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Marathon of Liberty 2026

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📰 Culture & History🏘️ In the city🏞 Nature⛱ Sand🌉 Bridge/Viaduct👶 Kids & Juniors Courses🌊 Seaside🤝 Relay🙌 Charitable Cause🚺 Women only
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The event in a few words

Running on historic ground is a pleasure that never gets old. The Marathon of Liberty 🗽, also known as Courants de la Liberté, is part of that category. In Calvados, in the heart of Normandy, this race created in 1988 takes place in June, bringing together more than 30,000 participants from 70 different nationalities 🌍 who pay tribute in their own way to the soldiers who fell during the D-Day Landings. Running and history make an excellent blend for working out and learning at the same time ☝️. 

The organizers offer 7 distances to satisfy your cravings. For the youngest, "Les Foulées de la Liberté" reserved for children, a hike-run held on a closed 1.3 km circuit to get the legs moving. You can also take part in "La Rochambelle", a women’s 🏃‍♀️ run-walk of 5 km. The name of the event pays tribute to the "Rochambelles" 👩. The main objective is to raise funds for the fight against women’s cancers. It’s a charity race! 🎗️ At the Marathon of Liberty, you can also start the "10 km Crédit Agricole Normandie" which will show you the heritage of Caen by passing places such as Saint-Pierre Church, the Castle and the Abbaye-aux-Hommes ⛪️. Finally, if you feel like a soldier at heart, come and try the "Pegasus Half Marathon " which starts, as its name suggests, from Pegasus Bridge 🌁, or even (this one’s for future running generals!) the Marathon, which can be run solo or as a relay. 

The Marathon of Liberty is certainly a road race but you’ll stay invigorated by the sea wind that pushes you to outdo yourself through 17 historic towns💨. Starting from Courseulles-sur-Mer, a town dear to Oldelaf and whose song of the same name makes you understand that trying the bike on sand comes with a few dangers 😅, you’ll run along the D-Day landing beaches and emblematic sites of the Battle of Normandy such as the beaches of Sword and Juno 🏖. You’ll also take a detour past the Ouistreham casino to the rhythm of the bands present all along the route. As you arrive in Caen, the magnificent Jean-Marie Louvel esplanade tells you that you’re almost done with your 42.195 km ! 💪

After the race and a good nap, set off to discover Norman lands and the typical little Norman villages where you can sit down to enjoy the famous tripes à la mode de Caen, camembert 🧀 as well as a Norman tart accompanied by cider and Calvados 🍾.

When are you coming then? 😉

4 reasons to join this race

Run through a monument of history 🎖️
It’s not every day that your bib serves as a pass to an open-air museum. By treading the sand of the D-Day Landing Beaches, you pay a vibrant tribute to the Allied soldiers. Every kilometer covered is a full-scale history lesson. It’s a unique emotion that carries you when the marathon “wall” starts to show its face. You don’t run only for the time, you run for remembrance 🕊️.
The legendary crossing of Pegasus Bridge 🌁
It’s the local landmark that gives the half marathon its name! This bascule bridge became a global icon after Operation Deadstick carried out by the British 6th Airborne Division 🇬🇧. Crossing this structure is reliving the moment when freedom reclaimed its rights in France. It’s the historic moment of your race, when you realize your efforts are very light compared with those of the past ✈️.
A wave of solidarity with the Rochambelle 🎗️
It’s one of the pillars of the event: a women’s 5 km run-walk that turns the streets of Caen pink. In tribute to the “Rochambelles,” those ambulance drivers of the Leclerc Division, thousands of women mobilize against women’s cancers 👩. Taking part means running with your heart as much as with your legs for a cause that concerns us all 💖.
Norman local produce as a reward 🧀
Once the effort is over, it’s time for comfort. Normandy doesn’t mess around when it comes to gastronomy 🍽️. Between the platter of local cheeses and the cider products, you’ll quickly make up the calories burned during the race. Strolling through the lanes of Caen or visiting its medieval castle is the perfect conclusion to your weekend. It’s the ideal opportunity to combine sport, culture, and good food with family or friends 🥂.

A distance for every taste

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Bib pickup will take place at the Expo Village, located at the Caen Exhibition Park. You can go there on Friday, June 5, 2026 from 2pm to 8pm or on Saturday, June 6, 2026 from 10am to 7pm (until 6pm for the Rochambelle). If you chose home delivery when you registered, you will receive your bib at the end of May 2026, provided your file is complete before May 6, 2026.

  • "Marathon of Liberty" (and Relay Marathon): start on Sunday, June 7, 2026 at 9:10am from Courseulles-sur-Mer.

  • "Pegasus Half Marathon": start on Sunday, June 7, 2026 at 8:55am from Pegasus Bridge in Bénouville.

  • "10 km Crédit Agricole Normandie": start on Sunday, June 7, 2026 at 8:40am from Caen.

  • "La Rochambelle" (5 km): start on Saturday, June 6, 2026 from 7:15pm in Caen.

  • "Les Foulées de la Liberté": start on Thursday, June 4, 2026 from 2:30pm from Place Saint-Sauveur in Caen.

The events (except the "Foulées de la Liberté") are open to licensed and unlicensed participants and are subject to age limits. The participation age is based on the current calendar year and not on the date of the event.

  • The "Marathon of Liberty": from 20 years old (born in 2006 and earlier);

  • The "Marathon Relay": from 16 years old (born in 2010 and earlier);

  • The "Pegasus Half Marathon": from 18 years old (born in 2008 and earlier);

  • The "10 km - Crédit Agricole Normandie": from 16 years old (born in 2010 and earlier);

  • "La Rochambelle": from 7 years old for walking and 16 years old for running (born in 2019 and earlier for walkers and born in 2010 and earlier for runners). 

Yes, participation is subject to the mandatory presentation of proof of fitness. For adult runners, you must provide either a valid FFA license or a Prevention Health Pathway (PPS) completion certificate issued less than one year ago. Minor runners must complete a health questionnaire with a parent. Your document must be uploaded to your runner account before June 3, 2026 (or before May 7, 2026 in the case of home delivery of the bib).

Time limits are in place for each event:

  • Marathon: 5h30.

  • Half marathon: 2h45.

  • 10 km: 1h30.

A shuttle service is available to you free of charge to take you from the Exhibition Park to the start location of your event on Sunday morning. There is no shuttle service at the finish of the events. This service is only valid for participants of the Marathon, Half Marathon, and the 1st runner of the Marathon Relay.

  • Boarding: Cours Général Koenig and Cours Général de Gaulle, 14 000 Caen. Free parking at the Caen Exhibition Park. Check the shuttle access map by clicking here.

  • Rotation period: 6:00am to 7:30am.

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