My running friends,

It's with a twinge of sadness and a great deal of emotion that I announce that, after ten years of passionately organizing the Grand Trail des Lacs et Châteaux, I've decided to take a step aside. All of you, my friends the runners, all of you, my friends the volunteers, faithful, passionate and devoted year after year, you have contributed to making these ten years a daydream, even more beautiful than the one I had dared to imagine. I owe it to this race to have discovered some of the most beautiful people I've ever met in my life, and memories rich in emotion, imperishable. The GTLC has nourished me, made me grow and blossom. For this and so much more, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU! I have a deep and honest feeling that I have reached the end of what I can offer, and that I have given the best that a single person, at the head of a growing event, can give. Ambitious and determined, wishing the best for the event I imagined and saw come to life, I have decided to pass the torch to a new, experienced and dynamic organizing team, keen to continue this great adventure while preserving the soul of the GTLC. I'm leaving my baby to grow and flourish in the hands of people who already have my full confidence, respect and support in this project: Michael, Joan and Robert from ASBL Enjoy Sport. I'm not leaving the ship for good, and will continue to support them in their task of building the future of the GTLC together, in keeping with the spirit of the event and Enjoy Sport's values of respect, honesty and fun. They will be keen to breathe new life into the race, with all their motivation and enthusiasm, but also with the greater resources that were mine, and to erase the few imperfections that may have come to light last year, during the 10th edition, which some may have found somewhat disappointing due to the nature of the course or the unfortunate cancellation of the 100 km. We've written this wonderful story together, and we'll continue to do so. The adventure continues, and it will be beautiful, infinitely beautiful, believe me. The chapters that lie ahead are already shining brightly, with colors never seen before. I'm firmly convinced of that, sincerely convinced.

If I had to pick just one memory, it would be this one. More than ten years ago, a few of us, friends and supporters of the GTLC, were testing the formula and the routes during an unofficial edition on a rainy September day. Suddenly, as we passed through the little village of Polleur, an old lady, bent by the weight of years, her face lit up by a mischievous, facetious smile, spoke to us with these few words: "You're chasing the sun! In the greyness, in the distance, the light was emerging, offering itself to us, embracing us. I'll never forget it...

Keep chasing your sun, relentlessly.

I look forward to seeing you again, at the GTLC of course, and on the little trails that are enough to keep us happy.

Christophe Libin, creator and organizer of the GTLC (2009-2019)

PS: Keep the party going! Discover the 2020 edition and its many surprises and new features: https://www.facebook.com/events/845188175941163/