La 14-18

La 14-18 is a muddy obstacle race in Thiescourt, a village in the Oise department of Hauts-de-France, about an hour from Paris. It is typically a mid-October trail and OCR event, with a course of roughly 10 to 11 km and dozens of obstacles; some listings give 33 obstacles, while others describe a public course with 50. The name references the First World War, and the organizers use that theme with the “challenge of the poilus,” a nod to French soldiers of the era. The route starts from Thiescourt and uses the surrounding valleys, an area nicknamed “la Petite Suisse.” Local descriptions indicate naturally tough ground, varied terrain, mud, and sharp climbs and descents, so a flat-course listing appears inaccurate. The race is designed for mass participation rather than pure competition: timing is mainly for the first wave, categories range from cadets through veteran groups, and “combatant” costumes are encouraged to give the day its 14-18 feel. A large volunteer crew supports the event, with the core message: run hard, handle the obstacles, and expect to get dirty.