Runs de Sénart: Lily of the Valley for a Record-Breaking May 1

“ It’s a record, with around 1,000 more participants than last year, explains Johan Scieur, Grand Paris Sud’s director of sport. On the 10K, it’s the first year we’ve reached 2,500, while the 23K has been growing steadily every year. The 5K brought together nearly 2,000 participants yesterday, which is also a first. ”

The nighttime 5K got the festivities under way on Thursday at 9:30 p.m. It was a huge celebration, bringing together runners and walkers, but above all families, friends, couples and a broad crowd looking to enjoy an unforgettable evening. From the warm-up led by On Air Fitness Corbeil-Essonnes to the various activities, including cancan dancers, light shows, concerts and huge inflatable animal sculptures, all the way to a colourful finish, everything was in place.

Then, on Friday morning, it was time for the longer-distance runners. At 9:15 a.m., the 2,500 10K runners set off, followed at 9:30 by the participants in the 23K trail race. Between Essonne and Seine-et-Marne, the Runs de Sénart once again brought the residents of the Grand Paris Sud area out in force.

© Kenzo Mabeno

A May 1 celebration

What would a May 1 race be without its traditional sprig of lily of the valley? Grand Paris Sud, which organises the event, knows that only too well. Every finisher therefore receives a few white bells on this public holiday, when happiness is celebrated, along with a product from local agriculture.

“ There’s a real running tradition in this area,” the director of sport stresses. It shows in this well-run event, where everything flows naturally. “ We’re lucky here at Carré Sénart to have an easily accessible site, with wide avenues and spaces that are well suited to setting up the race village. We try to make the most of all that to offer the best possible race-day experience, and I think it works.”

This year, all the ingredients were there for a perfect morning for runners and supporters gathered along the course, particularly at the finish. The sun was out, lighting up parts of the route, while the Allée de la Citoyenneté, the start and finish area, remained partly shaded by the trees. A DJ kept the race village moving, alongside partner stands, a wall displaying the names of all 6,000 entrants and reflexologists ready to ease the finishers’ post-race tension. The cheers never faded. From the youngest spectators to the oldest, everyone brought infectious energy.

Some scenes stood out: three young girls wearing T-shirts dedicated to their grandparents, reading “Fuck cancer, Grandma and Grandpa”; relatives breaking into a sprint to accompany runners over the final metres; the arrival of the Joëlette all-terrain wheelchairs; and children gripping their parents’ hands down the finishing straight. Some spectators had planned ahead for the wait, standing on folding chairs, like Joy, Manon’s three-year-old daughter, who came to support her partner.

On familiar ground

Participants from both Essonne and Seine-et-Marne took advantage of a race close to home. For some regulars, showing up year after year still makes all the difference. Yoahn Tchicaya, winner of the 10K, did not have to travel far to claim a second straight victory on the roads of Grand Paris Sud. In 31:15, the Moissy-Cramayel runner crossed the line alone, arms raised in a celebration that looked almost like a military salute. A member of Athlé 91, he says: “ I’m racing at home here. I do my runs just around the corner. ” Slightly disappointed not to have improved his personal best for lack of direct competition, he is already looking ahead to the next edition and a possible hat-trick.

The race could be more hotly contested if Hugo Wattebled, winner of the 23K in 1:24:30 and the event’s new record-holder, improving the previous mark of 1:29, decides to line up for the 10K in 2027. “ I race everything from 5,000 to 10,000 metres, so I knew I could challenge for the podium over 10K, but I mainly wanted to enjoy the longer distance ,” he explains. He, too, did not have far to come: “ My in-laws live nearby, towards Cesson, so it mattered to me to race here, not far from home either,” says the Yerres runner, who is a member of ES Montgeron.

Another regular at the event is Sandrine Bideau, a former elite cyclist and member of the St Michel Auber 93 team. A resident of Saint-Germain-lès-Corbeil, she lined up for the 10K once again: “ It’s close to home and doesn’t take much time, unlike Paris and the transport.” Other figures from French sport were also present, including Dominique Chauvelier, a four-time French marathon champion. He did more than simply take part, winning the Master 7 category in 42:46. He was therefore called up to the top step of the podium, with every category winner receiving a prize.

© Kenzo Mabeno

© Kenzo Mabeno

© Kenzo Mabeno

© Kenzo Mabeno

© Kenzo Mabeno

© Kenzo Mabeno

© Kenzo Mabeno

A fast course that wins runners over

“ We’ve run quite a few 10Ks, and this one is really flat,” say two representatives of Sainte-Geneviève Sports, Marco Alvès (37:06) and Evan Cayette (34:57), both of whom set personal bests. The 10K course is one of the race’s biggest selling points for runners. Cristina Faria, winner of the 23K in 1:46:52, shares that view: “ There were some lovely long straights! ” even though the format is a “trail race”. The 10K certainly lived up to its fast profile. Emilie Larue-Serres travelled from Saint-Germain-en-Laye specifically for the race and finished in 39:17: “ I was looking for a fast 10K to put in a good performance, and we found a really superb event ,” she explains. The only reservation mentioned by runners was a roughly one-kilometre section on a tartan track through the forest, “ a little more slippery, where you need to be solid on your feet,” Yoahn Tchicaya says with a smile.

✔ Results from the 2026 Runs de Sénart