From age 6 to 99, more than a thousand licensed members at Mans Athlétisme 72

More than a thousand licensed members, and hundreds of volunteers

In September, a club employee welcomed us at the Mans Athlétisme 72 headquarters, rue de Richebourg. LMA 72 was founded in 1990. It has more than a thousand licensed members, aged 6 to 99. Around them: a board of sixteen members, about fifty active volunteers, and several hundred people mobilized on race days. A baby athletics program is being considered.

Track, nature, health

The club doesn't stop at the stadium.

• The track. Athletics is practiced at two stadiums in Le Mans, Île aux Sports and Petit Vaurouzé: from the athletics school for ages 6–13, on Wednesday afternoons, to the competition groups.
• Nature. Running and trail leave from the same starting point; Nordic walking is done out in nature; orienteering changes location every Saturday, announced in advance on the club's website.
• Sport-health. LMA 72 has been a Maison Sport-Santé since 2023: with a medical prescription, it welcomes people far from physical activity to help them get back into it. A Nordic walking group at a very gentle pace meets on Wednesday mornings, and the Maison Sport-Santé also offers other adapted sessions, in halls in Le Mans. Adapted sport also has its place, on the north side, at the university.

The year's events

The club runs national events of the Fédération française d'athlétisme: the Run 2k and the Kinder Athletic Day.

It also lends a hand at races around the region, like the 10 km du Maine, the Foulées de Mulsanne or the Cross Ouest-France: marshaling, safety, start and finish. Dates are on the club's website, relayed on Facebook and Instagram.

If you're hesitating to start

The beginner running group is made for that: strengthening, coordination, flexibility and cardio in the form of fun sessions, with one simple goal, running 5 km without stopping and without getting hurt. To try it, the simplest thing is to ask the club which group suits you.

This club is well worth a visit: share this article with someone who wants to start running (again).

Getting there

• Headquarters: 26 rue de Richebourg, Le Mans (tram line T2, Préfecture stop). Open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 9 AM–12:30 PM and 2–5 PM, Friday 9 AM–12:30 PM. Phone: 06 35 77 07 18.
• Stadiums: Petit Vaurouzé (boulevard Charles-Nicolle) and Île aux Sports (boulevard Robert-Schuman).
• Beginner running: Wednesday 5:30–6:30 PM and Friday 6:30–7:30 PM, at Petit Vaurouzé.
• Athletics school (ages 6–13): Wednesday 2–4 PM, at Petit Vaurouzé.
• Nordic walking: Tuesday and Thursday 9:30–11 AM and 6:30–8 PM, parking du Verger; Saturday 9:30–11 AM, parking du Closeau. Health group: Wednesday 10–11 AM.
• Prices: on the club's website.
• Sign-up: on the club's website.
• Mans Athlétisme 72 on Sortir au Mans