This Saturday at 1:30 p.m. the thermometers in the Montbrison pharmacies show 33°C. The sun bursts with a thousand lights at the Espace des Jacquins, where the first scent of beer escapes from the Made in Loire lounge. The most festive ones wait patiently in front of a small wooden hut which allows them to buy… beer coins.
“It’s the only marathon in the Loire, so I’m happy to do it in this friendly spirit”
“With a beer coin, that is 1.50 euros, you can have a gallop in one of the beer stands” launches a man in the queue. And there are plenty of beer stands, starting with Les Bulles Foréziennes, La Margau Brewery, Les Sagnes Brewery, La Canaille Brewery, BIM Brewery…
All the products are represented, such as honey from Forez, fourme from Montbrison, sausages from the Jousserand farm in Chambles, snail farming from Haut Forez, verbena from Forez… But with the summer temperature, the greediest turned to the stand of Ferme des Délices to taste the cream ice.
Inside, some competitors have more sportsmanship like Gaël, from Luriecq, entering his first marathon. “I’m coming back from an ankle injury. Before I did quite a few semis and 10 kilometers. It’s the only marathon in the Loire, so I’m happy to do it in this friendly spirit. »
Further on we find Emmanuelle, who comes to collect her bib and her husband, Juliens. At 43, Emmanuelle will complete her seventh marathon. Worried about the hot weather on Sunday, she said to the organizers: “Have you planned watering cans on the course? » This resident of Pralong will run with his friends… « Supers Samettes! We are part of SAM (Sports Athlétiques Montbrisonnais) and in 6 years we have organized demonstrations between girls. On December 5, 2021 we organized our first Forez marathon off. »
“He trained more for beer. To each his own domain »
As for her husband? Emmanuelle replies: “Him? He trained more for beer. Everyone has their own area. But we’re supposed to run together to support each other (laughs).
She listens to the latest advice from the organisers, including the volunteers from Poppy 42, about the bib and the electronic chip.
In return, she is offered a pair of socks and… a glass of beer, “this one will be for the end of the marathon” she concludes. Her husband will no doubt use it for the course.
“They will taste in every sense of the word”
“We have a capacity of 3,000 runners. There are already 2,600 registered. The first month when we announced the Beer Marathon, we received 1,000 registrations in three weeks” still can’t believe it, Nicolas Falatik, one of the organizers.
A crazy bet between friends who chained festive marathons, “in September 2022 we said to ourselves, what if we launched this? Chicken! This trail enthusiast is happy with the three routes on offer. For the 42 kilometers, Nicolas Falatik launches with a touch of irony, “they will taste it in every sense of the word. For the marathon there will be 13 supply points with artisanal and local brewers, for the half there will be eight and for the 10 kilometers four. There will also be tastings of local products.
As for the atmosphere, he doesn’t worry, “it will be 80% festive. For example, we have bachelor parties. Next to him, the leader of the 300 volunteers, Damien Garnier, is active with the help of Dominique Ciccoli, the former sports director of Coquelicot 42.
