L'ekiden de Villenave d'Ornon - Villenave-d'Ornon 2026

L'Ekiden de Villenave d'Ornon is an evening relay race in Villenave-d'Ornon, featuring teams sharing either the full marathon distance or a shorter 15 km race. The main Ekiden involves six runners covering 42.195 km, with segments of 5 km, 10 km, 5 km, 10 km, 5 km, and 7.195 km. A four-person marathon relay covers the same distance with segments of 15 km, 10 km, 10 km, and 7.195 km. Additionally, a 15 km relay is available for three teammates, and a two-person version of the same distance, both open to runners or walkers. The marathon-distance relays commence at 18:00, the 15 km relay begins at 19:15, and headlamps are required from 18:45. All races utilize a 5 km circuit, allowing teammates to run, observe handovers, and encourage one another without being spread across a long route. The Ekiden includes categories for women's teams, mixed teams (three women, three men), Masters men's and women's teams, and a corporate or public-sector ranking; other team compositions are classified in the men's category. Participation is limited: 70 teams for the Ekiden, 15 for the four-person marathon relay, and 10 for the 15 km relay. The main Ekiden holds a regional FFA designation and functions as the Gironde Ekiden Championship, adding a club-racing dimension to the team atmosphere.