Course des châteaux d'Ottrott

Non-conventional imitation of an Ottrot horse (trot) :

Tagada tagada tagada (here come the daltons !) 🍓

Today you find yourself in Alsace and more specifically in Ottrott, a charming town perched on the ancient Roman road leading to the famous Mont Sainte-Odile. Today you’re not here to build your Empire—even if your name is Roman, you’re here to race toward the castles of Lutzelbourg and Rathsamhausen. The race takes place in October, so you’ll get to enjoy the mild weather the Grand-Est region offers. So mount up for the Ottrott Castle Run! 🏰

Since 1990 (the year the first Game Boy hit Europe, what a year! 🤩), a family-friendly and popular event, the Ottrott races are numerous and suitable for everyone. That’s why organizers have planned 4 distances on road, plus kids’ routes to tire them out a bit before heading home (we’re joking, don’t get ahead of yourself! 🐴). So for the adults, what do we choose? The 21.741 km, the 10 km or the 5 km? If you’d rather take it easy with a slower pace, a Nordic walking distance of 7.984 km is also on the program.🚶‍♂️

You’ll race toward castles, but never actually reach them. Is that the famous life-long dream of living in a castle? On the flip side you’ll tread across many vineyards 🍇, punishing slopes, and a climb that can reach 210 m. Sounds impressive, right? Okay, the Castle Run isn’t a mountain course, the Mont Sainte-Odile isn’t Mont Blanc, but it’s still demanding, so don’t take it lightly or you’ll regret it. Here’s a tip: don’t push into the red right away at the start in a gallop, pace yourself slowly, you’ll release the horses faster than you think. Good news, though: the crowd is at certain points along the route to help you refocus if you ever slack off. It will also be in the last kilometer as you return at a gallop toward Ottrott. At the red flag, you can push hard in a downhill animated by the music and a cheering crowd

Once your hooves are washed and your mane neatly brushed, we can’t recommend enough exploring the area. l’Alsace is a little gem, even just for its traditional houses. To satisfy your appetite, opt for a beer or a white wine from Alsace accompanied by the famous Baeckeoffe (of course, in moderation). 😋

So Huuuuuuuuuuuu, onward valiant Finishers! 🎠