Trail Urbain Nantais

No, trail running isn't limited to wild mountain terrains! ⛰ It can also be enjoyed in the heart of the city, including in flat lands 🌇. Yeah, we know that we won't make a lot of friends in Nantes by claiming that the region is a vast, perfectly flat expanse 😑, but let's admit that the D+ is not the region's main selling point. That said, the Trail Urbain Nantais has managed to uncover some intricately tuned climbs that your quads will tell you about! 😂 Indeed, the Chantenay-Sainte-Anne district is nicknamed « the little Montmartre of Nantes » because of its numerous stairs and the church perched at the top of the hill (the Sainte-Anne church, of course! ⛪). From the summit of the hill, you could well shout to anyone listening: “Anne, my Saint Anne, don't you see anything coming?” And there, bet the volunteers of Trail Urbain Nantais would reply: “I see nothing but the peloton stretching out and runners sweating!” 😅.

With 122 steps to climb 😱 to reach the top of Sainte-Anne hill (that’s 244 on 15 km for those who do the loop twice), racers of the Trail Urbain Nantais have plenty of sweat to shed. Not as flat as you’d think, this country, right? This district is known for its very picturesque sloping lanes, bucolic vibe, and a slightly bohemian small-town feel 💃. Sainte-Anne church is the pinnacle of Nantes from which the city panorama unfolds and the Loire is simply … breathtaking 😍, even for seasoned trail runners! This historic district blends modernity with heritage as it formerly housed factories and shipyards 🛟 (which settled there in the early 20th century, if you’re curious 🤓), along with a power plant (until 1964, since you wanted to get cultured!). The places exude a unique charm: industrial architecture beside chic brick houses and gorgeous parks, like the Parc des Oblates, the Parc de la Boucardière and the Extraordinary Garden which features a 25-meter waterfall and a cliffside staircase 💦🌺. Chantenay-Sainte-Anne is undergoing a real renaissance with families settling there, local producers markets, coffee shops, and restaurants… ☕ No wonder the organizers of Trail Urbain Nantais chose this district to lay out the courses!

Besides, you can guess these courses are mostly paved, even though they also weave through the shaded paths of the district’s parks 🌳. In urban trail that does it right, the TUN offers nerve-racking, fast routes where you’ll need a healthy dose of speed, football-field-level legs to sprint up the stairs, and a great ability to surge for the rolling sections 🏃

"Anne, my sister Anne, don't you see anything coming? I only see a runner who thought the course would be flat and is feeling wobbly! " 🫠

That’ll teach you to think Nantes has no D+! 😛