Marathon races near Tourcoing

The Ekiden France Environnement is a road relay marathon held at Stadium Lille Métropole in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, near Lille in Hauts-de-France, scheduled for mid-October. Six-person teams complete the full 42.195 km marathon distance. The legs are set: 5 km, 10 km, 5 km, 10 km, 5 km, and 7.195 km. Each runner must be distinct, making it a team effort rather than relying on one strong individual. The course utilizes a loop, run once or twice based on the relay leg. This format originates from Japan, where an ekiden is a long-distance team relay. This version emphasizes handoffs, pacing, and team support. The shorter legs suit club runners, students, workplace teams, families, beginners, and experienced runners aiming to test their speed over 5 to 10 km. Children's and junior races are also included, extending the day beyond the main six-runner marathon relay.

Artémis Trail Festival is a late-October trail running event in Godewaersvelde, a village in the Nord department of France’s Hauts-de-France region. The race distances offered are 13 km, 15 km, 25 km, and 42 km. The longer courses include significant elevation, with 600 m of ascent on the 25 km and 1,000 m on the 42 km, while the 13 km has 380 m of positive elevation gain. The schedule gives the festival its clearest personality: the 15 km starts in the afternoon, but the 25 km and 42 km begin in the early evening, and the 13 km starts later at night. The event embraces that after-dark mood with the line, “Eating at night is necessarily a good idea!” Runners can expect a local trail festival rather than a road-race format, with practical information published for course details, registration, bib pickup, and results.

The Marathon International de Lille is a 42.195-kilometer road marathon beginning in Lille, the capital of Flanders. It is set for an autumn return after more than thirty years. The Ligue Hauts-de-France d'Athlétisme is organizing the event, reintroducing the marathon distance to a city already known for its popular running events. The specific marathon route is still to be announced, but Lille's races typically feature relatively flat terrain, conducive to fast running times. The city's half-marathon course has seen three French records and one junior world record set, and the overall race day surrounding the half marathon has attracted 18,000 participants. Spectators can anticipate enthusiastic support along the streets, with encouragement noted throughout the course. A notable mark from the marathon's past is Chantal Langlacé's time of 2:33:58, achieved by the French runner on the Lille course.

The Course de Noël des Moulins is a running event held in December in Steenvoorde, Northern France. It features a 21.097 km half marathon and a 12 km race. The half marathon begins first, with the 12 km race following. Participation is open to all runners, not exclusively club or elite athletes. The organizers describe it as the most unconventional running race in Northern France, incorporating beer and music into its race-day character. It is one of the more popular running events in the region at the close of the year. The half marathon listing provides practical route information, including a GPX trace for those who wish to preview the course beforehand.

Nord Trail Monts de Flandres is a trail running series held in April in Saint-Jans-Cappel, located in the hills of French Flanders. It is part of the Challenge Nord Evasion and attracts a large field, with over 8,500 participants across its various races. The event caters to different trail running levels, offering routes from a short 13 km to mountain-style distances of 25 km, 30 km, 42 km, 59 km, 80 km, and 115 km. The races begin in Saint-Jans-Cappel and lead participants into the Monts de Flandre, providing a distinct local character. One of the 30 km routes takes place at night, presenting a different challenge compared to the longer daytime distances. Participants travel from afar to compete on the Flemish hills, particularly for the ultra-distance courses.