Ekiden de Noyon is a six-runner marathon relay held in Noyon, located in the Oise department of northern France. Teams complete the full 42.195 km marathon distance on the road, with each runner covering one leg instead of individuals running the entire marathon. It is associated with the November holiday period and is organized by AAC Noyonnais.
The format is the primary attraction: it transforms a marathon into a team endeavor, making pacing, handovers, and collective spirit as important as individual speed. The event is open to all participants, features children’s races starting in the morning, and awards prizes across the various races. The organizers characterize the ekiden as a competition that fosters group cohesion, which aligns with its structure: club runners, workplace teams, friends, and families can all share a single marathon day without requiring six individuals to run a full marathon each.