10K of Magical Aid Stations: the race where every sip makes your head spin

“ At first, it was just little runs with Théo’s followers, ten people max ,” says Théo Delahaye with a smile. He co-founded the Food Runners Club with Théo Chaudet. Their motto is “Run, Eat, Repeat”. Founded just over a year ago, the club quickly established itself as a distinctive presence on the running scene. Together, they realised that traditional run clubs were missing something: simplicity, connection and, above all, zero pressure. “ We wanted somewhere nobody had to overthink things, where everyone runs together whatever their level ,” he adds. The idea became an association, then a network of local chapters, each operating independently when it comes to organising runs and partnerships.

Space Cookies, açai bowls at the Koro x Oakberry collaborations, a Paris & Co flan bar, Naturalia tote bags, and regular events at La Felicità: food is part of the scenery. “ We’re not here to offset five kilometres of running with five kilometres of calories to burn ,” insists one of the club’s founders. Their credo is to take the guilt out of food, celebrate pleasure and make running a social experience first and foremost. That guiding principle has brought the community together: “ Ninety percent of the people are faces we know ,” says Théo, proud of the welcoming spirit that has held firm despite the influx of newcomers.

The 10K of Magical Aid Stations…

This weekend, the Food Runners Club is hosting its sixth “10K of Magical Aid Stations”, a special Christmas edition that once again promises an evening built around togetherness rather than performance. Running has never been the main objective here: “ We wanted a race that reflected who we are: fun, untimed and pressure-free ,” says Théo Delahaye. The idea was born at the start of 2025, when the two Théos, who founded the association, officially launched the very first 10K of Magical Aid Stations. The first test took place on 25 February: 150 participants, a complimentary drink, a bib, a medal, discounted prices at partner bars and a giant karaoke session at the finish. It was an immediate success.

…now Paris’s wildest race

Some editions have followed a theme ever since: a summer version in July, a fancy-dress Halloween edition and now a Christmas special. The location never changes, and neither does the route: 3.3 km around La Felicità in the 13th arrondissement, completed three times, with a “magical aid station” on every lap. Soft drinks, beer, wine: everyone can choose. “ We didn’t want to call it the 10K of Beer, because anyone can come, even if they don’t drink ,” insists the co-organiser. Seasonal treats round out the experience, including the gingerbread planned for the December edition.

The event is entirely unofficial and untimed, and embraces its festive DNA to the very end. After every race, the evening invariably continues with a DJ set. “ The goal is to bring together more people than we do on our regular runs and turn it into a social occasion. People run in groups; nobody is on their own ,” explains Théo. The event now attracts more participants than it did in February. “ We’ve gone from 150 at the very first test to 400 today ,” says Théo, who hopes to see the event grow even further in the future.

A success beyond all expectations

The Food Runners Club draws such a crowd that some events have become victims of their own success. Their latest idea, the Bakery Run Tour, is a prime example: a race taking in all of Paris’s best bakeries, with croissants, pain au chocolat, flans, brioche and cookies. Places sold out in ten to fifteen minutes. The famous 10K of Magical Aid Stations has earned a reputation too: registration spots disappear within just a few hours. “ It goes so fast… it can be incredibly frustrating. Some people never manage to get a place ,” Théo admits. The speed at which entries vanish has even put some people off.

A few early regulars have eventually thrown in the towel: “ We have people who used to come all the time but gradually stopped being able to register. So they stopped coming. It’s really sad, but it’s difficult to do anything else.” Faced with this explosive demand, the two founders are already working on increasing capacity. “ We may have to change venues. We’re looking at options with large terraces for the summer ,” they are considering. While most runs remain free, since “ 95% of our runs cost nothing ,” they point out, some formats, such as the 10K of Magical Aid Stations and the Bakery Run Tour, charge an entry fee to cover the cost of merchandise, medals, refreshments and entertainment: a brass band for one edition, a choir for the next.

The 10K of Magical Aid Stations is a one-of-a-kind sporting experience where pleasure comes before performance. For now, you need to be quick to secure a bib, but new dates are on the way, giving everyone another chance to take part.

➜ Register for the events