Races in January

We all agree: before we can live up to our wonderful promises, we first have to recover from New Year’s Day and Epiphany cake! January is also Christmas after Christmas: the winter sales set the pace for the start of every year. Tech and unicorn fans 🦄 will no doubt have marked in their calendars the famous CES in Las Vegas, held since 1967 in the Nevada city. In France, we’re pretty spoiled when it comes to team sports. And what about our handball players 🤾🏻‍♂️, the most decorated team in the history of the sport? Every two years, we’ll be on the edge of our seats watching their feats at the Men’s Handball World Championship. While waiting for the generation that will take over from the “Experts”... In January, the Vincennes racecourse hosts one of the most prestigious harness trotting races 🐎: the Prix d'Amérique Legend Race. And let’s not forget to celebrate International Women’s Sports Day: all around the globe, sport—a vehicle for emancipation—must be accessible to everyone. 

Let’s take a look at the January race calendar. Pretty packed! In western France, the running ambassador Mohamed Serbouti will no doubt once again be on the starting line of the Cross Ouest France, a very popular race that takes place in Le Mans. Still on the trail side in January, if you’re more into Lyon bouchons than Le Mans rillettes, then head to the Trail hivernal des Coursières, which is run in the heart of the Monts du Lyonnais. Further south, near Marseille, the Trail de la Galinette will let you discover the charms of Parc de Pichauris, among other things… Near Compiègne, in Oise, the start of the Trail du Château de Pierrefonds 🏰 takes place at the foot of the impressive medieval residence of the same name. In a different atmosphere, the Trail Blanc des Vosges will allow you to extend your winter holiday. 

On the road, in Nice, the 10 km Prom’Classic, part of which is run on the famous Promenade des Anglais, offers a timed race or an untimed alternative. Because running doesn’t necessarily mean going fast! Still in January, the starts of the half-marathon and the marathon at Cross Ouest France are expected to be tight, given the number of participants. Over in Saint Grégoire, in Brittany, we salute the charity race Les métropolitaines, which donates €3 of the €5 registration fee to an association of your choice. 👏

Walkers will also find what they’re looking for in the events of the Cross Ouest France and the Trail du Château de Pierrefonds, already mentioned above. Two different vibes, but just as nice. 

And you—what are your resolutions for the year ahead?