In 2019 the Maraisthon celebrates its 10 years!

08 July 2019

The Maraisthon is a special running competition which has an ecological and sportive approach. As a landmark event of the early summer in the Marais poitevin for 10 years, it is becoming a growing success year after year.

A marathon with an ecological approach

On June 15^th and 16^th 2019, in the heart of the Marais poitevin, the Maraisthon is celebrating its 10 years. As an international marathon, with the participation of people from around the world, the Maraisthon is the 1^st nature, non-elitist and ecological sportive event. In a unique green setting, in the heart of the Green Venice, in Coulon and the surroundings – Sansais-La Garette, Magné, Le Vanneau-Irleau – the Maraisthon is a very different type of marathon. On Saturday, the 12-kilometre trail run “The gateways of the Marsh” opens the festivities and offers a circuit in the marsh, following the unsealed roads and the gateways above the channels. At the end of the day, children enjoy an animation about the race with a snack as a reward. On Sunday, things are getting serious for athletic people as early as 8:30am with the traditional and classical marathon and the marathon in duet. At the same time, the calmer 10-kilometre Organic Breakfast rewards the runners with an organic breakfast at the end of the race.

During the marathon, if you are just an accompanist, a tourist or just a lover of the Marais poitevin and its charms and landscapes, you cannot miss the opportunity to participate in the walks (11 or 15 kms). Designed for everyone, they allow you to discover the marsh at a more accessible pace and take some time to taste some of the local products.

Maraisthon, runners along the Sèvre niortaise

A competition labelled “Sport Responsable” and “Eco Manifestation”

As a sporting event, the Maraisthon is also about respecting the environment. With a strong local anchoring and attached to the respect of the territory, it follows an Ethical Charter which makes it part of an approach of sustainable development – waste sorting, impact assessment of the marathon on the environment, limit on energy consumption, etc. – and compensation of CO2 emissions (financial compensations, planted trees, etc.). For the organisers, volunteers and participants, it is vital to give the event an ecological dimension and it is part of the event’s DNA. That is why this event is so unique in France!

More than just a sporting event, the Maraisthon is part of an environmental approach. We discover the environment; we are made aware of its fragility and are looking forward to preserving it.

Explicative signs about the ecosystem, the fauna and the flora of the Marais poitevin are placed on the routes. As a great window for the Marais poitevin Regional Natural Park, the Maraisthon is an unprecedented opportunity to discover Coulon and the surrounding marsh in a unique way. In the heart of an exceptional natural space, more than 2,000 amateur or trained sportsmen gather each year.

And we invite you all to join us!