Marvejols-Mende, a look back at a legendary race

Marvejols-Mende is 22.4 km, 700 m of elevation gain, 2 passes, including the famous Goudard of 1,100 meters, dizzying descents in a magnificent natural setting (and this year, climate-change-style heat...). A real physical and sporting challenge! But it's not just that.

Marvejols-Mende is a story. This is one of the first free races in France. When it was created by Jean-Claude Moulin on July 22, 1973, with the friendly support of Spiridon, it was one of the few events to welcome non-licensed participants and women. At that time, women were not allowed to run more than 5 km in cross-country. The French Athletics Federation even tried to have it banned!

Marvejols-Mende is all about atmosphere and encounters. It's a race where people of all generations gather after the event to dine and party, without fuss. It's a race where the budget goes into event production much more than it does to communication. 400 volunteers for 1,500 runners, an awards ceremony in a packed theater followed by an aperitif with an orchestra (before the evening with a DJ).

Marvejols-Mende is a breath of fresh air in a world where races are increasingly identical, XXL and impersonal. Here, we talk, we encourage each other, we have fun, we dance. Let's not forget that it was here, in the 1970s, that the Spiridon spirit and its slogan "performance is fine, party first" were born.

We'll be there again next year for the event's 50th anniversary. We'll have plenty of time to talk about it again. But you should know that one of you, Véro, has already offered to organize a turnkey Spiridon trip (transport and accommodation) with her new travel agency...! We love the idea. We especially want to support this race, which must not disappear.