Shortly before 9 a.m., Sainte-Cécile beach. A few hundred runners are stamping impatiently at the starting line. Ahead of them, around twenty kilometers (a ten-kilometer race was also planned) through the beaches, the banks of the Canche and its muddy paths. In a few minutes, these are “ 500 participants », according to the organizers, who will challenge the Passe Pierre route, seventh edition.
The passage of the Canche is one of the highlights of this race. – Photo Johan Ben Azzouz
This Lens supporter would have liked to spread his wings to fly. But the reality is quite different… You have to struggle to reach the finish line. – Photo Johan Ben Azzouz
A crowd of white t-shirts waits next to the Canche nautical center in Étaples, waiting for the departure given by Franck Tindiller, the mayor of the town. At around 10 a.m., 300 walkers started a discovery route towards Le Touquet. “ We had been planning this weekend for some time. We knew there was this march, so we added it to the program », Daniel and Josiane, originally from Douaisis, slip past us along the way.
The decor is one of the attractions of Passe Pierre. – Photo Johan Ben Azzouz
The very dreaded passages in the mud on the banks of the Canche. – Photo Johan Ben Azzouz
Delicate exercise: move forward gently on the mud, which is particularly slippery. – Photo Johan Ben Azzouz
After several tens of minutes of effort for some, a little over an hour for others, the arrival is a relief. The mercury rose as the morning progressed, drying the mud quickly. You will have to wait before touching the precious sesame: one of the water jets available in the arrival area. « I hope to come backsays Pierrick, originally from Dannes, who has just finished his ten kilometers. It’s a beautiful place to run. »
Two routes were available: 10 or 20 kilometers, across the banks of the Canche. – Photo Johan Ben Azzouz
Needless to say, the participants finished the race with clothes stained with mud… – Photo Johan Ben Azzouz
Crossing the Canche. This could have been the name of a film retracing the story of Allied soldiers facing a tenacious enemy, 80 years ago… – Photo Johan Ben Azzouz
