PORTRAIT. Gaston Nkombo Nkombo ran the 13 editions of the Toulouse marathon, which will not take place in 2022 and 2023
The member of TACO Aucamville has participated in all editions of the Toulouse marathon, of which Toulouse Métropole has announced the stop. Among other things, he has a 16th place in the scratch in 2018.
“From now on, I will have to find another city to take a bib at this distance. “Between Gaston Nkombo Nkombo (48 years old) and the Toulouse marathon, it was a very long story. “It’s simple, I took part in all the editions. I work for Toulouse Métropole, more precisely in the public space management service. So this race, we can say that it was my unmissable event at the end of the year ”, explains the member of TACO Aucamville, ranked 16th in the scratch in 2018 (2h48min05sec) and author of his best time on the Toulouse asphalt in 2009 (2h47min19sec, 28th place overall).
“I hope the marathon will return to Toulouse”
Obviously, his memory box is still full: “I remember the first editions when we left Airbus and the arrival in Sesquières. Then we went to the outskirts, for example to Castelginest. Then, the course settled in the heart of the Pink City. Between the riders, it was always the debate between those who preferred the old circuits and those who had a preference for the city center (laughter). I also remember an arrival where I had to be taken care of by the medical service because of stomach pain. “
“I hope the marathon will return to Toulouse”
But the TACO runner is well aware of the difficulties of organizing such an event. “I see him in my club, it’s getting harder and harder to find volunteers. With the involvement of the FFA, the number of runners lined up only for the marathon has never been huge here in other cities. That’s a shame. I still hope that the marathon will return to Toulouse, ”he concedes. Until then, he still has to find a new destination: “I may be thinking of the Barcelona marathon next year. “