Today, the SaintéLyon is one of the must-do winter trail races, run deep in the night between Saint-Étienne and Lyon. Nearly 20,000 runners line up across 7 different formats (including 7,000 runners on the flagship 82 km distance). There is even the Lyon-Sainté-Lyon now, which steps into the ultra trail category.
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SaintéLyon: born as a night raid
Back in 1951, a group of cycling tourers wanted to stay fit through winter. They decided to connect Lyon to Saint-Étienne via the GR7 long-distance trail. That is how the Asics SaintéLyon was born, a 66 km night raid. Worth noting, the start alternates each year, one year in Lyon, the next in Saint-Étienne.
Growing more popular every season, the event became a timed power-walk race. It was only in the 1970s that competitors were allowed to run.
The race took off fast, with the number of participants rising year after year. The 1990 edition had to be shortened to Sainte-Catherine due to the weather, and the snow!
Today, it is safe to say this race has become a true legend.
The unique atmosphere of this night-time event
With a midnight старт, watching the race feels like a real festival of headlamps, a glowing ribbon winding through the Monts du Lyonnais. The course is not overly technical, which makes it a great introduction to long-distance trail running.
Just make sure you are trained to run in the cold and the dark so you can perform and actually enjoy night racing. You cannot repeat it enough, pace yourself. The final part of the race can feel tough after hours in freezing temperatures and darkness.
Winter conditions can make the race seriously challenging. Snow and mud on the route are far from rare!
Asics SaintéLyon race formats: something for every trail runner
There are multiple courses to suit as many trail runners as possible at this endurance event. Which distance will you pin a bib on for?
The LyonSaintéLyon: 164 km. Because connecting Saint-Étienne to Lyon was not enough for some ultra trail runners, you might as well do the round trip 😉
The SaintéLyon 82 km solo. This is the flagship distance, with more than 7,000 participants in 2017. You can also race it as a relay, with 3 options: the main route split into 2, 3, or 4 legs.
The SaintExpress 45 km. A more accessible option for trail runners. The start is in Sainte-Catherine.
The SaintéSprint 24 km. A perfect format to get a taste of the event’s atmosphere.
The Saintétic 13 km. An ideal distance for beginner trail runners to jump into their first night trail race.
As for me, I won the SaintéSprint in 2018! I loved the vibe and the experience of running by headlamp on the trails between Soucieu-en-Jarrest and Lyon.
See you in Lyon in late November
The trail running expo takes place that weekend in the heart of Halle Tony Garnier, the finish venue for the main race. With 4,000 m² of exhibition space and more than 120 exhibitors, it is a key end-of-season meetup for trail and running pros and enthusiasts alike.
Be there a little before midnight for the various race starts. Will you manage to run in Lyon before the first light of day? 😉
Training plan for the SaintéLyon
If you are taking part in one of the SaintéLyon races too, download the RunMotion Coach app to be ready for this trail running goal with a personalized trail training plan tailored to your race.
You will get a program adapted to your training terrain (trails, hills, city, treadmill, etc.) and access to nutrition tips. Because when it is cold and you are racing at night, dialing in your race fueling strategy matters just as much as your fitness.
Happy training!
Photo credits: Gilles Reboisson Extra Sports