The Fifth Edition of the Nogent-le-Phaye Strides: A Run for a Good Cause

Having become one of the flagship annual events in Nogent le Phaye (Eure-et-Loir), the fifth edition of the eponymous strides took place on May 14, 2023with almost 500 runners present.

For the fifth time, the parents’ association of the Nogent-le-Phaye school has organized the strides of its own commune, a foot race that takes place east of Chartres. Runners of all ages set off in search of the best time around the Raymond-Debond stadium, home of the local football club.

A race for a good cause

500 runners or almost, “it was our target” explains Rony Jorand, founder of the race and handyman on D-Day, who juggles between speaking at the microphone and questions from the different runners before or after the race. The association ASSPEN28, of which he is a member and which organizes the event, must also quadruple its workforce during the strides.

On the program, several races so that each participant can find their way around: up to 7 kilometers for adults and shorter distances for children.

Thousands of steps for a good cause, because a check for 1,800 eurosor all the benefits linked to registrations, was given to the elementary school of Nogent-le-Phaye “to allow children to finance school trips”, according to the organization.

During these races, the first Nogentais and the first Nogentaise of each category were rewarded, the same thing for the first and first of the school. The children also received a visit from the mascot of the zoo-refuge La Tanière, Tanny, financial partner of the race this year.

A varied course

In total, therefore, five different pelotons hit the pavement (or rather the trails) in the morning.

The atmosphere is cool. We change the type of ground a lot on the course so it hurts the legs and at the same time that’s what makes the race so charming. There are still some margins for improvement.

The runner mentions certain portions of the route that he considers “unsuitable for the passage of runners” or even “the absence of a starting point”. Here are some avenues to explore for next year.

This diversity of the route, which has not been changed for three years, is also the story that comes out of Anaïs De Cock, winner of the 2022 edition: “I found that it was a very nice race, you can combine the path as well as the road and the forest, it allows you to see a little bit of all types of terrain”. The ES Jouy-Saint-Prest Athletics licensee also won the women’s ranking this year, with a time of 27’37, which places her 18th overall.

Among the men, it was Victor Letertre (PSL 28) who left with the big winner’s medal after 25’06 of the race.

“There are more and more women running”

For the 31-year-old runner, who has more than ten years of running experience, this victory was “not a goal”, but rather the pursuit of “pleasure” in return for a meniscus injury.

Podiatrist in everyday life, she also notices a greater proportion of female participants around her in this kind of race.

there is an increase in the number of women running. I see it in my office, there are more and more women who come to see me for problems related to running, it’s a sport that is becoming more and more popular among women.

A democratization which can be explained by the accessible side of running, less expensive than many other sports, if we except the purchase of the pair of shoes, which can quickly quantify.

According to the now double defending champion, “it’s easy to do, you get out of your house and off you go running. It’s still simpler than swimming, for example. Everything comes together: setting goals, proving things to each other, sometimes with friends.

An important event for the community

The Strides of Nogent-le-Phaye, “it’s a family run firstone of the rare races where you can run the children from 3 years oldin duet with a parent” according to the head of the project, Rony Jorand.

In addition to the routes for children, set between 900 meters and 3 kilometers, the parents had the opportunity to run for 500 meters around the stadium with the youngest, in pairs. A parenthesis in which the mayor of the town, Benjamin Beyssac, participated with his son: “it was a good way to experience the event from the inside,” he says.

In general, the town hall of Nogent-le-Phaye is particularly involved in its Strides, whether in the provision of logistical means or in the preparation the days preceding the race.

This is an important event for the municipality, there is an alchemy that works well between the project leader, the parents’ association, and the community. The idea is to put it in time, as town hall we will continue to support this project so that it lasts.

The future of racing, the ASSPEN28 is already working on it. The association does not intend to stop there, and the race should continue over time.

“All parent-teacher associations have cycles with volunteers, my goal is to continue while trying to hand over. It is an open call for applications declaims Rony Jorand, father of a boy in CE2 at the Nogent-le-Phaye school.

As with many associations, finding volunteers “who have time to invest” is always a difficult undertaking, and yet, we will have to find so that the Foulées continue to walk the alleys and paths of Nogent-le- Phaye.

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