Half Marathon races near Clisson

Run in Montluc, a first-edition running weekend in Saint-Etienne-de-Montluc, Loire-Atlantique, offers one evening of trail races and a morning road half marathon near the marshes. The main trail, the Trail des Lucioles, begins after dark: runners navigate 24 km on GR3 paths with headlamps, featuring 330 m of elevation gain and a semi-autonomous setup. A shorter 12 km night trail follows, with 160 m of climbing, for those seeking a similar nighttime atmosphere over a reduced distance. The trail courses include singletrack, woodland paths, and undulating terrain around Saint-Etienne-de-Montluc. The Semi Marai'thon is a flatter 21 km road race bordering the Loire marshes, with approximately 100 to 120 m of climbing. This half marathon can be completed individually or as a two-person relay, divided into 10 km and 11 km segments. The schedule clearly separates Saturday evening for headlamp-lit, technical trails from Sunday morning's faster road race or shared relay near the marshes.

La Virée des Puces is a road race held in Saint-Christophe-du-Ligneron, a town in the Vendée region situated between La Roche-sur-Yon and Challans. Participants can choose from three distances: a semi-marathon, a 10 km, and a 5 km. The 10 km and semi-marathon events hold regional status. The race takes place in autumn, organized by L’ALCSL Section Athlétisme, with Anne-Marie Charrier serving as race director. The 10 km race begins first and is the sole event in the series that accommodates handisport athletes and joëlette teams. The semi-marathon is scheduled for later in the morning. The 5 km offers a shorter route for those preferring the same town-road environment without the full semi-marathon length. Timing utilizes chip bibs, with bib collection available at the sports hall on the morning of the race. The total number of participants is limited to 1,800 across all three races.

Des Marais et des Bosses begins at La Carrière in Saint-Herblain, near Nantes, sending participants on a 10.5 km loop through marshland and a quarry. This mid-November event is for teams, with pairs and fours working together in a progressive relay. Shorter courses for children and juniors are also offered, alongside listed distances of 1.5 km, 5 km, 21 km, and 42 km. The main relay features a unique format: the first runner begins solo, and teammates join sequentially at the start of each new loop, ensuring the entire team finishes together. For the four-person relay, runner one completes 42 km, runner two 31.5 km, runner three 21 km, and runner four 10.5 km. In the two-person version, the distances are 21 km and 10.5 km. Outdoor Club Herblinois organizes the race, which appeals to friends, families, colleagues, beginners, and more experienced runners seeking a shared experience over individual achievement.

The Montfort Trail is a small trail-running event held in Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre, located in the Pays de la Loire region of western France. Taking place in autumn, it features races ranging from 5 km to 21 km, alongside a 5 km walk and children's races. The event was established by the Montfort school parents' association, with technical support from the local Entente Sèvre club. Proceeds from the event contribute to funding activities for the school's pupils. The routes follow the paths around Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre and the Sèvre valley, giving the day a character more akin to a local trail outing than a large city road race. Both licensed and non-licensed runners are welcome, and the events are open to both women and men. The programme caters to various skill levels: a 5 km race for beginners, 12 km and 21 km options for increased distance, a walk for those not running, and children's races that maintain the school-community focus of the event.

Gaubre’Trail is a trail-running series held in La Gaubretière, Vendée, western France. Its winter race takes place at night, offering two adult distances: 10 km with 150 m of elevation gain and 20 km with 300 m of elevation gain. Participants must be 18 or older; non-licensed runners require a medical certificate prior to the event. The summer edition begins in the park of the Château de la Landebaudière and attracts a larger field, with over 1,300 participants across its various races. Its past offerings included 7 km, 14 km, 21 km, and 42 km options, alongside children’s races for ages 3 to 15 on courses ranging from 500 m to 1.5 km. The event has seen rapid growth, with participation increasing from approximately 980 runners to over 1,300. The château park provides a natural setting, distinguishing it from a typical town-center road race.

The Semi-Marathon d'Orvault takes place in Orvault, a town in Loire-Atlantique near Nantes, during the early days of March as winter concludes. The primary event is the half marathon, complemented by a 10 km race that begins at the same morning time. This setup accommodates runners aiming for 21.1 km and those preferring a shorter, more accessible distance. The course begins with an extended straight section through the town before venturing into the nearby countryside. Participants will encounter city streets, roads bordered by forests, and park paths, deviating from a purely urban circuit. The half marathon is described as a flat course conducive to achieving personal bests, despite featuring approximately 192 meters of elevation gain; the 10 km course includes about 112 meters. Annually, close to 2,000 runners participate in this event, which boasts a history spanning roughly forty years. Following the race, Parc du Bois Saint-Louis offers a tranquil setting to recover.

The Semi-Marathon du Massif Forestier de Nuaillé begins in Nuaillé, located in Maine-et-Loire within France’s Pays de la Loire region. This road race, held in late March, centers on the forest bordering the town. The primary event is a 21.0975 km half marathon, complemented by an 8.2 km nature run and events for children and juniors. Handisport athletes are included, making the day more inclusive than a single competitive field. The event originated in 1985 and typically attracts over 3,000 participants across all its races. The course crosses roads through forest, town, and natural landscapes, featuring local plant and animal life. It is suitable for runners aiming for a personal best and those testing their endurance over the half-marathon distance. The race holds an Athlé Label Route OR certification, and organizers provide pacemakers to assist runners in maintaining target speeds. A time limit at kilometer 17 imposes a pacing requirement for the latter part of the half marathon.

Sentiers des Vignes begins at the Plan d’eau du Chêne in Saint-Julien-de-Concelles, located in the Nantes vineyard area of Loire-Atlantique. This spring trail and nature-running series offers three primary distances: 12 km with 105 m of elevation gain, 23 km with 225 m, and 31 km with 350 m. The shortest race is a compact loop on practical trails, accessible to cadet-age participants, with a limit of approximately 250 to 280 runners. The courses traverse the vineyard hills surrounding Saint-Julien, Le Loroux-Bottereau, La Chapelle, and Divatte-sur-Loire, incorporating both vineyard paths and woodland tracks. The 23 km course, a more recent addition, shares a section of its path and starting point with the 31 km race. The majority of participants originate from within a 30 km radius of the commune, with others traveling from the Nantes region, Vendée, and Maine-et-Loire. The field comprises both FFA-licensed and non-licensed runners. Additionally, the event includes youth races for younger children on modified courses.

The Course Nature Des Battages is a trail running event in Montreverd, Vendée, western France, scheduled for April, with the specific date to be confirmed. Participants can select a 21.5 km trail beginning at 09:00 or a 10.5 km trail starting at 09:30. This offers options for experienced trail runners and those seeking a less demanding off-road race. The longer route includes 170 meters of elevation gain, and the 10.5 km option has 80 meters. These courses are designed to be relatively accessible, not comparable to mountain races. The shorter race is designated as a Trail découverte, and OGEC SATV organizes the event.

The Abalone Marathon de Nantes is an April race weekend in Nantes, with a full marathon, half marathon, 10 km, and a marathon relay. The main race covers 42.195 km on a fully urban course, starting at the Nefs of the Machines de l'Ile, beside the city's famous mechanical creations. It has been run annually since 1981 and was called Marathon Val Nantais until its current era. The marathon route uses the city center as its playground, running by the Loire, the Château des Ducs de Bretagne, Canal Saint-Felix, Place Royale, the Cathedral, Jardin des Plantes, Place Graslin, the Opera, the Cité des Congrès, the Erdre quays, and the Machines de l'Ile. A new organizing team brought the race back downtown after the old Val Nantais period, and runner numbers climbed from roughly 1,600 starters to around 3,000 within a few editions. The event also includes pace setters in each marathon corral, a bib-pickup village, music on the course, cooling stations, and aid tables with dried fruit, sugar, and gingerbread.