Pleasure, performance and solidarity: Elle et Lui celebrates 23 years

At Petit Château Park in Dury, just outside Amiens, 500 runners lined up on Saturday, June 14, for the 23rd edition of Elle et Lui, organised by the Vytajog association. Buoyed by a strong spirit of solidarity and an impressive standard among the 250 competing pairs, the race was a resounding success, attracting seasoned runners and newcomers alike with its relay format and warm atmosphere.

After last year’s rain and mud, the sun finally showed up on Saturday, with a light breeze creating ideal conditions for the race all the way to its traditional finale: the dessert dash. This much-anticipated gathering gives every participant the chance to enjoy cakes lovingly prepared by the volunteers, in a cheerful and convivial atmosphere. But before the treats, there was some running to be done. So let’s go back to the start of this late afternoon, when everyone gave their best… for their partner.

A packed event designed to welcome everyone

A little earlier, at 5 p.m., the 250 women set off for 4 km at a strong pace, after a lively and energetic warm-up. The leading women covered the course at between 3:30 and 3:50/km. The first five women arrived almost together at the relay point, handing over to their teammates in a tightly packed group. The men then battled to open up a gap.

Gauthier Cascales quickly pulled clear, building a sizeable lead over his pursuers, including the male representatives of Amicale Val de Somme. Spectators were stunned to see him eat up the rolling 5 km in barely fifteen minutes, and raised their cheers another notch. Alongside his partner Alix Varlet, he started the final 6 km as part of a pair, still out front. Never slowing, the US Camon runners completed the 15 km in an excellent 53:55, despite a demanding course that was far from fast.

One notable feature: the leading pairs know each other well. Some are members of the same club, while others regularly meet at local races: 10Ks, marathons, trails… But there is room for everyone here, from experienced runners to amateurs. Above all, it is about conviviality and the pleasure of running together.

Pleasure, performance and solidarity: the unique Elle et Lui race celebrates 23 years

A fiercely contested women’s leg and strong pairings

The women’s opening leg was especially competitive this year. Most of the front-runners, members of clubs from across the region, showed plenty of ability and needed to manage their effort intelligently. Alix Varlet, part of the winning pair, acknowledged the challenge: «  There was Élodie Bellettre and Alice Canaple, and I know they have good 5K times. »

The former did more than simply make the start line: she delivered when it mattered. Alongside her husband Vincent Andrieux, Élodie Bellettre secured an excellent second place, their best result since they started taking part in the event. The regulars were able to make full use of the childcare available and focus entirely on the 15 km course. A mother of two young girls, Élodie said: « We do it whenever we can. We both played our cards well: last year we finished third, and the year before that, fourth. Being able to leave the children at the crèche is fantastic, it really clears your mind. » The two Amicale du Val de Somme members, who train five times a week, enjoy the « fun » side of the race, before tougher challenges on the horizon : « La Corrida de Pascale in Péronne, La Jules Verne, the Touquet 10K, Frétin, a big trail in La Motte… then it’s time for a break. »

As for Alice Canaple, another formidable rival mentioned by Alix, she still ran strongly despite being below par after an illness. Paired with Benoît Watiau, she was still in fourth place with 3 km to go, but the pair were eventually overtaken, finishing fifth. A fine performance given the strength of the field. « There’s always a very fast start among the women, but this year the standard seemed even higher », Alice said. She added, accurately: « It’s always a challenge, because running as a pair creates a completely different dynamic. » Benoît agreed: « It isn’t easy, because the women stop and start again, which creates a real break in rhythm. » Élodie added, amused: « Everything happens so quickly. At first you tell yourself you’ll jog, do a few drills… then you start chatting and suddenly you think: oh my God, the first runner is already here! » Yet this experienced pair, both members of Esprit Run, recorded their best result in the event after three appearances. On one previous occasion, they had been forced to retire while leading because of a health scare. Experienced trail runners, finishers of the MaXi-Race d’Annecy and entered for the marathon du Mont-Blanc, they used Elle et Lui to work on their speed… and enjoy themselves.

23 years on, the organisers are still beaming

The smiles at the finish, the embraces, the couples crossing the line hand in hand… all are expressions of sharing and affection. Some genuine couples even chose to match their outfits from the famous swoosh brand: fluorescent pink shorts for her, a matching T-shirt for him. This countryside race, winding along rural roads between fields and woodland, has a wonderful sense of harmony.

On Saturday, one couple was even celebrating 21 years of love. Yves-André and Emeline met by chance at one of the early editions. At the time, they teamed up to cover the 15 km… before becoming a couple off the course. Now married, and parents to a 17-year-old daughter who also runs, they remain loyal to this race, a powerful symbol of their shared story.

Elle et Lui was created in 2002, on the initiative of Patrick Durand, the first president of the Vytajog association, who regularly met up with friends for a run. As more and more runners joined them, the group became an organised club. Among the original loyal members is Christine Claisse, now 74, who has been there since the beginning. Tireless and always on the move between the marathons she has been running since turning 50 and her volunteer commitments, she never fails to amaze or win people over. Proud to see the event thriving, she remains one of the club’s pillars. Full of energy and impossible to slow down, « Kiki » says the club has become, for many, a genuine celebration of running.

Elle et Lui is a celebration where everyone gets something out of it: support for a charity, Rêves this year; a festival of smiles; and a whole spread of treats, from sandwiches to desserts, not to mention the cold beers to enjoy. Amandine Dejancourt, president of Vytajog, is glowing at the finish. « Seeing all these smiling people, happy to have taken part, shows that our model works. It’s moving to see that everyone turned up : the volunteers, the partners and every single participant », the event organiser said proudly.

Running as a pair is unusual. So much so that most of the duos interviewed highlighted the freshness and originality of an event that stands out for its bold format. Between the medal presentations for the first four pairs, the oldest duos and the best-represented club, Amicale du Val de Somme, Elle et Lui once again showed itself to be above all a family-friendly, convivial gathering, powered by the collective commitment of volunteers and participants alike. A number of local runners will line up for the Amiens edition of La Jules Verne on June 29.

✔ Find all the results from the 2025 edition