Zontienne 2024: at Mas-d’Escattes, in Nîmes, 1,804 people gathered for a solidarity race

Courir et s’amuser, le tout pour la bonne cause. C.S. – Midi Libre

Créée en 2007, la Zontienne, a toujours la cote. Ce dimanche 13 octobre, femmes, hommes – et même animaux domestiques ! – avaient répondu présent sur la ligne de départ.

This Sunday, October 13, was the sixteenth race. Now a must-see, the Zontienne, a solidarity trail organized at Mas d’Escattes, in Nîmes, aims to raise funds to finance socio-aesthetic care for people with cancer, "women, but also, since last year, men", insists Catherine Huguet, president of the Zonta club Nîmes La Romaine, the association organizing the race.

Over the years, the ingredients of the Zontienne seem to have remained always the same: sport, solidarity, and a party atmosphere!

That morning, on the starting line, the wildest costumes of some (special mention for this Husky and his master, both in pink tutus) mingled happily with the other runners.

10 km in 39 minutes and 54 seconds

All in pink, to the lively sound of the Batucalib' batucada, the participants had the choice between two hiking courses (5 and 10 km), a 5 km women's race and finally a more intense 10 km mixed race which started at 9 am.

First to arrive, Joris Delarbre from the ASD Menton athletics club, smashed this course in a record time of 39 minutes and 54 seconds. And along the route, apparently quite rough (gravel, mud, unevenness, etc.), alongside gangs of wild friends, at a, let's say, more relaxed pace, like these thirty-something triplets, all three wearing pink wigs, or even these six future midwives with their faces covered in glitter…

Full nature atmosphere for this solidarity trail. Embarek Foufa – D.R.

At 10:15, 240 runners (out of the 402 registered) had already crossed the finish line of the 10 km. Welcomed with fanfare by the host of the day and their supporters. A little further on, a group of friends launched into an astonishing lip dub, on an electro remixed version of the hit Gangsta Paradise by Coolio. Setting the tone for the rest of the day, while waiting for the prize-giving to the various winners.
This year, 1,804 people (including 1,400 women) registered for the Zontienne, compared to 1,732 last year. See you next year, to watch the race which will undoubtedly bring together at least 2,000 runners.