Running in France

Finally free! Got a week to treat yourself? A few days to go run? Grab your map of France 🗺, a big breath of fresh air, and let your mind wander. Whether it’s for a road race, trail running or walking, summer 🌞 or winter ❄️, the choice is a real dilemma 🤨. Worst case, you’ll roll a die! 🎲 Running in the city ? Are you more into Paris and its wonders, Lyon and its little bouchons, or Bordeaux and its wine 🍷? Unless you prefer the historic grandeur of France and dream of running alongside some of the most beautiful castles in the Hexagon 🏰. Ah, craving some seaside? Brittany, with its countless landscapes and one-of-a-kind vibes, will delight you—unless you’d rather go for the vast sandy stretches of the Arcachon Bay. Mountains ⛰ to stuff yourself with oxygen until you can’t take any more? France is dotted with mountain ranges, each as beautiful as the next. The Alps or the Pyrenees? The Jura, the Vosges, or the Massif Central can also be awesome playgrounds. Corsica, Martinique, or Guadeloupe are extraordinary sea-surrounded territories that will give you unique running sensations. If you’re after softly rolling landscapes, you can turn to the Cévennes or the Tarn, places where life is good. Where you can discover the flavors of Pélardon and Chichoulet, two regional specialties... That’s also what running in France is about! Well, the good news in all of this is that whatever you choose, you’ll be happy! Wherever you go, your eyes and your taste buds will be in for a treat 😍. Spoiled for choice, we said.

Have you finally chosen your destination? More into road racing, love the City of Light, and you’ve surely already penciled into your diary the dates of the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris, the 20 km de Paris and the Harmonie Mutuelle Semi de Paris... Further south, the Marathon de Bordeaux Métropole, the Marathon de la Rochelle Serge Vigot, or the enchanting Marseille Cassis are other meet-ups that are hard for you to miss... If you prefer adventure, trails, and elevation gain, there are a few must-do races in the trail calendar in France... The UTMB is known to runners all over the world, the Asics SaintéLyon (a night race from city to city) is a huge hit, while the Festival des Templiers has been delighting people since 1995. Walkers will find their happiness there too. The walking calendar in France is right here! There’s something for every taste and every audience! Besides, many races in France think of your family and your children 🇫🇷, like races in theme parks or costume races 🦹🏼‍♀️.

And what if running or walking isn’t enough for you anymore? Good news: in France, the possibilities go far beyond that. L'Embrunman, nicknamed the Ironman of the Alps, lets you tackle the Izoard Pass; the Ironman France Nice offers you a big dip in the Mediterranean before the Nice hinterland; and the Triathlon de l'Alpe d'Huez awaits you at the top of the 21 hairpin bends. Prefer two wheels for long journeys? Legendary cyclosportive events open the doors of the Tour to you: La Marmotte with its legendary Alpine passes (Galibier, Croix-de-Fer, Alpe d'Huez), the Étape du Tour to experience a real stage of the Grande Boucle from the inside, or the Ardéchoise, one of Europe’s biggest cycling festivals with its thousands of participants 🚲. Prefer to leave the asphalt? Gravel is booming in France! The Wish One Millau Grands Causses takes you soaring over the Millau viaduct, while the GravelMan Series Basque Country takes you to discover the surroundings of Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle. Another way to sweat… and to indulge just as much 😍.

(really) Living is choosing