2024-11-01 14:00:00
On November 24, the maritime city will host the 33rd edition of the Serge-Vigot marathon. This event, which welcomes nearly 15,000 athletes and 20,000 accompanying people, is this year taking a look at athletes’ travel methods. For this, he joined forces with the Shifters collective
“We are a nationally known event, we wanted to set an example”recalls Nicolas Mauny, the organizer of the Serge-Vigot La Rochelle marathon. In addition to the values of respect, courage and perseverance, sport has, through its media visibility, a role to play in the ecological transition. The La Rochelle Marathon understood this well and already took this turn around fifteen years ago. This year, in addition to the removal of 1,300 plastic bottles from refreshment points, the event is entering into a partnership with Les Shifters [1].
“Do not stigmatize”
This association was created in 2014 and several branches are deployed throughout the country. The action of this entity is to enlighten and influence the debate on energy transition issues in order to provide voluntary support to the laboratory of ideas The Shift Project [2]. For this La Rochelle mission, “what is important is to raise awareness and modify each year, without stigmatizing. We must take advantage of this joy and desire of runners to share a great adventure. We must exceed our limits without exceeding those of the planet”executive Jean-Pierre Tétard, the co-referent of the Charente-Maritime Shifters.
“7 million km”
Major events like the La Rochelle Serge-Vigot Marathon generate a lot of trips. “It is the travel impact that weighs the most in the carbon footprint of marathon runners and the cities that host these events”, ensures the association Les Shifters. According to initial findings, the 2024 edition should generate 7 million km of travel to come to the different races. Also, the Serge-Vigot La Rochelle Marathon is launching an action plan by raising awareness among athletes and the public who attend the event from November. ‘We are going to encourage them to carpool with Mobicoop [3]a cooperative platform, setting up a stamped bib for eco-responsible marathon runners and finally, a prize giving for the first eco-responsible marathon runners”, details the Shifters.
Prepare for 2025
When sending the bib voucher, participants will receive a form to fill out in order to study their modes of travel and location of their accommodation. The implementation of these indicators will make it possible to define the contours of the actions to be carried out from the 2025 edition. The association is already starting to mobilize local actors such as the Urban Community, the Region or the SNCF which are at the heart of eco-responsible commitment. On the other side of France, in Chamonix, the Mont-Blanc Marathon has already launched the idea that for the 2025 edition, 40% of the bibs will be reserved for participants who come by train.
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**Interview with Nicolas Mauny, Organizer of the Serge-Vigot La Rochelle Marathon**
*Date: November 1, 2024*
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us, Nicolas. The upcoming 33rd edition of the Serge-Vigot Marathon is set to embrace a new focus on athletes’ travel methods. Can you explain how this will impact the event?
**Nicolas Mauny:** Absolutely, and thank you for having me. We’re excited to highlight the importance of sustainable travel in the context of our marathon. This year, we’ve partnered with the Shifters collective to raise awareness about the carbon footprint associated with travel, which is a critical aspect for events of this size. We aim to encourage our participants to consider eco-friendly travel options when coming to La Rochelle.
**Interviewer:** That’s an inspiring initiative! What specific measures are you implementing to reduce the environmental impact during the event?
**Nicolas Mauny:** In addition to our longstanding efforts, like the removal of 1,300 plastic bottles from refreshment points, we’re actively engaging participants in discussions about sustainable travel alternatives. Our goal is to create an atmosphere where everyone understands their impact and feels motivated to adopt greener practices without feeling stigmatized.
**Interviewer:** It seems that awareness is key. Jean-Pierre Tétard mentioned that this shouldn’t be about shaming people but rather about fostering excitement and adventure. How do you plan to balance this?
**Nicolas Mauny:** Exactly! We want to capitalize on the enthusiasm and joy of running. Our approach is to share fun, informative content that helps runners make sustainable choices. Events should be memorable experiences, and we believe that by integrating personal and environmental challenges, we can create an adventure that everyone can enjoy responsibly.
**Interviewer:** With major events like yours generating significant travel miles—up to 7 million kilometers—what does the future hold for running events in terms of sustainability?
**Nicolas Mauny:** The future is all about adaptation. While we cannot eliminate travel entirely, we can influence how it’s done. We’re committed to learning and innovating every year, building a community around sustainability. This marathon isn’t just about the race; it’s an opportunity to lead by example and inspire change in our participants and beyond.
**Interviewer:** That’s a powerful message! Thank you, Nicolas, for sharing your insights and leading the charge towards a greener marathon experience.
**Nicolas Mauny:** Thank you! We’re looking forward to seeing everyone on November 24th and fostering a sense of camaraderie in sustainability.
