5K races near Saint-Just-Saint-Rambert

The Boulieu trail has distances from 5 to 50 kilometers. Check the website for the latest information.

La Sainté Rose is a race and walk series held in Saint-Étienne, located in the Loire department of France’s Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Information on its schedule, entry fees, and registration is available via Miles Republic. The series offers various distances designed to accommodate a wide range of participants, rather than focusing on a single main race. The shortest event is les matrus, a 400 m children’s race. Adults and older children can select la grabotte (2 km) or la pampille (5 km). Each distance is available as a run, a walk, or a Nordic walk. This event is suitable for beginners, regular walkers, club runners, and athletes seeking a brief local challenge. Visitors might also consider the trip to Saint-Étienne to visit the Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain.

La Bardoise is a rallye-trail in Bard, a village in the Loire, organized by MJC Loisirs au Village. Its primary format is a 23 km nature run with timed trail sections and untimed liaison sections covered at a free pace, making it resemble a small adventure event more than a standard trail race. The routes traverse Bard’s hills and natural paths, offering options from very short courses to a 23.05 km route with 767 m of elevation gain. Participants start and stop each timed section using an electronic finger system, similar to that used in multisport raids and orienteering. The event welcomes novices, experienced runners, competitors, amateurs, families, and nature-running enthusiasts. The morning concludes with a local meal. The race, initially a first edition organized by the village MJC, has since reached at least its tenth edition.

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.

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.

Courir à Peaugres is an 11 km foot race in Peaugres, held each November by the local association dedicated to sustaining the event annually. The adult race now follows a revised route, and the program continues to feature three children’s races. The course was altered when the safari park no longer permitted runners to pass through. Consequently, the race now bears the straightforward name “Courir à Peaugres.” Following its 30th edition, the organizers initiated a new phase with a new president, a new route, and a fan zone for spectators to encourage runners. The race is also part of the Agglo Run Challenge, a local series of four races that includes Trail d’Annonay, Trail des tulipes à St Cyr, and Foulée du St.

The Corrida de Noël Ambert is a 7 km Christmas running race held in Ambert, located in the Puy-de-Dôme department of central France. Participants complete four circuits of the town streets, making it a compact local race. This route offers repeated views of the same festive setting rather than a linear progression. The event is closely associated with the holiday season, and many runners opt for costumes over typical running attire. The race boasts a significant local history, with its 47th edition scheduled. Courir en Livradois Forez has organized 18 of these editions. A previous running saw 441 classified participants, suggesting a well-attended town event rather than a small club gathering. The finish continues the Christmas spirit with mulled wine, and the program sometimes features additions like an adapted American-style race.

Rochebaron Trail is a running event in Bas-en-Basset, a commune in Haute-Loire beside the Loire. Race day offers three choices: a 25 km trail with 700 m of elevation gain, a 12 km route named Les Berges de la Loire for those new to trail running, and an 8 km La Ronde des Etangs around local ponds. The 25 km race begins at Salle Fabro; all three routes share initial kilometers before diverging into separate loops. The 25 km course starts with 6 km through the ponds, then intensifies between km 8.5 and 12 with the ascent to Thézenac, a village at 814 m. After Labiec, an aid station is available, but participants are expected to be self-sufficient between aid points and must carry water. The route continues past the medieval Rochebaron castle and circles back through Montmeat, Nave, the outskirts of Bas-en-Basset, and a final loop near the fitness trail. The event is suitable for both seasoned trail runners and beginners, with the shorter routes utilizing the more accessible pond and Loire-bank sections.