What?
A race against the advancing tide on the Gois, just 8 kilometers from the main land to the island of Noirmoutier and back, thanks to an historic causeway.
Where?
In France, in the Vendée, between the island of Noirmoutier and the main land at Beauvoir-sur-Mer.
When?
The 2010 edition of les Foulées du Gois will be June 19th, early in the afternoon when the tide is low enough to cross.
Why?
A slippery surface is not necessarily bad for running: more than 600 years old, the Passage du Gois is an amazing location in France and an unique monument that you can walk (or run) most of the time. But the causeway is flooded twice a day by the high tide. Thousands of runners complete the race against the rising water well before the 30 elite athletes start the "Course contre la mer", a crazy race against the clock that starts when the causeway is submerged. Sea everywhere, wet feet: not a proper race but a different experience all together. Add a couple of nearby Normandy crêpes and galettes and a few glasses of good wine to celebrate a weekend in the Vendée.
How (much)?
2010 race fees are not available yet, but 2009 was a bargain for less than €10 and the next edition is not going to be much more expensive. There are just a couple of hotels in Beauvoir-sur-Mer and they get very busy during the race weekend but it's easy to find good and cheap chambres d’hotes in the Vendée. Less than 30 miles away, Nantes is the best airport for a short break: Ryanair offers low cost flight from Ireland (Dublin and Shannon) and the UK (London, Nottingham, Liverpool and Bournemouth) while easyjet serves London, as well as Ginevra. But a train ride is probably the most comfortable option from London, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany and the rest of France, with many direct services to Nantes from Paris and Lille. As for all the official races in France, you have to present a medical certificate (or a FFA licence) to pick up your race number.
Contacts
Les Amis du Gois
B.P. 26
85230 Beauvoir sur Mer
France
www.lesfouleesdugois.com
