Record Races

International Fast Races 🌍

The world is vast enough to be filled with faster and faster races 🚀. In fact, ranking them would be difficult. Still, at the top of the list is the Berlin Marathon 🇩🇪, of course: its flat course (flatter than an ironing board 👖), smooth turns, and cool climate make it the marathon where records fall like flies 🪰. It’s where Eliud Kipchoge made history in 2 h 01 min 09 s 😱. Tigst Assefa also upset predictions in 2023 with a 2 h 11 min 53 s for women 💪. Valencia, in Spain 🇪🇦, has established itself as another world capital of speed: each edition of its half-marathon becomes a festival of performances with an early start to enjoy the Mediterranean coolness 🏖️. The Chicago Marathon offered in 2023 the most remarkable feat of the decade with Kiptum's historic race, almost under two hours ⏱️. Despite its sometimes capricious winds, its flat profile, and long straight sections offer marathoners a steady course where keeping pace becomes easier 👌. But other less known courses are just as fast: the Lisbon Half-Marathon or the one in Houston captivate speed enthusiasts 🏎️, the former running along the Tagus, the latter with its perfect climate and course designed to avoid disruptions. And then there is Monaco, a tiny principality where one literally runs along the seaside 🌊: the loop is short, sheltered from the wind, and conducive to fast-paced races on 5 or 10 km 🏃‍♀️.

Fast Races in France 🇨🇵

No need to travel the globe to feel the magic of record-setting road races 🗺️. In France too, some races have become landmarks for those chasing times. The Paris Marathon, though hilly and known to be challenging, saw Morhad Amdouni set a French record in 2022 with 2 h 05 🏆, reminding us that even cobblestones and tunnels can create great stories. Further north, the Corrida de Houilles transforms a small town in the Yvelines into the world capital of the 10 km every December 🌟. The world's best runners come to challenge the Europeans. In the west, the La Rochelle Marathon attracts with its flat course and seaside vibe, perfect for those looking to get closer to their best time in November (pun intended) 😎. And how can we not mention the Boulogne-Billancourt Half-Marathon, which runs along the Seine under the colors of autumn? 🍁 Each year, a crowd of runners sets off to snatch those precious minutes that make the difference between a good time and the famous "personal best" 🤩. These French races have something special: they blend high-level competition with a popular spirit, where amateurs and purists share the same starting line! 🏁

The Records and Their Heroes 👑

World records are like the stars in the sky for runners 🌠: we look at them with admiration, but they pass very quickly! Take Eliud Kipchoge, for example: his 2 h 01 min 09 s in Berlin in 2022 already seemed unreal...💭 Until Kelvin Kiptum came along a year later in Chicago, nearing the mythical two-hour barrier with a 2 h 00 min 35 s that will go down in history 📜. In the half-marathon, young Jacob Kiplimo achieved an astounding 57 min 31 s in Lisbon, running each kilometer in under 2 min 45 s 🐇, while Letesenbet Gidey became the queen of the distance with 1 h 02 min 52 s in Valencia 🐆. And over 10 km? Rhonex Kipruto clocked 26 min 24 s, again in Valencia, confirming that Spain has become a must-visit destination for those looking to improve their times 🪄. These achievements share rapid courses, meticulous preparation, and exceptional athletes... 🏅