The 2026 Lake SQY Marathon, France
Marathon # 580
France Marathon # 9
Date: July 8, 2026
My Time: 7:57:14
By Dr. Barefoot Sidy Diallo
Six years ago—on June 14, 2020—due to race cancellations worldwide, I ran a 90 km ultramarathon at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (SQY) Leisure Park: the 2020 virtual Comrades Marathon, which I had originally planned to run in South Africa. It was therefore out of nostalgia that I decided to return to this magnificent park for my 580th marathon, completing four full laps of its lake – hence the name of the race.
The SQY Leisure Park— that used to host the start of the 80 km EcoTrail de Paris—is an exceptional 600-hectare natural area. Whether you’re a thrill seeker, passionate about biodiversity, or simply looking for a green space for a family picnic, the park is the ideal destination for a successful outing less than 30 km from Paris. The Park offers a multitude of sports and leisure activities, including water sports on the SQY Pond (sailing, canoeing, kayaking), an equestrian center, two golf courses, many paths (for cycling, walking or running), birdwatching and many playgrounds.
My book Running Barefoot for Human Survival is available on Amazon in paperback and e-book format (French edition: Courir pieds nus pour sauver les humains).
France Marathon # 9
Date: July 8, 2026
My Time: 7:57:14
By Dr. Barefoot Sidy Diallo
Six years ago—on June 14, 2020—due to race cancellations worldwide, I ran a 90 km ultramarathon at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (SQY) Leisure Park: the 2020 virtual Comrades Marathon, which I had originally planned to run in South Africa. It was therefore out of nostalgia that I decided to return to this magnificent park for my 580th marathon, completing four full laps of its lake – hence the name of the race.
The SQY Leisure Park— that used to host the start of the 80 km EcoTrail de Paris—is an exceptional 600-hectare natural area. Whether you’re a thrill seeker, passionate about biodiversity, or simply looking for a green space for a family picnic, the park is the ideal destination for a successful outing less than 30 km from Paris. The Park offers a multitude of sports and leisure activities, including water sports on the SQY Pond (sailing, canoeing, kayaking), an equestrian center, two golf courses, many paths (for cycling, walking or running), birdwatching and many playgrounds.
My book Running Barefoot for Human Survival is available on Amazon in paperback and e-book format (French edition: Courir pieds nus pour sauver les humains).
The Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (SQY) Leisure Park in the Paris region, France
Dr. Barefoot Sidy Diallo completed his 580th marathon in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (SQY) Leisure Park.
Dr. Barefoot Sidy Diallo’s 2026 Lake SQY Marathon Garmin Data
The Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (SQY) Leisure Park offers a multitude of sports and leisure activities, including water sports on the SQY Pond, an equestrian center, two golf courses, and paths for walking or running.