Les Foulées du Gois
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About the race
Les Foulées du Gois is an annual running event held on the Passage du Gois in Vendée. The idea, born in 1986, was to stage a race against the rising tide on the paved surface of the Gois, preceded by popular races held on the exposed causeway.
The event gathers around 2 000 national and international runners and relies on a defined safety and support organisation: two doctors, 25 first aiders, two Zodiacs and about 250 volunteers known as the "Casquettes rouges". Oyster farmers lend their chalands to media crews for on-water coverage. Technical assistance is provided by the association Étoile Sportive du Marais (ESM Challans).
In 2022 a new format was introduced: a race for 30 selected male and female athletes running with the falling tide, offering a different competitive approach to the traditional race against the incoming water.
Races on the programme cover several distances and formats, including popular and children’s races as well as an adapted sport event:
- 4 km Course des As
- 8 km Course marée descendante
- 8 km Course hommes
- 8 km Course femmes
- 2,4 km Course enfants
- 900 m Course enfants
- Course sport adapté
Registrations open each season, with dedicated dates for licensed and non-licensed runners. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
