request of the runners. “We wanted to avoid 2-euro t-shirts made in China,” assures the organization. The medals will be made of wood, and made in France.
