20km from Lausanne: the 24 -hour team is preparing for the race

20km from Lausanne –

How a group of colleagues has turned into a “runners” team

They will be 36,000 to run Sunday in Lausanne. They are sixteen. Not the fastest, but perhaps the most united. Here is the story of a group of colleagues gathered by running.

Jérémy Le Menn

Posted today at 10:02 a.m.

The 2025 edition of the 20km of Lausanne broke all records in terms of registrations, with more than 35,500 bibs sold.

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This Sunday, Lausanne welcomes the 2025 edition of the 20km, but the history of these sixteen colleagues, united by the passion for running, stands out. Started with a simple Tuesday noon outing, their adventure has become a symbol of camaraderie and surpassing oneself. Regardless of the time, it is their solidarity and the friendship that will lead them to the finish line.

Tuesday. It is noon, battery. The sun hits just what it takes. In front of the “24 -hour” tower, sneakers’ silhouettes come together. We laugh, we adjust the watches, we wish each other good luck. For the last time before the race of 20km from Lausanne Sunday, we run together. A last collective breath before the big day.

The start of a running adventure

It all started in early February, with a very simple idea: to create a small running group in business. A desire to get out of the frame, to breathe differently, to come together without badge, without pressure. A message launched, a few answers, and then, week after week, the group grew up. No training plan, no obligation, just a shared momentum. The Tuesday noon meeting quickly became a benchmark.

We ran under the drops, in the wind, under the sun too. We descended, reassembled, sprinted, blown, market, sometimes moaned. But we never stopped.

And above all, we got to know each other differently. Naila came “for fun”, but she said it from the start: “It pushes the ass! ” Ezio and Mehdi, freshly retired, knew each alley, each climb. Clément, accustomed to short distances, was there to take up the 10km challenge.

Romain, who is slowly recovering from a back injury, joined the group with courage and determination. Endrit, always concentrated, chained the strides as we manage a project: with method. Fabienne and Cécile, always leaving and smiling.

Bruna, between two fashion pages, proved that even sweating can have style. Johan was talking as much as he was running-that is to say a lot-but always with accuracy. And Roland? Always smile, always ready, always listening.

The weather, friend or enemy during the race

Sometimes the elements were against us. Like this time under a gray sky, where messages of withdrawal fell one by one. I thought I was going to run alone. And then, at the last minute, two colleagues appeared. No need for words. Just a look. They understood. And we left.

Some came just for the pleasure of running together. Others with lenses, they targeted 10 km or 20 km. Everyone has their story, their doubts, their injuries, their fights, young or old. And always with a smile.

There have been suspended moments. A shared sprint without words. A silence by the lake. An accomplice look after a difficult climb. A tape in the hand after a staircase that stung. And this strange, precious feeling, to no longer be at work … but together.

This experience reminded me that it is sometimes very little enough to create a link: a niche in the agenda, a pair of sneakers … and a little courage. Create a WhatsApp group! The rest is built on its own: strides, smiles, links.

On Sunday, we will be sixteen on the starting line of the 20km race in Lausanne. We may have the stage fright. It will surely have the leg pain. But we will go, and for me, we have already won.