The Saintélyon — one of the most famous trail events — is approaching fast! Training, nutrition, kit, clothing: there are plenty of questions to answer. With one month to go before the Saintélyon, how do you prepare properly? In this article, we share some tips to ensure you have an unprecedented night-time adventure!
Getting well prepared for the Saintélyon with a trail running specialist
Somewhere between urban road racing and trail running, the Saintélyon is the year-end event that poses a real challenge for many runners! Weather conditions are often extreme, from sleet to heavy snowfall. And running enthusiasts — seasoned and amateur alike — compete to take on the challenge of linking the cities of Saint-Etienne and Lyon.
Once you have your medical certificate and your registration sorted, all that's left is to start your countdown, train hard, and pick up your race bib on the day. Knowing the course, the elevation gain, your endurance level, and how well you adapt to off-road racing if you're used to running on tarmac is also essential.
On the kit side, Cimalp, a French brand specialising in mountain equipment, offers clothing and accessories specifically for trail running. For an idea of the essential trail kit checklist, head to the Drôme-based company's e-commerce site. The key points regarding appropriate gear are as follows:
- facing the cold
- adopting the 3-layer system
- lighting yourself properly
- finding the right balance between warmth and breathability in your clothing
- hydrating and fuelling properly
- finding the right shoes! Don't change your shoe pair on race day, for example — it'll save you a lot of trouble.
With one month to go, specialist magazines also cover the topic of Saintélyon preparation, such as Esprit Trail, which delivers its programme to get ready for this night race in 4 weeks!
To prepare well for a race like the Saintélyon, it's good to go fishing for information and draw inspiration from trail professionals.
Cimalp athletes' tips for the Saintélyon
Some athletes from the Cimalp Team trail will be taking the start at the Saintélyon races. Among them:
- Maryline Nakache at the Saintélyon 78 km
- Laure Desmurs at the SaintéSprint 24 km
- Benoît Dupraz, also at the STL
For nutrition advice, turn to ultra-runner Maryline Nakache. Having won the Marathon Des Sables and the TDS in 2023, she is now fully focused on her trail coaching and nutrition career.
"Nutrition is something you learn throughout the entire year. It allows you to know how to fuel yourself in the 2–3 days before the race and during the race", explains the Cimalp athlete. With less than a month to go until the Saintélyon, it's not too late to prepare properly!
Photos Clément Simon | Lavaredo Ultratrail
