The 10th ECSS Bengt Saltin Charity Run – sponsored by Unilever is held in honour of ECSS Founding Member and Patron, Professor Bengt Saltin, and is organised in close collaboration with our Local Organising Committee.
Everyone is welcome to take part – whether you run or walk – and discover the beauty of Lausanneon a Summer morning! Please note: Participation is limited to registered individuals.
All proceeds will be donated to PASTEC, an organisation dedicated to promoting physical activity among children with cancer. Read more here and English translation here.
Before the run
To join the 10th ECSS Bengt Saltin Charity Run, please register via your ECSS Account (available from early April onwards). During registration, please confirm your chosen donation amount (minimum €10) and indicate your T-shirt size. For sustainability reasons, participants are also permitted to wear a T-shirt from a previous edition instead of ordering a new one.
Once registered, your place is confirmed. Don’t wait – registration closes as soon as it is fully booked but at the latest on Wednesday, 20 May!
Upon arrival at the SwissTech Convention Center for the Congress, please collect your race bib (which includes a time-tracking chip), running shirt (if ordered) and safety pins, provided by Decathlon, at Unilever booth (ID C2, Campus Level). Collection is open from Tuesday morning until Wednesday at 17:45 (CEST).
Getting there
See the mark in Google Maps to join the start/finish line.
Parking near the race area is very limited and we strongly encourage you to leave the car behind. You can easily reach the start by foot or by public transport (Bus No. 24, stop: Sport-Unil–EPFL; Bus No. 1 and 701, stop: Allée de Dorigny; Metro M1, stop: UNIL-Chamberonne). You can also rent a bike or E-scooter available throughout the city but please check the allowed parking zones.
During the run and course details
The run will take place on Thursday, 9 July at 07:00 (CEST). The ECSS arch will mark the start and finish line.
The 4.8 km (2.98 miles) route follows a counterclockwise scenic route along the shores of Lake Geneva, passing the IOC headquarters, before looping back through Bourget Park to the finish line. Participants will run mostly on gravel paths and tarmac roads, with a few sections on the soft wood chip surface of the Finnish track.
Importantly, this year the Local Organising Committee is taking advantage of the return to the Olympic City of Lausanne to introduce an exciting new feature: the 100 m Olympic Sprint. A 100m sprint segment will be set up in front of the IOC headquarters and timed separately. Sprint performance will account for 40% of the final ranking, with the 4.8 km time making up the remaining 60%.
View the full course map and details here.
Volunteers and course marshals will be stationed throughout the route to guide participants and manage any necessary road closures.
Important Information:
- Arrival Time: Please arrive ready and assembled by 06:45 (CEST) at the latest.
- Bag Drop: A guarded bag drop will be available for your belongings.
- Medical Assistance: Emergency medical assistance will be provided.
After the run
Grab some refreshments and energy bars after crossing the finish line and cheer on your fellow participants as they complete the course! The top three male and female finishers will be celebrated once everyone has crossed the line. Individual times will be posted later in the day at the ECSS Booth and within participants’ ECSS Accounts.
All Congress participants are also warmly welcome to come along as spectators – your support and energy make the event all the more special!
We can’t wait to see you at the start line!
ECSS & UNIL & EPFL