Marathon du Finistère – La Transléonarde.
The Marathon du Finistère, the centrepiece of La Transléonarde, is a town-to-town coastal marathon: from the market hall in Plouescat along the wild shore of the Côte des Légendes to Guissény. The profile is flat, so the race is decided by its length, the open coast and a festival that invites runners to turn up in costume.
Marathon du Finistère (La Transléonarde) 2027: Course, Route Profile & Map
The start is at nine o'clock on the Place des Halles in the centre of Plouescat, together with the duo teams. The first four kilometres drop from the highest point of the day, around 30 metres above the sea, down to sea level. From there the course stays between zero and a little over ten metres all the way and follows the coast west: through Goulven, where the duo runners hand over at kilometre 19.5, past Plounéour-Brignogan-Plages to the fishing village of Ménéham in Kerlouan at kilometre 34.
The organiser puts the surface at 95 percent asphalt, with the remaining five percent on the GR 34 coastal footpath. There are no real climbs, only short rises of a few metres where the road leaves a bay or crosses a headland. The organiser's own figure for the whole course is 132 metres of ascent.
La Transléonarde is a popular festival on the north coast of the Léon, held for the 25th time in 2027. Plenty of runners race in costume, there is food every five kilometres and water every two and a half, and the field is capped at 950 places. Every race finishes at the car park of the Sainte Jeanne d'Arc primary school in Guissény, where the finish buffet is followed by the regional stew kig ha farz.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|
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 Marathon du Finistère (La Transléonarde).
Start under control
Because the course is effectively level, there is no hill where you gain or lose time. The race is run on an even pace from start to finish. The four downhill kilometres after the start in Plouescat feel easy and tempt you to go out faster than planned; hold your goal pace deliberately there.
Hold your rhythm
The race is decided between Ménéham at kilometre 34 and the finish in Guissény, and that stretch rewards whoever ran the first half under control.
Spend what is left
The open coastline is the factor the profile does not show: if the wind comes off the sea, find a group in the first two thirds instead of running into it alone, and budget the short sections on the GR 34 footpath as slightly slower.
Training plan for Marathon du Finistère (La Transléonarde): 12-week build
Build the base
For most age-group runners the Marathon du Finistère means three and a half to five hours of steady aerobic work. Climbing barely matters; the load comes from the duration and from holding a constant pace on asphalt. The decisive part of the race is the last eight kilometres from Ménéham.
Train race pace
Prepare for it with long runs of 30 to 35 kilometres that finish their final third at marathon pace, so you can hold the pace on depleted stores. With no hills to break the rhythm, getting used to a long, unchanging effort matters more than hill work.
Rehearse the course
The race is held at the end of June on an open Atlantic coast. Put some of your long sessions into windy conditions and the middle of the day to learn to judge headwind and warmth, and rehearse fuelling on a five-kilometre rhythm.
Arrive fresh
The short coastal footpath sections ask for a little sure-footedness; a few runs on unpaved paths in the final weeks cover it.
Courses
Download the Marathon du Finistère (La Transléonarde) course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Marathon du Finistère – La Transléonarde dynamically
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Everything about Marathon du Finistère – La Transléonarde.
How long is Marathon du Finistère (La Transléonarde)?
Marathon du Finistère (La Transléonarde) is 42.2 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 Marathon du Finistère (La Transléonarde) have?
Marathon du Finistère (La Transléonarde) has around 200 m of elevation gain over 42.2 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Marathon du Finistère (La Transléonarde)?
Marathon du Finistère (La Transléonarde) is classified as Flat, averaging 4.7 vertical metres per kilometre. 62% of the route is flat, 18% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 0% is steeper than 6%.
Is Marathon du Finistère (La Transléonarde) a loop course?
No, Marathon du Finistère (La Transléonarde) is a point-to-point course: start and finish are in different places.
Is there a GPX file for the Marathon du Finistère (La Transléonarde) course?
Yes. The Marathon du Finistère (La Transléonarde) 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 Marathon du Finistère (La Transléonarde)?
Preparation for Marathon du Finistère (La Transléonarde) should account for 42.2 km, 200 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 Marathon du Finistère (La Transléonarde)?
The pacing strategy for Marathon du Finistère (La Transléonarde) should reflect 42.2 km, 200 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 Marathon du Finistère – La Transléonarde take place?
Marathon du Finistère – La Transléonarde takes place on June 27, 2027.
Where does Marathon du Finistère – La Transléonarde take place?
Marathon du Finistère – La Transléonarde takes place in Plouescat, France.
Which distances does Marathon du Finistère (La Transléonarde) offer?
Marathon du Finistère (La Transléonarde) offers 4 distances — Marathon du Finistère: 42.2 km; Marathon du Finistère en duo: 42.2 km; Semi-Marathon Handisport: 21 km; Trail des Naufrageurs: 14 km.
How do I register for Marathon du Finistère (La Transléonarde)?
Registration runs through the organiser: transleonarde.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
