Marathon des Villages 2026

The Marathon des Villages begins at the Marché de Piraillan on the Cap Ferret peninsula. Runners depart in October for a 42.195 km race around Lège-Cap-Ferret. The event can be completed solo or as a two-person relay, with the handover point also at the Marché de Piraillan. The second runner in the relay covers 26 km. The course is a figure-8 loop featuring approximately 250 meters of elevation gain and six distinct surfaces, offering more variety than a standard flat road marathon. The route crosses villages, pine forests, oyster farming communities, and coastal paths, with 10 aid stations positioned roughly every 4 km. These stations provide water, fruit, chips, syrup, and Coca-Cola starting from the 20 km mark. The marathon has a 6 hour 30 minute time limit. Now in its 45th year, the event is also known as the Randonnée des Villages when referring to its walking component. Participants hail from 85 French departments and 23 nationalities, with the average age of participants being 45. All finishers are awarded a technical shirt, a medal, and a bottle of wine. The refreshment stand offers local specialties such as oysters and sandwiches.