A trail run starting from Lourdes

With its foothill ranges such as thePic du Jer(951 m), the Béout (791 m) and, even higher up, theMassif du Pibeste-Aoulhet Regional Nature Reserve(1,348 m), Lourdes offers a rich variety of routes for your training sessions and runs. Its altitude makes it ideal for running all year round, as the paths are rarely, if ever, covered in snow. Lourdes is a pleasant surprise, given how easy it is to escape the urban environment to go for a run on your own, in peace and quiet, surrounded by nature, just 10 minutes from the town centre – without even needing to take the car! A true natural playground, perfect for creating your own bespoke routes.

But first of all, what is ‘trail’?
The term is a contraction of the English phrase ‘trail running’, which translates as ‘running on trails or paths’. Going on a ‘trail’ run is a form of running that takes place primarily in the great outdoors, over varied terrain, or even as ‘cross-country’. Trail running is sometimes seen as an evolution of traditional jogging and marathons. Above all, it remains a race in which endurance is put to the test. When a race is very long – generally over 80km – it may be referred to as an “ultra trail”.

Having been growing rapidly for many years in North America and Japan, trail running has quickly won over the hearts of European sports enthusiasts… and those in the Pyrenees!

From east to west, from the Pyrénées-Orientales to the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, there is no shortage of valleys and peaks for those who love exploring and taking in spectacular views. New landscapes are revealed through the major events organised each year in the immediate vicinity of Lourdes: the Grand Raid des Pyrénées (GRP),the Trail des Gypaètes,the Béout Night Run,the Trail des Gabizos, andthe Hautacam Trails.

For the little ones, beginners or just for fun, be sure to note down in your diarythe Christmas Fun Run in Lourdes town centre: a night-time urban run of 3 to 10 km in a family-friendly and convivial atmosphere.

Ideas for days out!
Trail running ideas for all levels on the outskirts of Lourdes (with stunning views of the town and the Pyrenean valleys!)

• Pic du Jer and its 550m of elevation gain over 9 km
• The Béout massif and its 400m of elevation gain over 6 km
• The Soum d’Ech and its 400m of elevation gain over 5.4 km

To plan your routes, find the trails in and around Lourdes at:

https://www.openrunner.com
https://www.strava.com
https://www.outdooractive.com/