Trails in the Loire

If you come to run here, be prepared to hear the "Gaga," this delightful Stéphanois dialect as tasty as a cold post-race beer 🍺. If a volunteer shouts at you to watch out for the "babet," don't look for a local Loch Ness monster, it's just a pinecone lying on the trail! Saint-Étienne, the prefecture, has managed to transform its industrial past into a present focused on design and culture, much like you when you transition from your old, worn tracksuit to your latest compression gear 👕. The climate here is semi-continental, meaning you can get very hot in the Forez plain in summer and freeze your butt on the ridges in winter, so manage your equipment wisely ❄️. In terms of biodiversity, stay alert, as the Pilat Regional Natural Park houses protected species like the Eurasian Eagle-Owl and even some traces of the return of wolves, enough to motivate you to run faster if you hear a suspicious noise in the bushes 🐺.

Geographically, you're in for a treat with the Loire Gorges winding majestically and the peaks of the Pilat watching over from afar like peace judges 🔭. It's in this area that you'll find the famous Crêt de la Perdrix, the highest point of the massif at 1,432 meters above sea level, perfect for working on your uphill VO2 max. Don't forget this is the department where the very first rail line in France was built in 1827 between Saint-Étienne and Andrézieux, so it's your turn to race like a steam locomotive on the trails 🚂. If you're looking for a nature run, in the forest or mountains, you'll be delighted by the variety of landscapes, from beech and fir woods to alpine heaths that sometimes evoke the Scottish Highlands, minus the rain (well, that depends on the day) 🌧️.

Worried you'll hit a wall at kilometer thirty? Impossible here, because local gastronomy is the best fuel in the world (according to a non-scientific study conducted by yours truly). You can mentally recharge by thinking of a slice of Praluline, this brioche with pink pralines originating from Roanne that will give you more energy than a dubious chemical gel 🍬. And if you prefer savory, the Fourme of Montbrison awaits at the finish to restock your calcium and good fat reserves 🧀. The department also hosts the largest Le Corbusier site in Europe in Firminy, proving you can love architectural concrete and the virgin forest at the same time 🏗️. As for elevation, don't underestimate the Monts du Forez, because even if they're not the Alps, they burn the calves just enough to remind you you're alive ⚡. It's also the land of Honoré d'Urfé, author of "L'Astrée," the first sprawling novel in French literature, which is ironic when you think you'll likely cross quite a few streams with wet feet 💧.

Let's talk champions, because the 42 has a lot of talent and lungs of steel. We naturally think of Adeline Roche, a native of Roanne and world trail champion, who broke in her shoes on these very trails before conquering the world, a true inspiration for us all 🌍. To follow in her footsteps, check out the trail calendar full of essential gems. You definitely can't miss the legendary SaintéLyon, the oldest ultra race connecting Saint-Étienne and Lyon at night, an icy and muddy adventure that every trail runner should experience at least once to understand the mixed pain and joy 🔦. If you prefer running by day, the Pilat Trail in Véranne offers breathtaking views over the Rhône valley and the Alps in the distance. The Trail des Balcons de la Loire in Chambles is an absolute must for its stunning views of the river, as is the Trail de la Fourme, combining sport and local flavor in a festive atmosphere 🐮. Lastly, the Trail des 7 Monts will introduce you to the surroundings of Septème with a challenging yet beautiful course.

In short, whether you’re here for the victory or to explore this department that shares the name of France's longest river (even though it just passes through, the show-off), you'll surely find a race in the Loire suited to you.