Patou Trail

Patou Trail is a three-day mountain trail running series held in Saint-Lary-Soulan, in the Hautes-Pyrénées of southern France. It is rooted in the Vallée d'Aure and typically takes place in June, offering several formats for different levels instead of a single race. The program features a 3.5 km Vertical Kilometer with 1,000 m of climbing, village and mid-distance routes around 11 km, 20 km, and 22 km, plus a long marathon or relay format of approximately 44 km with 3,300 m of elevation gain. Some races contribute to the UTMB Index, providing competitive trail runners a practical reason to include it in their calendar. The courses traverse high and middle mountain terrain surrounding the valley, presenting runners with steep paths, village crossings, forest and open mountain sections, and long climbs, contrasting with a flat road-race feel. The Vertical Kilometer exemplifies this: narrow paths, gradients exceeding 100% in sections, and a ridge finish overlooking the valley; this route has also hosted the French FFA Vertical Kilometer Championships. The event is organized by Saint-Lary Aure Athlétisme, the local athletics club, supported by about a hundred volunteers. It maintains a local festival atmosphere, including a children's race, entertainment, and a communal end-of-race meal.