-
New York Marathon
The magic starts as soon as the plane comes down! The road to Manhattan, its buildings, the noise, the Sirens… a city that lives at the rhythm of the marathon for more than a week. A mythical journey through the five historic neighborhoods of New York City. Departure from Staten Island, the crossing of the Verrazzano Bridge-an image known all over the world-then the long avenues to the cosmopolitan public of Brooklyn; foray into Queens before finally diving into Manhattan, which we go up to the Bronx before coming back for the last steps in Central Park. And everywhere an atmosphere of madness, carrying you, carrying you. Beneficial euphoria, because the route is not easy, with its bridges, it’s long, very long avenues in false flat, on the second semi. The line that has been crossed, medal at the neck, your happiness seems contagious, winning all the New Yorkers who do not hesitate to stop the runners to congratulate them. Has lived absolutely.
The expert’s advice: avoid spending time before the marathon in visits. New York is a city where you walk a lot, a city that wears out before a marathon!
Difficulty: 4/5
Budget: 5/5
French
-
Marseille – Cassis
One of the most beautiful if not the most beautiful of French classics, which approaches the 40 years of existence! From the famous stade vélodrome in Marseille, the peloton goes for a few kilometers of warm-up until a sudden change of direction and the beginning of the difficulty of the race which makes it all its specificity : the climb of the Col de la Gineste : 5 km of coast (the percentage is not huge, but the climb is long). Compensation with stunning views of the city and the Mediterranean in the background. It’s hard, but the atmosphere is good, and the desire to go to the top always wins. Refreshment on the scrubland of the plateau of Carpiagne and the descent begins, soft at first, then violent when entering Cassis. Last small jump before the last two kilometers and the new final on the heights of Cassis, in the heart of the vineyards. This will not prevent the most daring from ending up in a sea bath, as the tradition of this classic wants.
The expert’s advice: go slowly to keep them under your feet as you attack the climb, and try to keep a steady pace by climbing.
Difficulty: 3/5
Budget: 2/5
-
10 km Paris-Centre
In the great book of running, Paris occupies several beautiful pages: marathon, half, 20 miles, and other combined events or relays. But this 10 km of the autumn season has a particular perfume, that of Parisian authenticity. It takes place in the neighborhoods of the historic center, turning and turning on the pavé des Halles, the avenue de l’opéra, bordering the Royal Palace, crossing the Place Vendôme. Not really of relief but of the constant revival that keeps the heart at high speed, at the whim of these old streets that we take pleasure in visiting in this way, waiting for the slightest morning spectator at his window or under his front porch.
The expert’s advice: go warm up well to support the fast start and the restarts at each turn.
Difficulty: 1/5
Budget: 1/5
-
Grand Raid De La Réunion
From a crazy idea came a mad trial. Cross the island of Réunion non-stop from Saint Pierre to Saint-Denis. A diagonal on the paper, which turns into an extreme ordeal with devastating ascents and descents. Piton de la Fournaise, cirques De Cilaos and Mafate… to the pitiless relief, one must add the warmth and sometimes the tropical rain to better understand the racing conditions that made The Legend of the race. A holy grail for all traitors!
The expert’s advice: discover the conditions and the reunion universe by one of the smaller formats (65 or 111 km) before tackling the diagonal.
Difficulty: 5/5
Budget: 5/5
-
Saintélyon
Everything helps to make Saintélyon a unique experience. Long distance of 72 km, between Saint-Etienne and Lyon; a mix of the terrain, 60% Road and 40% trails, and a start at midnight that gives the event a very special atmosphere. The night changes all the sensations of running; the already difficult terrain can become tricky if the winter weather conditions get mixed up. An option to discover: the 2, 3 or 4 riders relay.
The expert’s advice: the Saintélyon requires specific preparation and equipment, to apprehend the distance, the terrain… the night race and very often cold or snow!
Difficulty: 4/5
Budget: 2/5
-
Marathon of the Medoc
He called himself ” The Longest marathon in the world “, but it is not a question of distance… rather of time to spend on this great course in the heart of the medical vineyards. The route is punctuated by the crossing of wine castles with an oenological supply (optional of course !). You are not doing the Medoc to slam a chronic, or you have not understood the spirit of this marathon that wants to be festive above all and whose almost the entire peloton is running in disguise!
The expert’s advice: Be Careful, the festive spirit of the event must not overshadow the 42 km to be covered in a particularly hilly territory ! so we’re not neglecting training !
Difficulty: 3/5
Budget : 2/5
-
Parisian
A women’s race ? What an idea ! And yet it has been more than twenty years since the Parisienne made women run… from Paris and elsewhere. Trocadéro-Champ de Mars, a loop on either side of the Seine at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. 2017 gift: a partial ascent of the Champs Elysées ! On this course of 7 km without difficulty, many have taken their first steps before becoming passionate. From a few hundred in the beginning, there are now tens of thousands, the Parisiennes !
The expert’s advice: Be patient to take the start, which is done by waves from the pont d’iéna.
Difficulty: 1/5
Budget: 2/5
-
The Frappadingue
A race? Yes, if we want, but only between obstacles! For that is what this is all about: to pass all obstacles, to crawl, to climb, to hang on, to swim, in water or mud, to cross monkey bridges, nets, tunnels, avoid electroshock… before reaching the finish line. A real combat course of living ideally as a team to multiply the pleasure in the effort.
The expert’s advice : have a good physical condition to get rid of all the traps in the field.
Difficulty: 3/5
Budget : 2/5
-
Athens Marathon
It is not the most important by the number of its runners but only by what it represents : the memory of the original marathon, “traced” by the soldier Philippides between the cities of Marathon and Athens, in 490 BC. Profile going up at the start, then down towards Athens, the course is worth it first for its last meters, in the ancient marble stadium where took place in 1896, the first Olympic Games of the modern era. The expert’s advice : immerse yourself in the history of this marathon and live every moment of it.
Difficulty: 3/5
Budget : 3/5
-
The Soli’run
You make yourself happy by running for yourself, you increase pleasure by running for a noble cause. That of the Soli’run is simple, to unite the forces of the runners to help to finance program of renovations of dwellings in favor of the poorly-housed of Ile de France. At the beginning of spring, the organization proposes to leave for 10 or 6 km through the Bois de Boulogne.
The expert’s advice: to complete the solidarity process, come with your family and take advantage of the different race formats (10 or 6 km, solikids 2 km, soliwalk 4 km walk)
Difficulty: 1/5
Budget : 1/5