© Emma Bert / MARATHONS.COM
Popular and friendly success for the Spinassienne race in Épinay-sur-Seine
On October 12, the town of Épinay-sur-Seine, just north of Paris, hosted the 15th edition of the Spinassienne. Under a bright autumn sun, more than a thousand runners, both seasoned athletes and beginners, took to the streets to compete in the half marathon, the 10 km, or the 3.8 km race. The morning unfolded in a spirit of performance, personal challenge, and friendly community.
It’s still chilly as the participants, already gathering in large numbers, finish their warm-up without straying far from the starting line. Some share a few laughs with friends and family, while others wear a more serious expression, focused and calm. A few last accelerations, one final sip of water, jackets fall to the ground, and runners take their places beneath the arch. The golden rays of the autumn sun brush against it, setting ablaze the trees lining the Rue du Parc Municipal des Sports. In the crisp air, scented with dew, the runners’ breaths rise in small clouds of mist, glowing in the dawn light. The murmur fades, anticipation builds—and then, the starting gun fires, releasing the courageous athletes and prompting cheers from the crowd.
Organized by the city of Épinay-sur-Seine, La Spinassienne offers an ideal opportunity to gauge one’s early-season form or to take part in a first race. The courses are varied and fairly demanding, with 112 meters of elevation gain on the half marathon, alternating between paved stretches and sandy sections along the banks of the Seine. The route, made up of several loops, allows spectators to follow the races up close. Adding a unique touch, the course even passes through a factory before finishing on the stadium track.
| Fierce battle in the half marathon
This year’s half marathon was especially competitive, much to the delight of both spectators and organizers. More than 600 runners lined up at the start. From the early stages, a lead group of about ten athletes broke away. As the kilometers went by, the pack shrank to five runners taking turns at the front, each one still in contention for victory. Midway through the race, one competitor launched an attack, reducing the leading group to three—but the two chasers were still close behind.
By the 18th kilometer, the original group of five had almost reformed. Louis Pires, who would later claim bronze, increased the pace to shake off the two trailing runners. In the final two kilometers, Lahoucine Dazi and Mehdi Kadri countered, widening the gap with the third man. In the last few hundred meters, as they entered the track, Lahoucine Dazi made his decisive move to take the 2025 title in 1:09:16. “It wasn’t easy—with all the turns, climbs, and sandy stretches along the Seine. My competitors were really strong. I stayed behind, then pushed in the final kilometer,” he said.
Just behind him, Mehdi Kadri (1:09:22) and Louis Pires (1:09:27) completed the podium, all finishing within the same minute. “There were some tough climbs and about six kilometers on uneven, rocky trails, which slowed us down. In the lead trio, we were controlling the pace, watching each other, and then went for it in the final stretch—it was fun,” said the runner-up, who clocked 1:04:40 for the distance in Boulogne in 2024. Louis Pires, from Clermont, added, “I felt good throughout, but I struggled a bit at the end. Once we entered the track, the positions were set—it was hard to overtake with the final surges. It was a beautiful race.”
| Philippine Ruffin takes a commanding victory
In the women’s race, 800-meter specialist Philippine Ruffin was in a class of her own and had no real competition to contend with. Holding a personal best of 2:13.10 (set in 2024) over the two-lap distance, she cruised to victory in 1:24:28 in what was her very first half marathon. Her runners-up were Alicia Clauwaert (1:26:43) and Hildegarde Lambert (1:27:44).
« The girls started off a bit fast. We stayed together for two or three kilometers, and then I broke away and just kept going. My goal was actually 1:24, and I set off at a pace close to 40 minutes for 10 km. I felt good. I managed to hang on to a few groups and ran alongside one competitor for quite a while, which really helped. The course was very pleasant—there were spectators, sunshine—I really enjoyed it. »
Philippe Ruffin, winner of the 21,1 km
| A more open field in the 10 km and 3.8 km races
In the 10 km race, Yoahn Tchicaya took the win in 31:49, ahead of Nicolas Chemel (33:20) and Benjamin Galisson (34:35). In the women’s field, Lauriane Tanguy (40:58) was the fastest, followed by Virginie Durand (42:51) and Mathilde Bernard (48:33). The winner, who hadn’t raced a 10 km since 2019, summed up the event as “a small Sunday morning race for the sheer joy of it, with sunshine, friends, and a pleasant, varied course.”
Over the 3.8 km distance, Jules Desmond claimed victory in 12:54 in what was his third participation. Paco Adjed (12:57) and Alexis Racher (13:30) joined him on the podium. “The course was very fast, and I improved on my time from last year. My teammate pushed me all the way—it was a great battle,” said the winner. The top three women were Lilwen Poulain (17:01), Lou-Anne Boulben (17:12), and Joly Kawtar (17:52). Children’s races were also part of the day’s program, making the event accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
Between fierce battles and personal triumphs, the roughly one thousand participants of the 15th Spinassienne experienced a truly memorable Sunday morning. Winding through city streets, along the banks of the Seine, and even through some unusual sections—including a factory and the stadium track—the race provided the perfect opportunity to kick off the 2025 autumn running season in style.
✔ All the results of the 15th Spinassienne
Emma BERT
Journaliste
