© Emma Bert / MARATHONS.COM
The Courstache in Aubière: Running to Support the Fight Against Men’s Cancers
For its ninth edition this Sunday, November 2, the Courstache in Aubière, just outside Clermont-Ferrand (Puy-de-Dôme), brought together nearly 6,500 participants. The 10 km, 5 km, and 5 km fun run delighted runners of all levels, from seasoned athletes to first-timers. It marked a record turnout for this charitable and community-driven event dedicated to supporting the fight against men’s cancers.
The sky was gray and heavy that morning in Aubière. The air was mild, and excitement filled the streets. The pavement carried the scent of dampness, hinting at the arrival of winter. Some runners, focused and meticulous, pinned on their race bibs surrounded by family and friends. Others hurriedly settled on benches to lace up their shoes and warm up. A few raindrops greeted the participants in their navy-blue Courstache shirts. Many sported mustaches — some real, others drawn on by the volunteer face-painters. Gusts of wind rustled the autumn-colored leaves clinging to the trees.
As the start time for the main event — the 10 km race — drew near, the organizers’ motorbikes hummed along the course, signaling runners to line up and move toward the blue-and-white inflatable arch. Behind the starting line, the crowd thickened, tension rising, expressions tightening. The wind quieted as the murmur faded. Seconds felt suspended — until the crack of the starting gun broke the silence, unleashing the cheers of the spectators.
| Running Against Illness
Following Clermont en Rose, held in the capital of the Volcanoes region to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, la Courstache took place in Aubière in early November. This charity event aims to raise awareness and collect funds to fight male cancers. All registration fees are donated to the dedicated endowment fund, which supports prevention, research, and patient care. A total of 6,500 participants answered the call this year, up from 4,300 last year—a tremendous success for the organizers, setting a new record for participation in the event’s ninth edition.
The three race formats—the 10 k, the 5 k (both officially FFA Bronze certified), and an untimed 5K fun run—allowed runners of all levels to push themselves on a fast, urban course. Participants, along with their families and friends, enjoyed a range of awareness activities throughout the day. Several associations and partner shops also hosted booths, welcoming the large crowds who came to support the cause.
| Double Victory for Louis Michel in the 10K
The new Clermont-based runner Louis Michel, originally from Le Puy-en-Velay in the Haute-Loire region, dominated the main event for the second year in a row, claiming victory in a commanding solo run with a time of 30:12. The young hopeful, recently selected for the French national youth team, wasted no time taking the lead in the opening meters and never looked back.
“The goal was to break the course record of 29:57, but my legs just weren’t there after the French 5K Championships,” explained the winner, who placed third at that recent national event. “By halfway through the race, I could feel it was going to be tough, so I eased off a bit before picking up the pace again in the last kilometer. I treated it as a good training effort to kick off my next 10K preparation cycle.” His next target: dipping under 29 minutes at upcoming races in Vénissieux or Nice. “Since this race is for charity, it also feels meaningful — like we’re running for a good cause,” added Louis Michel.
Jean-François Notebaert (31:31) and Alban Gleyze (31:38) completed the men’s podium in a tight finish.
Among the women, victory went to local runner Audrey Passot, the 2023 French national champion over 100 km, who crossed the line in 37:20. After several kilometers shoulder to shoulder with her clubmate Louise Chaillou, who finished third in 37:39, it was Laura Barthomeuf, another Clermont athlete, who secured second place in 37:34.
The race carried special meaning for Audrey Passot, as it was one of her last before undergoing surgery that will sideline her for several months. Competing alongside twenty of her training partners was especially important to her. “Even though my time was below what I’d hoped for, I’m proud of this win and of how far I’ve come since my first participation in 2017, when I ran 45:38. My next goals are set for late 2026, with the aim of returning to the 100 km distance,” she shared.
| Paloma Ferrari in Full Formula 1 Mode
The 5K race left little room for suspense. Paloma Ferrari, the newly crowned French junior champion over 3000 m after a spectacular sprint finish, once again showcased her blazing speed, clocking 16:39. Her goal was to pin on a bib two weeks ahead of the selection cross-country race in Pontcharra for the upcoming European Championships.
“I wanted to take part in a competition other than on the track since that’s all I’ve been doing since May, including the recent French U23 Interclub Championships over 3000 m,” explained the athlete coached by Patrick Bringer, who wanted to test her form over a slightly longer distance. “I had so much fun today—I really love the 5K, and I’d missed it. I’d like to improve my time and get closer to 16:30, but first, it’s all about the cross-country season!”
Charlène Delhorme finished second in 17:11, while Orane Brouillet claimed third place in a tight finish with 17:38.
On the men’s side, Baptiste Coudert, a 3000 m steeplechase specialist with two French national youth selections to his name, took a commanding win in 15:09. It was a satisfying victory for the athlete after several weeks of disrupted training due to a muscle injury. The race served as a fitness test following his recent return to higher-intensity work. Matthieu Desboudard, a promising U23 runner, crossed the line in 15:13, closely followed by William Missa of Vichy in 15:14.
“I didn’t want to start too fast since I wasn’t in top shape, so I let the others take the lead for the first 2.5 km before moving to the front and making a push around the 3 km mark. I finished alone, pushing a bit harder to test myself. It was a really good comeback race—still far from my usual level, but satisfying. It’s great to see so many people turning out for a charity event like this.”
Baptiste Coudert, 5 K winner
| A Festive and Community-Focused Event
The Courstache isn’t just for performance-focused runners. Many participants took on the 10K or 5K simply for fun or to challenge themselves to finish a race. Whether with friends or colleagues, runners of all levels joined in the celebration—like Marie-Christine Duarte, a department manager at the French national health insurance fund (CPAM), who took part alongside her company’s team.
“There were about ten of us from our teams running the Courstache, and around a hundred two weeks ago at Clermont en Rose. It was only my second official race, and I was running with my son. The goal was to run for a good cause and finish the 5K in under 30 minutes while passing as many people as possible—my little challenge as a 47-year-old mom. There were so many people, so much cheering, music everywhere… I had an absolutely wonderful time!”
Marie-Christine Duarte, coureuse pour la CPAM
On November 2, 6,500 runners sporting moustaches took part in the Courstache. Whether chasing performance goals or simply taking on a personal challenge, everyone contributed to supporting the fight against men’s cancers. It was a resounding success for an event that continues to draw growing enthusiasm year after year.
✔ All the results of the 9th edition of the Courstache in Aubière
Emma BERT
Journaliste
