Trail Calendar

Do you know what the legend says? That trail running was born in Great Britain in the 11th century with a race organized by King Malcolm III of Scotland 🏴, who was searching for a royal messenger! 👑 More recently, in 1921, the Comrades Marathon became the first officially recorded trail: 89 kilometers to run between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, in South Africa🇿🇦. 86 years later, in 2007, the first World Trail Championships 🏆 were held. Since 2013, the International Trail Running Association (the famous ITRA points) has represented the discipline globally. It is also worth noting that the ambition of the Golden Trail World Series (GTWS) organization is to develop and promote trail running! The GTWS also organizes an annual championship whose reigning champion is Swiss athlete Rémi Bonnet. Since 2021, the organizers of the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) have been organizing their own competitive circuit, the UTMB World Series with events worldwide, and a finale in Chamonix at the end of August/beginning of September. That's the historical side! 👩‍🏫

In this adventure 🎒, the key is perseverance 😉, boosted by a proper diet 🍌 to maintain top energy 💪. Trail running is in vogue, just like Ironman 🚴, and it requires solid resilience and determination. The trail is divided into several categories: discovery trails, short distances 💫, short trails (+/- 20 kilometers) 🚩, long trails and… ultra-trails ⛰️. Concerning the terrain, you will discover a variety of landscapes. From grass to coastal paths 🌊, to the heights above ⬆ where skyrunning takes over from 2,000 meters. Depending on your route, you might pass through vineyards 🍇, shaded forests, lakes, sandy beaches ⛱️, cliffs, or even snow ❄️ in the white trails. With its growing success, trail running is getting closer and closer to cities. The urban trail, also called City Trail or Urban Trail 🏙️, appears with its surprises and features, like stairs, bridges 🌉, tunnels, offering a unique experience to each runner.

The running trail offers a wonderful diversity to its audience 🥳, which responds well. It is a comprehensive discipline that calls on all the body muscles. Don't worry, even beginners have their place with accessible trails. With 8 million participants in Europe 🇪🇺, it's a passion that brings all generations 👪 together. In the 70s, women ♀️ could hear far-fetched ideas about the effects of sport, but we've come a long way since then! To learn more, documentary lovers 📺 can dive into "Free to Run" by Pierre Morath, which explores the origins of the sport 🏃.

In France, the trail calendar is busy all year round! 🗓️ This discipline offers a diversity of landscapes and terrains adapted to everyone, from short races to more intense challenges 😍. From the Alps to the Pyrénées, through the Massif Central ⛰️, the Vosges and the Jura 🌿, or on the coasts of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean 🦀, there is something for everyone. Big names like the Grand Raid de la Réunion 🏝️, the Var Verdon Canyon Trail Challenge 🏞️, the Restonica Trail in Corsica, the UTMB, the Festival of the Templars, the Ultra Marin ⚓, the Asics SaintéLyon 🌆 and the Grand Raid des Pyrénées 🏔️ are must-sees. For adventurers, the international calendar 🌍 also holds treasures. From Zegama-Aizkorri to the Transvulcania passing by the Hardrock 100 in the United States🇺🇲, trail running allows you to discover new cultures and landscapes 🏞️.

Once you've selected your challenge, careful preparation is necessary: a hydration backpack 🍶 and energy bars 🍫 will be indispensable allies for facing the kilometers ahead. By training regularly, you might one day compete with the best in the discipline 🔥. Among them, Kilian Jornet, a name you surely recognize: the Spaniard is the most famous trail runner in the world, having dominated the discipline and become renowned for numerous feats. He has notably won 3 times 🥇 the mythical UTMB (171 kilometers...), the first edition of which took place in 2003. The native of Sabadell in Catalonia forms a beautiful ultra-running couple with Emelie Forsberg, found among the world's best. Another phenomenon in the discipline: Marie Goncalves 🌆, who through her successes on various courses, demonstrated her tenacity. On the male side, Mathieu Blanchard, with his remarkable performances, has made a mark on podiums over various distances and terrains. Courtney Dauwalter, known for her extraordinary endurance, breaks records over extreme distances and terrains. Not to forget Anton Krupicka, Pau Capell, Jim Walmsley, or Xavier Thevenard 👑, who, with their exceptional talents 🌟, have shone on the most demanding courses 🥵.

With such role models to follow, you have everything you need to motivate yourself and approach your own trail practice with confidence! 😁

One, two, trail, let's go!