Have you ever taken part in an Ekiden? Actually, do you even know what one is?
Before I left the UK I certainly didn’t. But over here in France, they are a big deal and rightly so!
This team event is a full marathon distance chopped into six relay legs of 5km – 10km – 5km – 10km – 5km – 7195m that often (though not necessarily) take part at night. You can participate as six men, six women or a mixed team of exactly three of each (other mixtures can join in but are usually not eligible for any prizes). Runners are strictly prohibited from running more than one leg.
I’ve been lucky enough to participate in Ekidens twice with my club (Blagnac Athlétisme) and they stand out as two of the most exciting and rewarding races I’ve ever done.
Last year (2021) we entered as a mixed team for the Ekiden de Cahors night race in early November. We had speedy men on the three longer legs and I lined up to take the baton for the fifth section. I was just back from injury and unsure how I would fare, but I managed a decent (sub-20) 5km and enjoyed myself enormously zooming round the twisting alleys of the city centre in my head torch.
I had taken the lead in the mixed classification when I handed over to my last team-mate. He put in a sterling performance and held on to take the win. We were thrilled! Our combined time was 2hr41’34 – just 36 seconds ahead of the next mixed team.
Then last weekend I had the chance to relive the excitement in the stunning city and UNESCO World Heritage site of Albi. This was a huge event, with 300 teams from all over the area vying for glory and the Occitanie Regional titles that were up for grabs.
Again, it was an 8pm start and, being on the last leg, it was late into the evening by the time I ran. I’m in the thick of marathon training at the moment and already had 100km in my legs for the week leading up to the Ekiden, so nerves and self-doubt were very much in evidence. But once I took the baton, I was flying! The steep downhill start certainly helped, but my legs really felt surprisingly good. I dug deep and gave it everything I had.
Crossing the line I knew I was in front of the other Blagnac mixed teams, as well as the superb quality all-female team from rival club Balma, but I did not realise that we had once again grabbed a podium place by a matter of metres! Bronze medals in the Regional Champs were ours by just 19 seconds over the next club. Our time of 2hr46’14 was also good enough to qualify us for the Championnat de France d’Ekiden, which takes place in Paris in a few weeks’ time.
But better by far than trophies and prizes were the electric atmosphere at both races. Running is usually such a solitary sport that there’s really something special about a team event. Club marquees colonising the most famous city-centre squares, teams in fancy dress, runners who had completed their legs downing beers and enthusiastic crowds all over the course all contributed to an evening of awesome fun.
So, if you ever get a chance to race an Ekiden, do! A rewarding night of excitement, team-work, endorphins and the greatest runner’s high awaits.
