From May 14 to 18, the 7th edition of the No Finish Line will take over the Quai des États-Unis in Nice. For five days and four nights, runners and walkers will take turns without interruption. The goal: to cover 120,000 km, converted into 120,000 euros to fund projects for sick or disadvantaged children on the Côte d’Azur.
The concept has remained unchanged since its creation in Monaco in 1999. A one-kilometer circuit is marked out by the sea. Everyone can walk or run there, whenever they wish, as many times as they want. For each kilometer completed, one euro is donated to solidarity projects. The principle is simple, the impact is tangible.
This year again, the organizers aim for a double objective: to gather 6,500 participants and reach the 120,000-kilometer mark. An equivalent sum will then be redistributed to local actions for children.
Since 2018, the year the event was launched in Nice, the No Finish Line has gathered nearly 25,000 people. Together, they have covered more than 421,000 kilometers. Sixty projects have been initiated or strengthened thanks to the collected funds.
What matters is regularity, not speed in this “race” that is not really a race. The event is open to everyone, with no rankings or performance requirements. Registration is done only once for the entire duration of the event. The price is age-based: €15 for adults, €12 for high school students and college students, and €6 for children under 12. A deposit of €10 is required for the tracking chip.
Kilometers, faces, stories
Behind each stride, there’s a story. Alone, with family, with a dog or a child in a stroller, everyone comes at their own pace. Some participants form teams. Others come individually. All generations cross paths on the same route, day and night.
For the more experienced, a challenge within the challenge is proposed: the five-day race. Twenty ultra-runners will participate. These participants will remain on the circuit for the entire duration of the event. The previous records are 522 km for men and 369 km for women. A discreet but impressive presence that reminds us that effort can also become a form of giving.
The atmosphere is friendly. Refreshment stands, open continuously, allow everyone to rest or rehydrate. Volunteers ensure safety and welcome. Sponsors and patrons play a key role: their commitment helps ensure the principle of “1 km = 1 euro”. Some companies pledge to donate one euro for every kilometer covered by one of their registered employees. Individual runners can also make this choice, but it is not mandatory.
The circuit, open 24/7 from Wednesday, May 14 at 2 p.m. to Sunday, May 18 at 4 p.m., is set up once again on the Quai des États-Unis. A symbolic and accessible location, between sea and city, for a race that really never stops.
Practical Information
Registrations are open online until May 9 for teams and until May 12 for individuals. After this date, it will still be possible to register on-site starting May 14 at 12:30 p.m. All information is available on the official No Finish Line Nice website.