Races in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

What do Florence Foresti, Stendhal, Stéphane Bern, Mister V, and Vercingétorix have in common? Can't see it? Well, it’s simple... 🤓 Well, if you're giving up, know they all come from the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region! If we could use another adjective to present AURA, perhaps we would just use large. It is the second largest region in France, additionally being the second largest in terms of departments, with 12 in total: Ain, Allier, Ardèche, Cantal, Drôme, Isère, Loire, Haute-Loire, Puy-de-Dôme, Rhône, Savoie, Haute-Savoie, got it right (phew, we didn't forget anything 😅). Now that we've laid the foundation, are you ready to discover Aura, its cultural remains, its classified villages, and all its natural treasures? Let's go! 😎

Your exploration starts in Lyon, the ancient capital of Gaul between Rhône and Saône and its famous Parc de la Tête d’Or 🦁. You can then head to the mining and industrial city of Saint-Étienne. And why not kill two birds with one stone by participating in the legendary SaintéLyon? Grenoble at the foot of the Alps and Clermont-Ferrand are also emblematic cities of the region. You can also explore Puy-en-Velay, Valence, Chambéry, or Aurillac, all worth the trip. But if you favor hiking and Nordic walking, the intimacy of human-sized towns such as Annecy aka the “Savoyard Venice”, Montélimar or Aix-les-Bains will surely please you. Furthermore, the region proudly offers more than 20 villages ranked among the most beautiful in France like Yvoire, Chamonix, Perouges, Mirmande… 🥰

With a great variety of climates, the region can be a preferred destination depending on the seasons and your sporting preferences. Spread over the Alps, the Jura Mountains and the Massif Central ⛰️, it is indeed difficult to be more diverse in terms of scenery than Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes: Regional Natural Park of the Volcanoes of Auvergne, the Monts du Cantal, the Gorges of Ardèche, are among the most renowned spots but the list is as long as the ascent of the Grand-Colombier du Bugey! 📈 And what about the Mont-Blanc Massif, the roof of Europe… The Écrins National Park, the Regional Natural Park of Chartreuse, the Aravis Range, the Vanoise Massif, or even the Vercors offer beautiful reliefs and stunning panoramas in both summer and winter… 🤗 The Monts du Forez and those of Beaujolais offer beautiful colors and (a priori) a more manageable elevation to train on. If your thing is forest walks 🌳, you'll be absolutely delighted with the forest of Tronçay, simply one of the most beautiful forested areas in France. And do you sense that summer scent? Sure, there’s no sea, but there are lakes: Grangent, Annecy, Bourget, and Leman are amazing (to dive into? 💦). After that, it’s a stroll among lavender fields and olive trees in Drôme Provençale… No doubt, there's something for everyone. After summer, there's autumn winter, where you can find joy in one of the many winter sports resorts in the region... Great for varying efforts between two runs 😉. In fact, during your running trips, you might have the chance to find yourself in one of the many vineyards in the area 🍇. Running through the vineyards, could there be anything better? Between slopes and terraces along the Rhône Valley, hills in Beaujolais, and mountains for Savoie wine… Keep your eyes wide open 👀, depending on your routes, you might come across the remains of the region, like the Basilica of Brioude or the Château de Grignan… 🏰 Indeed, running and culture make a great scene of union! 💒

After taking your time with the local natural treasures, you'll need to pick up the pace! 🏃‍♂️ If you enjoy road races, you're in for plenty with the numerous marathons in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Let's mention the famous Lyon Marathon (Run in Lyon), the International Beaujolais Marathon, the one at Annecy Lake, but also the Alps Marathon, the Marathon Bresse Dombes, or even the RunMotion Coach Chambéry Marathon by the Lac du Bourget. If the distance of 42 km seems slightly ambitious to you, you can participate in the Half-Marathons in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. You can notably choose the Half-Marathon of the Sources of Annecy Lake 🏞️. You can also find this distance on the Run in Lyon or the RMC Chambéry Marathon.

And of course, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is well-known for its numerous trails and ultra-trails! The UTMB, the Winter Trail of the Courses, the Trail of the Petit Saint-Bernard, or the Sancy Mont-Dore Trail await you to feast your eyes while your thighs do the work! 🤩 

The ideal when you come to Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes is to balance your runs with gastronomic stops 😋. With 94 starred restaurants, not to mention all the Lyon bouchons, an escape to the region is inevitably gourmet. And with a saucisson brioché, Dauphiné ravioli, a Savoyard fondue 🫕, what better to accompany it with than a small glass of Côtes du Rhône or Beaujolais? And to properly digest your Saint-Marcellin and Montélimar nougats, a little bit of Chartreuse (to be consumed in moderation ⚠️), it’s a no-brainer!

Multiplicity of landscapes, diversity of sports routes, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region is a subtle blend between the joys of running and culinary delights 😇.