Half Marathon races near Gennevilliers

The TVTC, short for "Tu viens tu cours" or "You come, you run", is a trail event held in Villiers-Saint-Frédéric, located in the Yvelines area west of Paris. It takes place in early October and offers adults three main choices: a 7 km Nordic walk, a 10 km trail run, and a 21 km trail run. The routes wind through a natural forest setting, making it an off-road excursion rather than a city race. The 10 km course is designed for runners seeking a demanding yet achievable challenge, while the 21 km is suited for more seasoned trail runners. Separate courses are available for children and juniors, extending the day's activities beyond the adult competitions.

La Villepreusienne is a night race series held at V Park in Villepreux, a town in the Yvelines located 20 km west of Paris. This location provides a distinct character: Villepreux lies in the direct line extending from the gardens of Versailles. Thus, the event connects a small-town starting point with the open plain beyond the palace grounds. It provides four race choices, with distances and formats designed for runners and walkers of various skill levels. The 5 km Urban Trail takes place in the town center, suitable for those seeking a short, brisk run with an urban atmosphere. The 10 km nature route follows a manageable loop across the Versailles plain, and the 10 km walk offers participants the same opportunity to explore without the competitive aspect. The 21 km trail is the more demanding option, intended for more experienced runners desiring a longer night race near Paris.

Foulée Suresnoise takes over the streets of Suresnes for a two-day weekend in early October, offering races for adults and children instead of a single start time. The schedule includes a half marathon and 10 km, a 5 km, and children’s races of 3 km, 1.5 km, and 750 m. The shorter races and children’s events are held on Saturday afternoon. The half marathon and 10 km start on Sunday morning from 8:30. The event, now in its fiftieth edition, maintains a family atmosphere alongside competitive racing, and adds to the course atmosphere with four fanfares throughout the day.

Trail La Domaniale takes place in Saint-Cloud, west of Paris, within the national forest of Saint-Cloud in early October. Runners can choose between 12 km and 21 km distances, or an 8 km Nordic walk in the same setting. The 21 km route includes 340 meters of elevation gain, the 12 km has 200 meters, and the 8 km walk has 130 meters, meaning even the shortest option involves climbing. The event, organized by volunteers from UAS Saint-Cloud, limits participation to 450 bibs for the 21 km, 350 for the 12 km, and 200 for the walk. The course winds through forest, nature, and the edges of town, avoiding remote mountain terrain. La Domaniale also benefits Fondation Arthritis, donating 1 euro from each bib, a portion of profits, and offering an additional donation option during registration.

La Spinassienne is a race day in Épinay-sur-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis, featuring a half marathon as its main event, complemented by shorter options. The program lists a 21 km race, a 10 km race, a 3.8 km race, and children’s races of 400 m, 600 m, and 1,000 m. The half marathon begins in the morning, followed by the 10 km starting from the Espace Lumière. This event is organized by the Club Sportif Multi sections d’Épinay-sur-Seine and the town hall, and it holds Fédération Française d’Athlétisme certification. The course guides runners through Épinay-sur-Seine and along the Seine riverbanks, with sections also taking place in the Parc Municipal des Sports. It accommodates club runners aiming for fast times and local amateurs preferring a shorter distance, while children compete in their own events. The race, which had a hiatus for several years, was revived in 2018. Awards are structured to maintain competition: prizes for the top five men and women in the half marathon, cups for the top three men and women in the 10 km and 3.8 km, and medals for young participants.

La Cavale des Écureuils is a trail race in Villers-en-Arthies, a village in Val-d'Oise in the Île-de-France region of France. It is an autumn event, with main race options around 10 km and 21 km, and some listings giving the full range as 5 to 22 km. The name means “The Squirrels’ Gallop,” and the race uses the phrase “a tree-to-tree race.” The route is within the Parc Naturel Régional du Vexin, a 71,000-hectare protected area north-west of Paris with marshes, forests, fields, and marked hiking paths. Runners choose this event for a nature-focused trail day instead of a city road race, and walkers participate as well. The race supports a charitable cause, uses CHRONO33 timing, and offers live GPS tracking via an app and fan zone.

La Spinassienne takes runners through Épinay-sur-Seine, north of Paris, featuring a half marathon of just over 21 km as its primary event. The program also offers a 10 km race for participants aged 16 and up, and a 3.8 km race open to those 14 and older. Starts are staggered throughout the morning; the 10 km begins at Espace Lumière, with the shorter race commencing shortly thereafter. The course follows city streets and extends along the Seine's banks, presenting an urban river run rather than a rural excursion. Certified by the French Athletics Federation, the race provides pacers for the 10 km and half marathon, along with aid stations offering water, sponges, and fruit. Prior to each start, participants can engage in a music-led group warm-up at the municipal sports park. One euro from each bib benefits Les Restos du Coeur, and prize money is awarded to the top five men and women in the half marathon.

Les Foulées Sarmates offers three nature runs in Sermaise: 5 km, 10 km, and 21 km. It is designed as a local race day where beginners, casual runners, and stronger trail runners can select a suitable distance. The draw is straightforward: a proper dose of countryside running close to the village. The routes traverse the natural landscape around Sermaise, including forest tracks, quiet paths, the Orge valley, rivers, open plains, hamlets, ponds, and local historical monuments. Water features and cultural stops add variety beyond a simple road loop. The event also supports a charitable cause, allowing runners to contribute to something beyond their own finish time.

The Semi Marathon du Bois de Vincennes is a 21.1 km half marathon held in Vincennes, near Paris, starting at the Château de Vincennes. Taking place in October, it maintains a straightforward format: a single race over one distance, with a course set within the Bois de Vincennes, avoiding city streets or a mixed festival setup. The route unfolds within one of Paris's largest green areas, winding past the Parc Floral, the arboretum, the Gravelle stream, the tropical garden, and along the shores of the Minimes and Daumesnil lakes. This race appeals to runners seeking a half marathon experience closer to a park run than an urban race, yet still accessible from the city. Registration is conducted online, requiring a valid PPS attestation or FFA license. Collecting your bib the day before is recommended to minimize waiting times.

La Course Royale begins next to La Pièce d’Eau des Suisses, at the base of the Louis XIV statue, directing participants through the Versailles landscape instead of typical city streets. This series centers on Versailles and Fontenay-le-Fleury in the Yvelines, west of Paris, offering race choices including 10 km, 20 km, a 10 km walk or Nordic walk, family races, and Versailles garden formats like 15 km, 8 km, 6 km, and a short children’s race. It is a local running event supported by Versailles Grand Parc, focused on the heritage of the Château de Versailles and nearby communes. The longer routes connect Versailles with Fontenay-le-Fleury via locations such as the Parc du château de Versailles, the Plaine de Versailles, the Allée Royale, and sections of Fontenay-le-Fleury. The 10 km and walking events are quite accessible, with minimal elevation gain and generally good surfaces. The 20 km nature race becomes more challenging in its latter half, featuring inclines and areas that may become muddy. The Versailles garden course incorporates a blend of road, solid paths, grass, and paving stones, with passages through wooded areas, a circuit around the Grand Canal, and a finish in the Trianon gardens. A notable aspect of the event is that participant contributions support restoration efforts at the Château de Versailles.