5K races near Vétraz-Monthoux

Trail des Glières - Fillière is a mountain trail weekend held in Thorens-Glières, part of the commune of Fillière in Haute-Savoie. Organized by the Club Nordic des Glières, it takes place in early October and offers adults five distance options: the Furious Bouquetin at 56 km with 3400 m of elevation gain, the Ecureuil Fou at 41 km with 2400 m, the Chamois Rapide at 21 km with 1400 m, the Marmotte Speed at 10 km with 500 m, and a Vertical Kilometer. The longest race begins before dawn, while the shortest adult race starts in the early afternoon, covering a range from ultra-style mountain running to a more accessible trail format. The Vertical Kilometer starts at the Usillon campsite and ascends to a finish above the Landron chalet, covering 1000 m of ascent in a single uphill effort. Approximately 1600 adults and 300 children participate in the event, with children’s races for ages 2 to 15 scheduled for Sunday morning. The adult race names reference Alpine wildlife, including the bouquetin, chamois, marmotte, and squirrel, suiting a race focused on steep local terrain rather than road speed. Sunday also features refreshment stands and activities throughout the day, with parking available at the Complexe Sportif Jean Coulon.

Corrida d'Annecy is an October running and walking event held in Annecy, located in France's Haute-Savoie department. The event features short-distance races: 1.5 km, 3 km, and 4.5 km, along with a 7.5 km relay suitable for clubs and companies. The event also offers the Marche des Lumières, a walking option described as pedestrian hiking. The race selection suggests a local, accessible format, accommodating children, novice runners, club teams, workplace groups, walkers, and short-distance runners by providing distances that suit them.

Léman Habitat court contre le cancer is a 5 km road race held in Thonon-les-Bains, Haute-Savoie, near Lake Geneva. It takes place in early October and is not timed; the focus is on participation in a charity event supporting the fight against cancer. The course is described as urban, incorporating park and natural sections, making it suitable for both novice and experienced runners. The race's slogan is “Pas juste courir, habiter la victoire !” It is featured on the Finishers platform as an opportunity for participants to explore local sites and French regional heritage through running.

Les Boucles du Coeur is a charity running event in Veyrier-du-Lac, a Haute-Savoie village near Annecy. It takes place on an October day, organized by the support committee for breast cancer research in Savoie and Haute-Savoie. All donations benefit cancer research. The races follow routes around Lake Annecy, connecting the event to its lakeside setting instead of a city-street course. Four accessible route options are available, including a 10 km race named “La v”. This offers a manageable distance for runners wishing to support the cause.

Night Run Morges is an annual night race based at the Parc des Sports in Morges, Switzerland, primarily taking place along the quays. It caters to runners and walkers, offering 1 km, 2.5 km, 5 km, and 10 km distances, along with a 5 km category for walking and Nordic walking. The shorter distances are suitable for children and casual participants, while the 10 km provides a certified Swiss Athletics course for adults and elite runners after dark. The start is on the athletics track, with the finish located at the Parc des Sports parking lot. The 1 km is an untimed fun run for all ages. The 2.5 km is intended for schoolchildren, and the 5 km is open to juniors, adults, schoolchildren, walkers, and Nordic walkers. The event partners with a different charity annually, holds the Unified by Swiss Inclusive Sport quality label, and ensures its races are accessible to individuals with disabilities. All participants receive a medal, and the top three finishers in each category are awarded prizes.

Course des Hermones is a hilly cross-country race held in Le Lyaud, a village in Haute-Savoie, eastern France. Participants can select a 12.5 km route featuring 340 m of elevation gain or an 8.2 km route with 115 m of climbing. The longer course presents a more challenging day, while the shorter option retains the event's nature-race character with reduced elevation. The long race begins before the short race, contributing to its nature as a focused local event rather than an all-day festival. Commission Sports Loisirs du Lyaud is the organizer, with the local mairie listed as a contact. This structure lends the race the atmosphere of a village sports club event centered on trail running over undulating terrain.

Cross de Motz is a November cross-country race held in Motz, Savoie, utilizing the trails of the Espace Sport et Nature du Fier-Motz. The race format features short, quick loops: the men's solo event covers 12 km, the women's solo event is 7 km, and relay teams can choose between a 10 km for pairs or an 8 km for four-person teams. The event also caters to younger participants, with teenagers offered 5 km and 2 km solo options, and the youngest children running 250 m, 500 m, or 1 km based on their age group. The course is designed with two primary loop lengths, 5 km and 2 km, meaning most races are formed by combining these loops over the same terrain rather than distinct point-to-point courses. The event promotes the idea that cross-country running can be more enjoyable than the school version many recall. Solo runners, men's, women's, and mixed relay teams, youth participants, and small children are all included in the day's schedule. Registration covers essential race-day provisions: bib, timing chip, marked course, aid stations, medical assistance, marshals, a medal, photographs, a prize ceremony, and a crepe with a drink post-race.

Lavy des Cimes sends runners directly up the mountain from Viuz-la-Chiésaz, a village near Annecy in Haute-Savoie. This December mountain-running series centers on a vertical kilometer, where the task is straightforward and demanding: gain approximately 1,000 meters as quickly as possible. The primary uphill race covers about 4.6 to 4.7 km. Additionally, the family aspect of the event includes a 1.9 km Funky Trail for children and pairs, a short Funky Vertical, and a biathlon introduction for ages 10 and up. The courses traverse the slopes above the village, offering views toward the Aravis, the Bauges, and Mont Blanc when conditions permit. The race originated in memory of Gaël, and this founding principle continues to influence the event. It serves not only as a challenging climb for specialists but also as a community day for families, young runners, mountain enthusiasts, and individuals seeking a brisk winter exertion. The Funky Trail and Funky Vertical have been established components for some time, and the first Saturday in December is integral to the race's established schedule.

The Course de l'Escalade is a race weekend in Geneva, linked to the city's Escalade festival. This December event commemorates Geneva's successful defense against a seventeenth-century night attack by Savoyard forces. The schedule offers a variety of events: Saturday features adult races for all skill levels, while Sunday includes youth, Parent-Child, relay, FlexiMix, and elite races. A 9 km walk is also available. The primary running distances are brief and intense, not marathon-style, with options around 4.8 km and 7.3 km, alongside shorter races for children and school-aged participants. The courses wind through Geneva's city streets, incorporating enough elevation changes to challenge runners over the short distances. The 4.82 km race involves over 100 m of ascent, and the elite race covers 7.3 km. The walking route begins in Veyrier and concludes at Promenade des Bastions, primarily on level asphalt. The most unique event is la Marmite, a 4 km nighttime race run in costume. This race references the Escalade legend of Catherine Cheynel, who is said to have thrown boiling soup onto the attackers. This tale also accounts for the festival's chocolate cauldrons and imbues the race weekend with a distinct local character, setting it apart from typical road races.

The Course de l'Escalade fills Geneva’s streets each December with road races, walkers, children’s events, elite fields, and thousands of locals in costume. It is an athletics festival as much as a race series, with amateurs and professionals sharing the same weekend and entries now capped around the 60,000 mark. Since 1990, it has ranked as the largest event of its kind in Switzerland, and most runners come from the Geneva region. The program has grown from a straightforward road race into a busy set of formats, including mixed races, children’s races, walking and nordic walking categories, elite races, a relay, and the FlexiMix option where runners can decide mid-race whether to run two or three laps. The races run through central Geneva, with the finish at Parc des Bastions and sections dropping into the lower streets while brass bands play. The most distinctive part is La Marmite, a non-ranked 3.6 km run built for costumes and celebration rather than finishing times. That tradition developed gradually after early editions had almost no dressed-up runners, then became formal with La Marmite, which gave families, friends, and informal groups a place in the event. Recent Marmite fields have included rabbits, dinosaurs, chocolate bars, cartoon characters, Tic-Tac boxes, and luminous clouds. The name links back to Geneva’s Escalade story and the famous “Mère Royaume” episode, so the race sits between sport, local history, and a city party.