This is news that will be talked about in the middle of running. The only marathon in Mayenne will not take place in 2022. No Marathon des Écluses next September. A reason that is essentially financial.
In 2021, during the last edition, the organizers recorded a significant deficit with approximately more than 1000 runners less at the start of the different events compared to previous years. A last edition disrupted by the Covid crisis explains the new president of the organization, Didier Bernard: “on the marathon, only 270 runners at the start, half of what had previously been. This generated a heavy deficit for the 2021 edition.“. Hence the decision that was taken by the new management team: “for the 2022 edition, the objective is to return to a balanced budget for our event. It is inconceivableinsists Didier Bernard, to have such a deficit two years in a row. It is not with lightness of heart that we made this decision since this marathon is the only event at the level of the department. You have to know how to be reasonable as organizers.“
2022, year of transition
2022, year of “reconstruction and transition” for the new organizing team of the Marathon des Écluses, an event that has become a must since its creation in 1995.
After the cancellation of the 2020 edition, the marathon has not taken place twice. Obviously regrettable for runners in the region. The Mayenne Hermann Landemaine is the outgoing winner of the Écluses marathon : “it’s a shame for all the athletes from Mayenne and the region because it’s a great sports festival. I did my first marathon ten years ago in 2012 on Les Écluses, on the occasion of my 30th birthday. And I wanted to put my title back on the line for my 40th birthday this year. So inevitably a little disappointed with this cancellation of the 2022 edition of the marathon.“
The test of 10km, always very popular, it will take place. As well as the Half marathon. The organizers promise the return of the lock marathon in 2023 with a starting place which could perhaps change the municipality.
See you on Sunday September 25, 2022 for the Mayenne lock races. Registration is open now on the race website.