Ekiden de Cahors is a night road relay run through the streets of Cahors, in the Lot department, held in late September. The primary adult race covers the marathon distance, divided among six runners into legs of 5 km, 10 km, 5 km, 10 km, 5 km, and 7.195 km. Younger runners participate in races including a 30 km youth relay and children’s events, structuring the day around teams instead of individual marathoners.
The format originates from Japanese ekiden racing, where the baton handover is as significant as each runner’s segment. In Cahors, the race also serves as a fundraiser, with all profits directed to Huntington France, an organization supporting individuals affected by Huntington’s disease, a rare neurodegenerative condition. Over 200 volunteers assist in organizing the event; one recent edition generated €22,000 for the association.