Round The Rock

It is neither England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 nor France 🇫🇷... And yet, English is spoken here, the stone houses remind us of Deauville and you can enjoy delicious Fish & Chips 🐟! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we are in Jersey 🇯🇪, the largest Channel Island in the Atlantic Ocean ! Here we are on an incredible island, lined with immense cliffs where nature has been largely protected and tourists do not flock... at least not yet! In Jersey, you can go hiking in the heart of nature 🥾, surf huge waves🏄🏻‍♂️ but, above all... go trail running! Whether you love coastal paths or prefer lush forests, you are bound to find what you are looking for on this island if you enjoy running! By the way, did you know that every year a fantastic race is held on this British island? Yes, and it is called the Round the Rock! Come on, let us show you this absolutely brilliant race! 👑

Held in August for the past ten years, this race will let you discover the island of Jersey, renowned for its cliffs ⛰ and beaches 🏝... just 20 kilometres from the French coast! 🇫🇷 Running in Jersey is a real challenge because of the many obstacles and steep elevation changes, but above all it is also a magnificent trail-running destination! 🏃‍♂️ Located right in the middle of the English Channel, this island is a sumptuous blend of Brittany and the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 ! Travelling to Jersey and taking part in the Round The Rock, is, above all, a chance to reconnect with nature: cross the cliffs overlooking an emerald-green sea 🌊, admire the fishermen's houses 🐟, weave between seaweed on the vast sandy beaches 🏝, and finally race among the trees in the lush forests 🌳! What is more, this year, you have to admit you are lucky because there are plenty of options: a marathon (42.195 km), a half marathon (21.0975 km) or the Ultra Trail (77 km or 48 miles... as the British say). Choosing will not be easy! You can also complete the 77 km route in a team of two or five! So if you can motivate a few friends, that really will be ideal! 🤝

The route follows the Jersey coast 🇯🇪 anticlockwise 🏃‍♂️. If you have never been to Jersey, you will discover fabulous landscapes 🌅, rare wildlife 🦭 and runners from all over the world. In particular, you will discover Baie de Saint-Ouen 🏝, the largest bay in Jersey, which stretches along the entire west coast of the island! This bay, a favourite with surfers 🏄🏻‍♂️ and swimmers 🌊, is sure to impress you: between the immense sand dunes 🏝, the impressive cliffs plunging into the sea 🌄, the 18th-century castle 🏰 and the traditional houses (which also remind us of Brittany)... You will not even notice the kilometres passing because the scenery is so varied! A few kilometres later, you will also have the chance - or rather, the privilege - of running through the Parc National de Jersey 🌲, a 145-hectare natural park, where you will find: granite rocks ⛰, sand dunes 🏜, several castles 🏰, one or two coves 🌊, caves and, above all... dolphins and even seals by the sea! You will also pass within a few metres of the phare de la Corbière 🌊, a lighthouse standing in the middle of the ocean with truly distinctive architecture! Your finish will be in Saint-Hélier, the island's most populous town, which is also the capital of Jersey 🇯🇪! You will then discover the town centre of Saint-Hélier, popular with tourists for its Victorian architecture, its many pubs 🍻 and its fishing harbour 🐟 ! The atmosphere is wonderfully peaceful! Do not hesitate to stop for a drink after the race!

After the race, we strongly recommend going for a seafood dish 🍷, followed by a small salted-butter crepe 🥞 with a glass of cider 🍺! You can then wander around Saint-Hélier, and in particular visit Saint-Hélier Central Market for a little shopping! As for sightseeing, we also encourage you to visit the phare de la Corbière 🌊! The monument stands on a peninsula that can be reached when the tide goes out! If the sea is rough, you will be able to take some truly amazing photos 📸! Finally, if you still have a little energy left after the race, you can hire a kayak 🛶! We particularly recommend paddling towards Château de Mont Orgueil! A complete change of scenery is guaranteed, as you will genuinely feel as though you are in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿!

So, in the name of Franco-British friendship, we invite you to take part in this superb race... Wonderful! 🇬🇧