Run to Progress: Hyundai Gets Toulouse, Annecy, Rouen and Nice Running
© HyundaiHyundai and running have been getting closer for years. Through its "Run to Progress" programme, the carmaker has been backing runners for several seasons. After the classic Marseille-Cassis, where Hyundai brought along Olympic champions and the back of the pack, the brand teamed up with i-Run to organise local group runs open to all, linking its dealerships to i-Run stores across France: Toulouse, Annecy, Rouen and Nice. From major races to neighbourhood jogs, the South Korean brand is everywhere, and it looks here to stay.
Run to Progress, a programme to encourage and support runners
Anyone who pins on a bib regularly has probably noticed: for several years now, Hyundai has had a big presence in the running world. The highlight is this year's partnership with the Paris Marathon, France's biggest running event, which saw more than 57,000 runners cross the finish line last April. The brand is also present at other iconic races such as the HOKA Paris Half Marathon, the adidas 10K Paris and Marseille-Cassis. The idea is simple: get people moving and be alongside runners at the key moments of their running life. These initiatives all come under the "Run to Progress" banner, launched across Europe in 2024. And Hyundai goes beyond race day, with local group runs organised all over France.
One dealership, one run, one store
A easy 5 to 6 km run with a group after a day at work, in a good mood. Add the chance to test the latest Nike Pegasus 42 and try H3RO protein bars, a well-earned snack at the end. That was all it took to make runners happy. It's what Hyundai and i-Run offered in four cities: Toulouse, Annecy, Rouen and Nice. The concept was simple: run from the city's Hyundai dealership to the i-Run store, in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Far from the pressure of the clock and performance.
The "sessions sans concession" by Hyundai & i-Run
Toulouse: Tuesday, October 27
Annecy: Friday, October 30
Rouen : Wednesday, November 4
Nice: Friday, November 6, with a special appearance by Alain Bernard
Nice, the grand finale with Alain Bernard
Runners in Nice got lucky: they shared a few miles with a name everyone knows, Alain Bernard, double Olympic swimming champion and Hyundai ambassador. He stopped by the Riviera Car Center, Hyundai's Nice dealership, for an easy jog in good company along the Promenade des Anglais to the i-Run store. Twelve days earlier, he had suffered through the legendary Marseille-Cassis. This time the run was surely less punishing and much flatter, but just as friendly. That's the spirit Hyundai wants to carry through its events: making running accessible and sharing a passion for sport.
From La Gineste to the Champs-Élysées, and through the streets of Toulouse, Annecy, Rouen and Nice, Hyundai showed this year that it is fully committed to running. With the sessions sans concession by Hyundai & i-Run, "Run to Progress" proves it isn't just about the big races. Across France, Hyundai dealerships became start lines for local runners, with one shared aim: run together, close to home, without overthinking it. With well-known ambassadors like Alain Bernard on board, the carmaker is strengthening its ties with runners with a clear goal: to make everyone want to run and move, at their own pace.
Find all the details of the Run To Progress programme on Hyundai.com