Urban Trail de Lille

⏱ Top! I am one of the largest cities in France. I used to be a island surrounded by the Deule. I actually get my name from that anecdote. I am, I am....? Lille, of course!

What? Didn’t know that France’s fourth-largest agglomeration used to be an island? (Don’t worry, neither did we 😅). So you have a good excuse to come discover the secrets of this stunning Northern city in Hauts-de-France, at a one‑of‑a‑kind event: the Urban Trail of Lille 🏃‍♂️.

This event, held in the cool October air, is in a sense an express visit to the capital of Flanders, as the routes are imagined through the most beautiful Lille landmarks. The courses?! 🤔 And yes, dear Finisher, there isn’t just one but three different races on offer: a 5 km road race, another 10 km race, and finally an 8 km Urban Trail! How nice are these Ch’tis! 🤗 And to top it all off, the organizers invite you to run the cobblestones of the northern city center in the dead of night. What could be more delightful than discovering the Sublime monuments of the historic city center dressed in their finest lights?

For the 5 km menu, a flat race along Boulevard de la Liberté, perfect for beating your own best time ⏱. Don’t believe us? Take a look at Kenyan Robert Keter’s 2019 performance (world record for 5 km at 13'22, which he lost the following year, but what a feat 🏃‍♂️!). The second course of this annual Lille race goes from simple to double, as it’s a 10 km road race. This event also gives you the chance to run along Boulevard de la Liberté and adds a loop inside the Citadel Park of Lille, the city’s largest green space. Smashing the clock is great, but what you’re after is more of an out‑of‑the‑ordinary experience? Then the last race is for you: the 8 km Urban Trail. Here, elevation, cobbles to tread, but mainly monuments to observe. In short, you’re going to love it! And of course, with Urban Trail comes more intense efforts 🥵! But your strides will be accompanied all along by the famous red bricks, typical of the region, that adorn most houses, as well as enthusiastic spectators gathered to share this convivial moment 👏!

After your race, you’ll surely dive into the finishers’ gift (you earned it): fries and sausages 😍! With your stomach nicely settled, we can only recommend extending your Lille escapade and discovering the city’s wonders: the famous Grand Place, a Baroque Flemish masterpiece from the 17th century, the Palais des Beaux-Arts, one of France’s most visited museums, or the many estaminets, these Nord restaurants that spice up the city. By the way, you won’t be allowed to leave without tasting its culinary specialties 😋: Welsh (bread, ham, mustard, and melted cheese in beer), chicon gratin (traditional endives with ham, level 💯), or the Flemish carbonnade (the Ch’ti cousin of beef bourguignon). So yes, sure, after that you’ll quickly regain all the calories burned during your race, but so what, it’s so good 🤤!

Come on, quickly book your bib for the Lille Urban Trail and you’ll understand why the Ch’tis say so well: “In the North, we moo twice: when we arrive and when we leave!” 🤗