The Canigou Race 

At the beginning of the twentieth century, before the introduction of fridges and freezers into the region, inhabitants of Vernet les Bains used to climb high into the mountain, and cut blocks of ice from the hillside which they loaded onto their backs in order to run back down to the village and sell. The fastest runners had the greatest chance of selling their ice.

In 1905, a race was proposed by the local branch of the Alpine Club of France to honour the intrepid ice carriers. This race was to be from Vernet to the summit of the Canigou and back, and competitors would have to carry a load on their back.

In 1980, this mountain race was revived, and each year since then, the event has been held on the first Sunday of August. The event is open to both walkers and runners and follows several  circular routes of various lengths, the longest over a distance of 41km, with 2600 metres (over 7,000 feet) of ascent and the shortest a mere 10km with 560m of ascent!.

Competitors set off from Place de la République in Vernet-les-Bains and head up, up, up and away.

FIND OUT MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE DIFFERENT RACES OR REGISTER FOR THE RACE  HERE.

Not for the faint-hearted!