Sur Les Traces De La Bête - Marvejols 2026

Sur Les Traces De La Bête - Marvejols is linked to the Marvejols-Mende half marathon, a summer road race in Lozère, France. The race begins at the Esplanade of Marvejols and heads toward Mende. It originated from local races organized by Jean-Claude Moulin and his friends, such as Les Courses de Café and Le Tour de Mende. The initial concept was straightforward and notably inclusive for its era: a road race outside a stadium setting, situated near local communities, and accessible to both licensed and unlicensed runners, as well as women. The course is not a simple flat circuit. It includes an ascent of the steep Goudard slope, a descent via the pebble-covered Valcroze, and navigates the sharp zigzags of the Chabrits roads before arriving in Mende. Moulin was an early proponent of French road racing, and the event faced challenges navigating regulations not yet adapted for this type of public road race. Its inaugural year featured master categories and an awards ceremony, and its inclusion of women was significant at a time when many cross-country races still prohibited women from competing in longer distances.