4 Seasons Race: The Summer Stage Before the Grand Finale

The 165th edition of the 4 Seasons Race, organized by the Amicale Val de Somme, brought together nearly 400 participants at Parc du Grand Marais on September 7 in Amiens. Three events were on the program: the 5 km Discovery Run, the 10 km Joggers’ Run, and the 10 km “As” race, reserved for the fastest runners.

Organized by the Amicale Val de Somme, the 4 Seasons Race is held in four events, spread, as its name suggests, across the seasons. Founded in 1980 by Jean-François Delassale, this race, with a modest entry fee of €8, grows in popularity each year, driven by a 20 to 30% increase in participation in the Somme region. The 165th edition brought together nearly 400 runners at Parc du Grand Marais on Sunday, September 7, across three formats: the 5 km Discovery Run, the 10 km Joggers’ Run, and the 10 km “As” race (reserved for runners able to complete the distance in under 44 minutes), with only around thirty participants in the latter. Under a clear blue sky, participants set off from just steps away from the Grand Marais Park Hall, with the finish line located right below, a convenient setup in case of unpredictable weather. Runners in the 10 km event had to complete three laps, allowing them to receive three times the encouragement from an enthusiastic crowd.

| Pillars at the Heart of the Event

“This isn’t a flashy race, we come to run,” explains Jean-François Delassale, founder of the Course des 4 Saisons. This morning, 400 participants set off in staggered starts. Sometimes, the numbers explode, as during the final, which brings together 700 runners—the maximum capacity given the narrowness of the course. The president of the organizing club, Amicale Val de Somme, Dominique Lazure, is delighted: “Seeing people happy is our reward.” “We were a bit nervous, as this edition introduced something new,” admits the judge-trainer and organizer, who implemented a new system. These three formats allow couples of runners to organize themselves according to their family constraints, each able to participate in a race alternately. Born from a newspaper article mentioning the creation of a new access route between the city center and Étouvie in 1980, the race aims to be “well-measured, well-timed, to provide a benchmark for runners from one season to the next, and to welcome beginners to the jogger races. It’s historical; we’ve always had an organizing spirit. It’s always been a tradition within the club. This year, we have 100 more runners than last year. It’s the start of the season, people aren’t fully into it yet, so it’s tricky, but we’re seeing an increase across all races,” says the club president.

| An innovative and experienced organization

For this 165th edition, the organizers introduced some innovations: there are no longer envelopes to hand out, nor chips to attach to shoelaces or return at the end of the race. Everything is now integrated into the bib (the chip is either printed or attached directly during collection). Marie Dubuc, a volunteer for 25 years at Amicale du Val de Somme events, has changed roles. The retiree is no longer responsible for distributing the chips. She now scans the bib that the runner just picked up from other volunteers to ensure it matches the correct participant. This guarantees that the runner’s chip is working. “At first, I used to do a bit of running, then I started volunteering because of health issues. We have great friends and excellent organization. My husband and son run, so I accompany them to other events and sometimes take photos. I love meeting people, and they appreciate it,” she says, always ready to help with the event. “I scanned it three times, so I’ll get three rankings,” jokes Arnaud Le Nezet, a runner picking up his bib mid-demonstration.

Regardless of the course, the bib collection process, or the treats offered at aid stations and the finish line, most runners keep coming back. Not necessarily for the summer edition, but more often for the grand finale held in early November, where the 700-participant limit fills quickly. Rodrigues Diamantino has just crossed the 5 km finish line in 26 minutes. This Master 9 runner, who has been running for nearly 30 years, showed up for this back-to-school race ahead of the French 5 km Championship semifinals at La Hotoie. “I’m not dead yet,” he smiles when approached. “I’m 18,” he quips when asked his age. “You’ve got the numbers mixed up. I’m 81. I started late, but I realized it benefits me physically, so I’m not stopping anytime soon. Sometimes it’s tough, but not for long, and when you see the results afterward, it’s rewarding.”

| A back-to-school race, combining fun and performance

The winner of the amateur 10 km, Thomas Konieczkowicz, approached this race as a personal challenge. “I was accompanying a colleague who wanted to run under 40 minutes, and I saw there was a race beforehand. I set myself the goal of running both in under 40 minutes,” says the firefighter, delighted to have achieved the double within the allotted time. In a similar spirit, Sylvain Coindet, second in the joggers’ 10 km, ran all three races. “I do this regularly. It’s my long Sunday run, split into three parts. Since I have the Albert Half Marathon next week and a marathon in October, it helps me get some volume and push myself a bit.” The last race often gives him a hard time, even if the 5 km remains intense. “I’m a bit old, I’m 66, and there are always young runners who are fast. It’s hard to catch them,” he adds with a smile. Julia Miannay, winner of the 10 km As, took advantage of a few days in her hometown to participate. “I live in Italy, and on this visit back, I took the chance to come. I arrived last night at midnight, and I’m really happy to be here!”

Brahim Zouaoui took first place in the premier race in 34’31, with a wide lead over his pursuers. Representing his new club, Amicale du Val de Somme, which he joined this year, he didn’t just participate but excelled over the distance, despite a challenging course. The M2 vice-champion of France explains : “I resumed training a week ago. I took a month off, but since it’s close to home, I came to do my tempo run here. Last week, I did a 5 km warm-up in 17’09 on a fast course. My goal here was 34’20, and I did 34’30 because the course is really tough.” He’s not the only one to find this temporary route challenging. Teddy Lenne from Amiens, winner of the popular 10 km Jules Verne in June and third in the 10 km As, was critical : “Compared to previous years, the course is too hard. There are way too many turns.” Meanwhile, Charlotte Plouviez, winner of the joggers’ 10 km in 45’53 for the second consecutive year, sees it differently : “It’s still flat, even if there’s a small hill that really hurts mentally because you climb it three times. Fortunately, the crowd cheers loudly, it’s pure joy. I try to do it every year with friends, it’s become a ritual.” Next year, she plans to shake up this tradition: “I think next year we’ll try the 10 km As,” she announces cheerfully. Most of the winners from this edition will meet again on September 21 at Parc de La Hotoie for the semifinals of the French 5 km Championships.

➜ Find all the race results here.

Sabine LOEB
Journalist