Paris, wednesday 21 February 2018

Fitbit Semi de 2018 : 45 000 runners, 1 big challenge

The Kenyan winner of the 2015 edition, Vincent Yator, will be one of the 45,000 runners on the start line of the most popular half in on 4 March. It is a pivotal event of the early season and a key milestone in the build-up to the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris.

Key points • Five Kenyans on the hunt for a record • Over 45,000 runners on the start line —35% of them women!

All eyes on Two years after claiming the biggest in France with a time of 1 h 00′12″, 28-year-old Vincent Yator is back at the helm of a five-man Kenyan delegation, including Evans Cheruiyot, fourth in last year's Karlovy Vary half marathon with a time of 1 h 00′59″, Eilud Kiptanui (1 h 01′34″ in 2011) and John Krikoech (1 h 01′38″ in Berlin in 2014). Frenchman Yohan Durand (1 h 03′43″ in the 2010 Lille half marathon) will have to dig deep…

In the women's category, Sharon Cherop, who recorded her personal best in New Delhi in 2011 (1 h 07′08″), will face competition from fellow Kenyan Pioline Wanjiku (1 h 09′09″ in Warsaw in 2014 and runner-up in last year's race) and Ethiopian Haklima Beriso, third in Paris in 2010. The winner of the 2017 Issy-les-Moulineaux 10 km race, Fadouwa Ledhem, will spearhead the French contingent.

45,000 runners swarming Paris As usual, amateurs make up the lion's share of the field at the Fitbit Semi de Paris. 36% of this year's participants are women and 34% are runners tackling what is one of the favourite distances of French athletes for the first time. The village will have a dedicated area where participants can get last-minute tips. Meanwhile, the official app is a treasure trove of information, including a guide and a training programme.

A challenge within everyone's reach The course has no major difficulties. As a small plus, pacing race numbers with their target times on them will be available for runners to print out and pin on their backs. This will work wonders for runners who follow the pace of other athletes.

Something new The two new features of this year's race are more important than they seem. On the one hand, runners' bags will be handed out at the finish to prevent littering. On the other hand, the medals awarded to finishers will be equipped with a bottle opener —a great way to remember to recover!

He said : Christophe Puginier, Fitbit Semi de Paris manager. "The main thing to remember about the course is that it is quite fast. There are few difficulties worth noting, apart from perhaps a couple of U-turns that break the rhythm, but the rest of the course is very conducive to fast times and suitable for rookies on this distance. It has a strong Parisian flavour, with the field heading from the Bois de Vincennes to the Bastille, the banks of the Seine, the City Hall… Everyone will have a blast discovering or rediscovering Paris and aiming for a decent time."

2017 results

Men's podium 1. Morris Gachaga (KEN) 1 h 00′38″ 2. Paul Lonyantanga (KEN) 1 h 00′40″ 3. Alex Korio (KEN) 1 h 00′42″

Women's podium: 1. Ruth Chepngetich (KEN) 1 h 08′08″ 2. Pioline Wanjiku (KEN) 1 h 10′52″ 3. Edith Chelimo (KEN) 1 h 10′59″

Event records

Men : Stanley Biwott (KEN) 59:44 (2012) Women : Pauline Njeri (KEN) 1:07:55 (2012)

More information on : www.fitbitsemideparis.com

Presse contact [email protected]