Avirun
Avirun transforms Bayonne’s Stade Jean-Dauger, typically the home of Aviron Bayonnais Rugby Pro, into a running finish line for a May race day. The rugby club organizes the event, offering various distances to accommodate different runners: 5 km, 10 km, and a half marathon, with children’s races held within the stadium. The atmosphere leans towards a local sports gathering rather than a formal road-racing competition, with participants exchanging rugby gear for running shoes but still concluding their run on the rugby pitch. All routes commence at the Palais des Sports de Lauga and conclude at Stade Jean-Dauger. They traverse the Floride neighborhood before entering the old center of Bayonne, passing through the moats and the narrow streets of Petit Bayonne and Grand Bayonne. The course incorporates the city’s rugby heritage into the event's appeal: the half marathon distance is likened to running approximately 210 rugby fields consecutively, and spectators are encouraged to generate the energy of a match day. A festive village extends the day's activities post-run, maintaining the communal and celebratory spirit characteristic of Bayonne, similar to the Fêtes de Bayonne.
