§staticmap(13416,5,450,250)
Hello, on june 23rd 2013, you’ll be organizing the Semi Marathon Fribourg. Can you tell us where it is located?
The Fribourg half-marathon will take place on 23 June 2013 at Courtepin (start and finish). Courtepin is a village located approximately 5 minutes from the town of Fribourg.
It offers not only top-rate infrastructures for our organisation, but also the opportunity to provide a fast and attractive course through the Fribourg countryside.
This will be the first edition of the race. What convinced you to set it up?
The canton of Fribourg welcomes lots of runners. However for many years now, there has been no half-marathon on its annual list of races. This is how the challenge to organise a half-marathon amongst friends arose.
What kind of route have you set up for the runners? How would you describe it?
The course that we are offering is designed to be fast and appealing. In order to allow all the runners to practise their sport in maximum comfort, we have decided to supply refreshments and a first-aid station every 2 kilometres. Music events will also be organised every 2 kilometres with bands, DJs, or other Guggenmusik groups in order to keep everyone motivated.
The course also benefits from an elevation gain of approximately 120m.
How many runners do you expect on Sunday morning? What type of runners do you plan to attract?
Our race has been designed above all for ordinary runners, and this is the reason for favouring refreshments and safety along the route. With this in mind, no prime starting position will be awarded to any runner.
We do, of course, envisage rewarding the best in each category. We hope to reach 700 participants for our first race, then gradually increase this number.
Do you organize other races during the Weekend? If so, on what distances?
At the present time, all our attention is focused on this Fribourg half-marathon event. When this event is well into its stride, we will not rule out organising another one. However, it’s not in the pipeline at the moment.
At that time of the year, what kind of weather can we expect?
The 23rd June has been steadily hot for the last 10 years. However, with the planned refreshment and first-aid stations, this doesn’t worry us.
Have you planned festivities around the race?
This weekend will also be significant because of the music festival. We are therefore working to make our race appealing on many fronts, namely:
- The sporting angle: organisation of the race on an appealing route which favours good results.
- The safety angle: with nearly 200 people working together to provide exceptional support, frequent refreshment points right next to first-aid stations (every two kilometres)
- The social angle: for runners to meet each other, donations to the Green Ethiopia association, a partnership established with the Courtepin Prof-In Centre, which trains apprentices with social and professional difficulties.
- The musical angle: for the music festival and to make the challenge lively.
The race finished, what advice would you give a runner who has never been to Fribourg before? A good restaurant, a fancy sightseeing?
Fribourg is a magnificent town full of history and beautiful monuments. I would definitely recommend that they visit the town a little on the small tourist train which leaves from the Equilibre theatre.
On the programme, a short tour of the town discovering Fribourg, its cathedral, its history, its evolution, its monuments, its chapels, or other well-known museums (Tinguely, Niki de Saint-Phalles, puppet doll museum, printing museum, etc.)
The old town of Fribourg is also a must-see and discover the legend of the Gottéron valley. This is a unique place and home to the famous ice hockey team, Fribourg-Gottéron, which is the town’s pride and joy.
There are also large numbers of restaurants in Fribourg, and specialities not to be missed, such as its famous vacherin fondue.
In a single sentence, what would you tell the readers of ahotu Marathons to make them register for the Semi Marathon Fribourg?
It’s a race which has been well-thought out and well-organised by runners, for runners.
Interview with Simon Thomet. Simon is a 26 year old runner and enthusiast of long-distance races such as marathons, 100km, etc.