Races in Toulouse

It’ll take you just two minutes in rue des dervishes Tourneurs to understand the love Claude Nougaro had for his Pink City. If its Roman bricks already make its reputation, in terms of architecture and culture, Toulouse is splendid. Your strolls will inevitably take you to the legendary, world-renowned Place du Capitole, 92 m wide (not bad for an interval session 🤔). Place Lambert Wilson and Place de la Trinité and Tobago are must-see spots. You’ll also likely stop by the Basilica of Saint-Sernin and the Hôtel-Dieu Saint-Jacques before heading back out along the Canal du Midi. Note that the first two are UNESCO-listed as stops on the Way of Saint James. A great plan ahead, all with the southern accent that’s seriously starting to rub off on you 😁.

But the best way not to miss any of Toulouse’s buildings is to explore the Pink City through its races—if you’re not afraid to rack up the kilometers! On the agenda, you can choose between the Marathon International Toulouse Métropole, the Crédit Agricole Corrida, the famous Bacchantes, the city’s 10K and half-marathon, or the Christmas Corrida! Firm thighs guaranteed!

Running in Toulouse means soaking up the southwest sunshine while discovering superb landmarks… Watch out for sunburn, though—yes, the city clocks 2,000 hours of sunshine a year. Don’t forget your sunscreen; it’d be a shame to get teased by Jacqueline and Thierry for your sunburn on Monday morning by the coffee machine 😂. You can start your training with an urban trail starting from Place Saint-Pierre down to the riverbanks—11.2 km of pure happiness that will take you to quai de Tunis Tounis at Boulevard du Maréchal Juin. Your Nordic walks will be inspired by the Île du Ramier and the little house on the Prairie des Filtres. And if, starting from the water tower, you also ran back across the Garonne on the Pont Saint-Pierre? For a total change of scenery, head to Port Saint-Sauveur for a route along the Canal du Midi toward Ramonville (not to be confused with Romainville in Seine-Saint-Denis). The view of the Pyrenees that the city offers is magnificent! If you’re looking for a bit of elevation gain, head to Pech David hill, 130 m above the Garonne. This large park will give you 280 hectares of unique landscapes on the other side of the ring road, south of the city. A perfectly laid-out dirt path, the Touch greenway will be your haven of peace.

With so many possibilities and routes, there’s a good chance you’ll get lost in Toulouse! Don’t worry—you’ll be able to find your way thanks to a clever orientation system set up by the locals 💡: gray street signs are perpendicular to the Garonne and yellow ones are parallel to it, enough to help you find your way back. Want to keep exploring around Toulouse ? Very good idea! Rabastens, Lisle-sur-Tarn, Palaminy, André Rieux-Volvestre, Julien Cazères, Mont Martres-Tolosane, or Gaillac are little gems ! On the program in these authentic villages: bastides, abbeys, colorful markets, and vineyards. If your kids are fans of castles, those in Laréole and Merville are incredible. Take advantage of your time in the region to do a wine tasting—you’ll be spoiled for choice : Côtes de Gascogne, Cahors wines, Gaillac production. To mix things up, you can also try Armagnac. Always in moderation, of course 😇.

One thing is certain: to discover all the jewels of Haute-Garonne and see the diversity of local landscapes, the best way is to take part in the different races like the Trail du Cassoulet de Verfeil, the Trail des 3 Pics, or the Trail du Pastel!

Feeling a bit hungry? I’m not surprised ! To reward all your sightseeing, you can sit down and try the famous Toulouse sausage or Cachous Lajaunie. More of a sweet tooth after a good jog? Before taking sides in the famous pain au chocolat vs chocolatine debate, you can simply taste the region’s famous violet.

So lace up your best sneakers, ditch the shirt like Zebda, and run to Toulouse ! After everything we’ve just told you, it would really be the icing on the Garonne if you didn’t come !