Performance meets Christmas magic at Liffré’s successful first Christmas Corrida

The race got underway at night, beneath the glow of the holiday lights, on Rue de François Mitterand, beside the church. By 7:30 p.m., the headline runners, most of them from Brittany or the surrounding area, were already warming up, ready to battle it out in their final race of the year. Nicolas Vitré and Laure Bertrand were not the only ones giving their all to celebrate their sport in this final competition. The spectators were just as fired up, raising their voices to cheer them on while marvelling at the depth of the field in this aptly named “Fast” 10K, held for the first time in their town in Ille-et-Vilaine. And they did not have to settle for seeing the athletes pass just once: the three-lap course gave them three chances to enjoy the spectacle.

A top 10 under 32 minutes

There was no hanging around in the Liffré Fast 10K, with Nicolas Vitré setting the pace. The runner from Saumur, recently named Maine-et-Loire’s Sportsman of the Year, became the race’s first winner. His 29:41 gave him a comfortable margin over Maxime Perrineau, who still ran an excellent 30:07 after easing off somewhat during a season spent enjoying time with his young daughter. Luc Michel completed the podium in 30:10 after a fine performance, confirming his place among the region’s best runners.

In the women’s race, Laure Bertrand took the win by a wide margin, paced by a fellow athlete from EA Pays de Brocéliande. She was imperious, completing the three laps in 33:27. Gaëlle Le Bleau and Ludivine Martel rounded out the podium in 36:12 and 36:36 respectively. Marie Lohéac-Bouchard, fresh from the European Championships, where she won team bronze shortly after completing her PhD, was ultimately unable to join the festivities. Flu had confined her to bed after an especially intense final month of the year.

Christmas magic turned all the way up

Set up especially for the race, a Christmas market showcasing local artisans invited visitors to explore. As an added bonus, announced just a few days before the event, children, including those taking part in the various distances, could enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride and climb aboard Santa’s sleigh. Dressed entirely in blue to match the event’s colours and bearing a sign reading “Liffré Christmas Race”, Santa was never far away.

The sign directing runners to race-number collection had been installed on a magnificent illuminated Christmas tree. Small elves, green hats firmly perched on their heads, waited for runners at the Espace Intergénérations to hand over their precious race numbers. At the bag drop, it was not unusual to come face to face with Gingy, straight out of Shrek, or with Scouts always ready to lend a hand.

The crowds were already out in force to cheer on the youngest runners, who set off first at 3:30 p.m., before handing over to an older generation at 5 p.m. for the 5K L’Orange Bleue. At 6 p.m. came the 10K Ouestboissons, open to everyone, before the evening’s grand finale: the Fast 10K at 8 p.m., bringing the festive edition to a close.

A successful debut built on reputation and slick communication

The organisers had no trouble selling their final race entries by mid-November. One reason for the event’s success was the reputation of APIRUNTOUR, whose ties to the APIRUN brand have already made it well known in running circles, particularly in the region. But that was not the only explanation. Strong communication played a key role in drawing such a large crowd on race day.

Starting 19 days before the race, the organisers published one announcement every day: sharing valuable advice, as in the first post from coach and elite athlete Bruno Heubi; thanking the event’s sponsors; presenting the day’s schedule, with the race incorporated into the Christmas market and race-number collection available from Thursday and Friday, or from 11 a.m. on Saturday; announcing a surprise for children involving a horse-drawn carriage; and, above all, revealing a high-calibre pacing squad. They included young national-level athlete Quentin Bronchart, a middle-distance and road-running specialist, targeting 32 minutes; marathoner Florian Caro for 34 minutes; and pure middle-distance runner Philippine de la Bigne for 39 minutes. The brief was clear: consistency, precision and performance, while keeping the spirit of Christmas firmly in mind. The Entente Paris Université Club Stade Français athlete delivered her pacing duties to perfection, naturally finishing 12th in 40:42.

This first edition of the Christmas Corrida lived up to every promise. With a quality field and large crowds lining the roads, the event was a genuine success for APIRUNTOUR, giving everyone the chance to experience the magic of Christmas in a different way.

➜ Full results from the Liffré Christmas Corrida