A true institution of trail running in France, the Mont-Blanc Marathon welcomes 10,500 participants of 85 different nationalities throughout the weekend.
One of the specificities of this race organized around Chamonix (Haute-Savoie) is to focus on mini-cross, over distances of 800 m to 3 km, with 800 children expected between 6 and 15 years old.
20 Minutes
explains how these (very) young budding trail runners enthusiastically wear their first race bib.
“We all remember that as kids, we didn't find it fun to run.
We were even able to use stomach aches as an excuse not to go.
It is therefore a source of pride to have 800 children registered on our mini-cross.
Organizer of the Mont-Blanc Marathon with the Chamonix sports club (10,500 participants of 85 nationalities throughout the weekend), Fred Comte is delighted with the rise in power of the free races offered for the little ones.
The mini-cross allows 800 budding trail runners, aged between 6 and 15, to cover 800 m, 2 km or 3 km in the Bois du Bouchet in Chamonix (without elevation gain), depending on their age, this Saturday between 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.
And thus to taste the atmosphere of mountain races very early on, alongside parents, most often registered for the 10, 23 and 42 km of this major event.
Access to this content has been blocked to respect your choice of consent
By clicking on "
I ACCEPT
", you accept the deposit of cookies by external services and will thus have access to the content of our partners
I ACCEPT
And to better remunerate 20 Minutes, do not hesitate to accept all cookies, even for one day only, via our "I accept for today" button in the banner below.
More information on the Cookie Management Policy page.
“The young people leave like planes!
»
“We would like to encourage them to manage their speed like in mountain races, but the young people take off like airplanes!
It's huge to see their mass start, which looks like a sprint,” smiles Fred Comte.
To avoid encouraging a highly developed competitive spirit from an early age, far from the world of trail running, there is no longer a stopwatch or ranking in these different youth categories, unlike the first editions.
On the other hand, a medal is offered to each participant who has reached the finish line.
“Our two daughters, Lily [11 years old] and Rose [8 years old] have understood this well, says Aurélie Fricker, who came from Alsace with her husband to participate in the 42 km.
They may be sporty, but above all they want to have fun on their first trail run.
» A state of mind shared by Evan (6 years old), one of the youngest of the event, who will also experience his first time with a bib.
“He can't wait to discover the atmosphere of a first trail race, explains his mother Audrey Mortz, a former professional basketball referee like her husband David, who also came with their family from Alsace.
Evan loves skiing and the mountains, and for sure we passed on our love of sport in general to him.
»
At 4 years old, Kelly was hiking with more than 1,000 m of D +
Don't talk about Pierre de Coubertin's motto to Eva (17), Enzo (15) and Kelly (12), determined to play for the win in the many races in which they participate, including in Switzerland where there are a real podium at the finish.
It must be said that their parents Cyril and Gaëlle David met during an internship for the French championships in the young cycling categories, about twenty years ago.
Embarked on the trail by Cyril, registered this Saturday on the 23 km, the David family, who lives on a plateau located above Evian-les-Bains (Haute-Savoie), clashes on the circuit.
“Three of our four children have been taking part in mini-trails for a very long time and they often win races in their category,” says Gaëlle David.
As in 2018 on the emblematic site of Zermatt.
On a course of up to 2.6 km (with 150 m of elevation gain), "it was the jackpot for them", since they had all finished ahead of their race.
Only Tessa (2 years old), still too small to start, will be content to play the supporters this Saturday.
Gaëlle David recounts this family fervor for trail running: “It's really great to have been able to pass on our passion for outdoor sports to them.
From the age of 4, Kelly accompanied us without flinching on hikes to the summit of the Dent d'Oche [2,222 m], with more than 1,000 m of D +.
He pursues :
We are always surprised by their performances, but this desire to give their all in the race really comes from them.
We are not trying to push them in that direction.
Sometimes the three of them go running together, in the evening in the mountains around our house, for an hour.
»
You must be at least 22 years old to register for the 23, 42 or 90 km
Eva David, registered for the 10 km with her mother this Saturday morning, will be able to test herself on the Young Race next season (from 18 to 22 years old, 15 km and 810 m of D +).
One hundred and fifty young runners will be in this high category this year, which welcomes “the trail stars of tomorrow”, according to Fred Comte.
Because young people under 22 are currently not allowed to participate in the 42 km, or even in a half-marathon, due to the significant difference in altitude around Chamonix.
These prudent rules set by the French Athletics Federation (FFA) will probably not prevent Eva, Enzo, Kelly and so many other young mountain enthusiasts from tackling formidable distances one day.
And so to supplant their parents.
Sport
Mont-Blanc Marathon: How to combine intense work and high-level trail running?
Sport
Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc: How so many amateur runners snatched their “Grail” after more than 40 hours of racing
Trail
Child
Mont Blanc
Chamonix
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Mountain
Sport
Race