Half Marathon races near Firminy

Foulées Veauchoises takes place in early October in Veauche, a town in the Loire department of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, north of Saint-Étienne. The event includes a mix of trail running and a short road race, with distances of approximately 6 km, 11.8 km, and 21.46 km, alongside races for children and juniors. The longer routes traverse the countryside near Veauche, on ground situated between the Livradois-Forez and Pilat Regional Natural Parks. It is presented as an accessible introduction to trail running, not a demanding mountain challenge. A recent running of the event attracted nearly 400 participants. The 21 km race has seen repeat victories from runners such as Aurélie Richatin and Damien Blanchon.

Courir Pour le Cambodge is a charity running and walking event in Brives-Charensac, in France’s Haute-Loire department, usually scheduled for early October. It raises money for Cambodian schoolchildren and offers several ways to join in: road running, trail running, walking, and shorter routes for children and juniors. The listed distances include 5 km, 11.5 km, 16 km, and a half marathon of 21.0975 km. The routes use the local greenway and the surrounding hills, making the day more varied than a flat town run. The field is small and local in feel: one edition drew 203 registered participants including walkers and young runners, with only 10 people in the half marathon. Race names such as Boucle de Kampot, Trail d’Angkor, and Half Marathon Khmer keep the Cambodian link visible beyond the fundraising cause.

Les Foulées Maniennes is a trail running event held in mid-October in Souzy, a village in the Rhône department of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, located in the Monts du Lyonnais. Participants can choose between an 11 km trail and a 21 km trail. Children’s and junior races are also offered, ensuring the event accommodates runners of all experience levels. The 21 km route is a loop with approximately 900 metres of elevation gain, while the 11 km course offers a shorter introduction to the local trails with a few hundred metres of elevation gain. This event is suitable for runners who enjoy climbs and single track. The children’s races cover short distances, including 800 m, 1.5 km, and 2 km. All participants who finish receive an award, category winners are presented with prizes, and children’s activities contribute to the family-friendly atmosphere of the race day.

The Souzy race, part of the Trail Foulées Maniennes series, is a modest trail-running event held in the Monts du Lyonnais, with its main date set for October. It offers participants straightforward options: 21 km, 11 km, 4 km, and affordable races for children. The event caters to various participants, from adults tackling the longer trail distances to young children competing in their own events. Registration uses the French Athletics Federation’s PPS system, requiring runners to complete the online health-prevention course and upload the PDF attestation prior to entry.

Halloween costumes are welcome at the Trail des Sapins, a late-October trail race held in Lalouvesc, Ardèche, France. Participants can select from four race distances: 7 km, 12 km, 21 km, and 46 km. The 7 km race, La Forêt des Afars, involves approximately 200 m of elevation gain. The 12 km Le Val des Sorcières offers 650 m of climbing. The longer distances present greater challenges: La Louvetrouille is 21 km with 1050 m of climbing, and L’Infernale is a demanding 46 km race with 1800 m to 2400 m of climbing, depending on the source. The courses traverse forest paths, ridge trails, and routes through villages including Saint Alban d’Ay, Vocance, and Saint Symphorien de Mahun. The 21 km and 46 km races commence in the afternoon, meaning some of the run will occur in diminishing light or darkness. The event embraces the Halloween theme, featuring a distinctly eerie forest atmosphere and thematic decorations at the finish line. Post-race, participants can enjoy Ardèche chestnuts with fellow runners.

In Bonson, a village in the Forez plain of France’s Loire department, the Lieues Foréziennes offers three road races on the same morning: five lieues, two lieues, and one lieue. In modern distances, these are 21 km, 10 km, and 5 km. The longest race starts first, followed by the 10 km, and then the 5 km. The event is linked to Armistice Day in France, so Bonson observes a national day of remembrance with running alongside ceremony. The race has reached its 39th edition and can draw a large local field, with over 1,500 runners reported for that edition. The front of the race is competitive. Thibaud Nael won the men’s race for a fifth time, while Alison Gouteyron was also among the expected top performers. Nael mentioned he was followed until about the sixth kilometer before he pulled clear, indicating the main race is a fast local contest at the front, with a larger field participating in the shorter distances.

MiloTrail is Villechenève’s yearly trail race, beginning from the Salle des Fêtes in this Rhône village mid-morning. It is a small local event with a true trail focus: approximately 90 percent of the routes use countryside paths and singletrack rather than road. Runners can select from children’s races near the stadium, a non-timed 5 km solidarity route that can be walked or run, an 11.5 km race named L’Azole with 400 m of elevation gain, and a 23 km race named La Tour Matagrin with about 900 m of elevation gain. The race also counts toward the Challenge des Monts du Lyonnais, which organizes short and long trail races across the area. The name originates from “Les Milottiers,” the nickname for people from Villechenève, and the race developed from the local association Des Fourmis dans les Pattes, established to introduce sport and culture into the commune. The first edition had fewer than 70 runners; now around 500 participate, supported by roughly 90 volunteers on race day. The 11.5 km route passes near the Madone above the village, circles Mont Azole, and reaches Plan Melay for views toward the Forez peaks. The 23 km course goes higher, climbing for 6 km toward Tour Matagrin at 1004 m, then returns on quicker ground with one steep ascent before Plan Melay.

At Défi Vellave in Monistrol-sur-Loire, runners gather for trail races and cani-cross events. The offerings include trail running, hiking, and cani-cross circuits, with race distances of 10 km, 15 km, and 26 km. Approximately 900 participants received bibs, and all race distances were filled. The cani-cross element distinguishes this event: about fifty runner-dog pairs started. Philippe Bourgeois, associated with Cani potes42 and ACSM, contributed to developing this aspect of the race. Local club runners are also involved, as demonstrated by Lucas Massardier's victory in the 15 km for the home club.

The Semi-Marathon de Feurs is a road race held in Feurs, a small town in the Loire department of France’s Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Participants can select either a 10 km race or a half marathon of 21.0975 km. Both races begin in the morning, with the half marathon starting shortly after the 10 km event. Feurs is situated on the right bank of the Loire River, positioning this as a local town race connected to the river valley rather than a large urban event. The race organization is kept simple: entry fees are reasonable, bibs are collected before race morning, and another individual may pick up a bib using a copy of the runner’s identification.

La Course Nature Marcellinoise is a trail running event held on a Sunday in April near Saint-Marcellin-en-Forez, in the Loire department of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. The local Course Nature Marcellinoise association organizes it on village paths and countryside tracks, offering three distances: 7 km for occasional runners, 14 km for more experienced runners, and 21 km for trail runners seeking a longer course. The event also includes options for children, with youth courses and childcare provided while parents participate. It attracts a wide local field, with approximately a thousand runners across the three main distances at a recent edition and around a hundred volunteers assisting on the morning of the event. The 14 km route is the most popular choice. The finish offers a distinct village atmosphere, featuring a generous post-race refreshment table that includes cacotte, a local specialty of Saint-Marcellin-en-Forez. The event is also known as La Marcellinoise, and its playful slogan is “Mets ton plus beau marcel.”

La Marcellinoise is a trail-running event held in Saint-Marcellin-en-Forez, located in France's Loire department. It features adult races of 7, 14, and 21 km. The event takes place in April. The longest race, the 21 km, begins first in the morning, followed by the 14 km and 7 km races. A children's trail is also held later. The routes traverse the countryside surrounding Saint-Marcellin-en-Forez, avoiding city streets. The 21 km route involves a climb of 515 m, the 14 km race has a 229 m climb, and the 7 km course includes 114 m of elevation gain, meaning all distances present uphill challenges. Approximately a thousand runners participated in the three main courses during a recent edition, supported by about a hundred experienced volunteers. Entry fees are modest, ranging from 8 EUR for the 7 km to 14 EUR for the 21 km.

La course nature marcellinoise is a spring trail-running morning in Saint-Marcellin-en-Forez, offering three countryside routes of 7, 14, and 21 km. The longest race provides trail runners 515 meters of climbing, the 14 km option is for experienced runners with 229 meters of climbing, and the 7 km route remains accessible to more occasional runners with 114 meters of ascent. The courses traverse the Marcellinoise countryside and are refreshed each year. Children have their own educational races, and parents can use childcare during their run, making the day practical for families and club runners alike. Approximately a thousand people have started across the three main routes previously, supported by around a hundred experienced volunteers, and the post-race food includes cacotte, a village specialty.