Ekiden de Toulouse

L'Ekiden, you know it? This sport, born in the land of the rising sun 🇯🇵 in 1917, consists of running in relay in successive legs organized as follows: 5 km, 10 km, 5 km, 10 km 5 km and, to finish, 7.195 km. Traditionally, in the Japan, ekiden runners pass a baton, called Tasuki, which is a fabric scarf 🧣. For your info, the first event of this relay race in relay lasted three days, with a course of 508 kilometers between Kyoto ⛩️ and Tokyo 🗼, revisiting a tradition of mail transport on the route of the Tōkaidō. Today, we stay closer. We take you to the Ekiden de Toulouse where, rest assured, the distance will be more classic and standardized 😉.

If you’ve never taken part, the Ekiden is a unique and fun way to approach the marathon by handing off with your friends or family with a team of 6 people. Women, men, young people (from 16 years old): everyone has a chance to participate 👏. Teams can be mixed. Great sharing moment in the making, right? 🤗 The Ekiden de Toulouse is organized by the Triathlon Toulouse Métropole and the Club Athlétique Balmanais 🤝. You’ll run through Toulouse’s iconic spots, like the Envol des Pionniers and the Halle de la Machine, famous for its spectacle machines 😍. And then, sprinting like a madman through the pink city streets 💓, on the legendary Piste des Géants 😎, there are worse plans, right? Toulouse, the French rugby capital and also the Occitanie region, is, indeed, known as one of the most enjoyable cities in France. No doubt you’ll enjoy it during this Ekiden!

Beyond your race, you’ll find joy in the city’s edge or in the surrounding majestic lands 🥰. If you’re into aerospace, the Cité de l'Espace is a must-see 🚀. The Aeroscopia Museum will delight both kids and adults. If you want a more nature-filled time, the banks of the Garonne aren’t a bad pick... 🌊 Art lovers and sculptors meet at the Musée des Augustins, a former convent that shifted its vocation in 1795. A terrace on Place du Capitole is also well earned... ☕️ In short, you’ll have a hard time leaving this great French city that has managed to stay human-scale.

You can also choose to stroll a few kilometers along the canal du Midi, that famous waterway that starts from Toulouse towards the Mediterranean 🏝️. Time seems to stand still along the riverbank 😍. The department of the Haute-Garonne offers a bucolic side and many towns to discover for travelers. Aurignac, Muret, Blagnac, Colomiers, the list goes on... 😏

Whatever you choose, you’ll be happy! 😀