
The Rambouillet Half Marathon runs one third through town and two thirds on the paved roads and cycle paths of the Rambouillet state forest. The loop is flat and quick, and because it doubles as the Yvelines departmental championship, the March field is a competitive one.
The start is at the Stade du Vieux-Moulin on Rue de l'Étang d'Or. The opening kilometres head north through town and past the Château de Rambouillet. Just before km 3 the course turns towards Saint-Léger into the forest, and that is where its only real climb sits: about 600 metres at just over 4 percent, lifting you some 25 metres onto the forest plateau.
From km 4 to about km 13 the loop stays up on that plateau, on wide, smooth cycle paths and forest roads with no roots or mud. It then drops gently down the east side of town, past the racecourse and the Étang d'Or, and a final short loop near the N10 brings you back to the stadium.
The athletics club Rambouillet Olympique stages its 39th edition in 2027 and caps the field at 2,600 runners. Besides the departmental title, the race is a qualifier for the French half-marathon championships; there are no pacers, and the start is organised in time-based corrals.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 3 | 0.6 km | 4.1 % | 8.2 % | +25 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.
The first three kilometres through town drift slightly downhill in a dense field. Do not let that pull you faster than your goal pace, because the climb into the forest follows straight after. Run it by feel rather than by the watch; its 25 metres cost only seconds if you do not fight them.
The race is decided on the forest plateau between km 4 and km 13. There are few spectators and little to look at there, and the field strings out. Hold an even effort and find a group, and the gently falling section that follows becomes your reward.
The trap is the descent from km 13. It invites you to speed up, but the last kilometres by the racecourse and around the loop at the N10 roll again. Keep the real finishing push for the final two kilometres.

For most runners the race takes between roughly 1:20 and 2:30. The effort is steady and aerobic, close to threshold; the only climb is short, and the rest of the course is about holding one pace for a long time.
The decisive section is the long, quiet forest stretch in the middle of the race. Prepare for it with tempo runs of 6 to 10 kilometres at half-marathon pace on quiet routes without spectators, ideally cycle paths or forest roads, so you learn to hold rhythm without outside stimulus.
Mid-March in the Île-de-France is usually cool rather than cold, though the forest can still be fresh and shaded in the morning. Your build-up falls in winter, so plan long runs and tempo sessions you can execute cleanly in cold and darkness.
The emphasis is threshold work and long runs up to about 18 kilometres with a faster final third. One or two short hill strides a week are enough for the climb at km 3.

Download the Rambouillet Half Marathon course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Ben connects your goal, the course, current load, recovery, and calendar. Your plan stays pointed at race day even when real life is not perfectly plannable.
Rambouillet Half Marathon is 21.1 km long. That distance shapes how much aerobic endurance, pace durability, and race-specific work belong in the training plan.
Rambouillet Half Marathon has around 136 m of elevation gain over 21.1 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
Rambouillet Half Marathon is classified as Flat, averaging 6.4 vertical metres per kilometre. 52% of the route is flat, 22% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 0% is steeper than 6%.
The hardest climb of Rambouillet Half Marathon starts at kilometre 3, runs for 0.6 km at an average of 4.1% and gains 25 metres.
Yes, Rambouillet Half Marathon is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Yes. The Rambouillet Half Marathon 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.
Preparation for Rambouillet Half Marathon should account for 21.1 km, 136 m of elevation gain, current training load, and available training time. An adaptive plan helps place key sessions without ignoring recovery and real life.
The pacing strategy for Rambouillet Half Marathon should reflect 21.1 km, 136 m of elevation gain, and your current fitness. Start controlled and keep margin for sections where the profile or fatigue makes target pace harder.
Semi-Marathon de Rambouillet takes place on March 14, 2027.
Semi-Marathon de Rambouillet takes place in Rambouillet, France.
Registration runs through the organiser: rambouillet-olympique-events.com. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.