The Marathon du Mont Saint Michel makes its big return in 2027, after an eight-year break. The event is entrusted to the specialist sports event agency Playground, tasked with putting the race back on the calendar. The text also highlights the idea that the event’s previous disappearance represented a loss for running in France.
The event was launched in 1998 by a local association, before being taken over by A.S.O in 2015. The latest edition took place in 2019. Two cancellations are recalled: first, linked to the COVID health crisis, and then in 2022 due to organisational issues, including the withdrawal of the Département de la Manche, and a lack of participants.
The Mont-Saint-Michel public authority is looking for an operator to relaunch the marathon, through a bidding process launched last winter. The aim is to select the one that will deliver this “new generation” version. Playground is ultimately chosen, the agency cited as being at the helm of several major races across France.
For the 2027 edition, the return is announced for March, and the official dates are due to be released by the end of September. Over the weekend, several races are planned: marathon, 10km and half marathon, while on the day before, Saturday, two trail races are scheduled with a 40-50km format and a format around 90km, both ending at the foot of the Mont Saint Michel.
The specifications include a capacity limit on-site: only 1,000 runners, each day of racing, will be able to be accommodated at the site. As a result, only the marathon and the trail events will finish at the foot of the Abbey. The 10km and the half marathon will take place in nearby towns, with wider start limits for these races.
