Les Courses du Père Noël.
La H.O.T. du Père Noël is the night race of Les Courses du Père Noël: 133 km of trail at Les Herbiers, started in the evening in front of the Hôtel de Ville and finished the next day at Parc Expo. The preparation is not for one big mountain but for a long December night full of short climbs.
Les Courses du Père Noël 2026: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
The race starts in front of the Hôtel de Ville des Herbiers, and the first climb arrives at km 3, stretching for a little over two kilometres. Around km 7 the course passes 220 metres for the first time, then drops back and stays lower until roughly km 27, with its lowest point of just over 90 metres near km 20.
After that the difficulty gathers into two blocks. Between km 32 and 39, three short, steep climbs follow one another. Around km 62 the route reaches its high point of 271 metres, and the descent leads into the harder block: four climbs in a row between km 70 and 83, the longest gaining just over 100 metres. The final third stays rolling, but the gradients ease. Near km 108 a relief circuit is possible as a way of managing the time limit, before the route heads for Parc Expo.
What sets this race apart is the relation between altitude and ascent. The whole course sits within a band of 180 metres, yet some 2,800 metres of climbing add up, because the ground never stays the same for long. Then there is the clock: the loop begins in darkness and runs through the night into 20 December, opening a running weekend themed around Father Christmas.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 2.8 | 2.1 km | 4.3 % | 11.3 % | +88 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 32.1 | 1 km | 8.4 % | 17.9 % | +82 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 34.8 | 1.3 km | 6.8 % | 13.1 % | +85 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 37.9 | 0.7 km | 8.2 % | 16.4 % | +56 m | — |
| km 69.6 | 0.9 km | 9.9 % | 16.7 % | +84 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 71.9 | 1.2 km | 7.6 % | 11.3 % | +93 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 78.1 | 1.6 km | 6.8 % | 16.8 % | +105 m | Cat. 4 |
| km 81.3 | 1.3 km | 4.1 % | 13 % | +52 m | — |
Climb categories follow the road-cycling convention and rate the terrain itself (length and gradient) regardless of sport: Cat. 4 marks the easiest rated climbs, Cat. 1 the hardest, and HC (hors catégorie, “beyond categorization”) is reserved for the most brutal ascents. Short climbs below the Cat. 4 threshold stay unrated.
How to pace Les Courses du Père Noël.
Start under control
Divide this race by the hours of the night rather than by its climbs. No single ramp decides anything here, but each one costs a little. Walk the steep pitches from the very beginning, even if they last only a few hundred metres and you feel fresh in the evening. The first 30 km are comparatively calm, and that is the trap: whatever you overspend here on the excitement of the start is missing at km 100.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided between km 70 and 83. That block comes after more than half the distance, deep in the night for most runners, and its four climbs meet legs already carrying the descent from the high point. Arrive with something left, hike up and jog down loosely.
Spend what is left
The reward comes afterwards, since the final third stays runnable as long as you still can run it. Plan to reach km 108 with a margin on the time limit.
Training plan for Les Courses du Père Noël: 12-week build
Build the base
Expect roughly 15 to 22 hours, depending on pace and running strength. This is a continuous aerobic effort with hundreds of small changes of rhythm, and switching between running and walking matters more over this distance than any peak output. At around 21 metres of ascent per kilometre there is little long climbing to train for, but a great many short climbs to absorb.
Train race pace
Preparation should reflect that. Long runs over rolling ground count for more than sustained hill sessions, because you need legs that can still hike short steep ramps after six hours and then run the descents. Add strength work for quads and calves, and practise brisk uphill hiking as a skill of its own.
Rehearse the course
The stretch between km 70 and 83 can be rehearsed: several hours into a long run, insert a deliberate block of four hills, so you know how gradients feel under that kind of load. Two longer runs on consecutive days of a weekend reproduce the fatigue without covering the whole distance.
Arrive fresh
The race starts in the dark and for many ends only the next day, so the night has to be part of training. Run regularly with a head torch on uneven paths, test clothing and food on night runs during the ever darker evenings before race date, and practise eating in the hours after midnight, when appetite fades. A late start after a normal day is part of the load, so plan your sleep beforehand as well.
Courses
Download the Les Courses du Père Noël course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Les Courses du Père Noël dynamically
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Everything about Les Courses du Père Noël.
How long is Les Courses du Père Noël?
Les Courses du Père Noël is 133 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
How much elevation gain does Les Courses du Père Noël have?
Les Courses du Père Noël has around 2,804 m of elevation gain over 133 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Les Courses du Père Noël?
Les Courses du Père Noël is classified as Hilly, averaging 21 vertical metres per kilometre. 19% of the route is flat, 33% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 8% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Les Courses du Père Noël have?
The hardest climb of Les Courses du Père Noël starts at kilometre 78.1, runs for 1.6 km at an average of 6.8% and gains 105 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 4. 8 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Les Courses du Père Noël a loop course?
Yes, Les Courses du Père Noël is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Les Courses du Père Noël course?
Yes. The Les Courses du Père Noël course is on this page as a free GPX download — ready to import into Garmin, Wahoo, Komoot, Strava or any other app that reads GPX.
How should I prepare for Les Courses du Père Noël?
Preparation for Les Courses du Père Noël should account for 133 km, 2,804 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
What pacing strategy works for Les Courses du Père Noël?
The pacing strategy for Les Courses du Père Noël should reflect 133 km, 2,804 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
When does Les Courses du Père Noël take place?
Les Courses du Père Noël takes place on December 19, 2026.
Where does Les Courses du Père Noël take place?
Les Courses du Père Noël takes place in Les Herbiers, France.
Which distances does Les Courses du Père Noël offer?
Les Courses du Père Noël offers 7 distances — La H.O.T. du Père Noël: 133 km; La H.O.T. du Père Noël — Relais à 2: 133 km; La H.O.T. du Père Noël — Relais à 3: 133 km; La Surprise du Père Noël: 35 km; La Magique du Père Noël: 26 km; La Polaire du Père Noël: 16 km and 1 more.
How do I register for Les Courses du Père Noël?
Registration runs through the organiser: coursesduperenoel.fr. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
