Trail d'Arre.
The Trail du Serre de la Tune is the short adult course at the Trail d'Arre, but short does not mean gentle: over three quarters of its climbing comes in one long ascent, followed by an equally steep drop back to the Arre valley. Preparing for it means steep hiking and descents that take their time to end.
Trail d'Arre 2027: Course, Elevation & Route Profile
Start and finish are near the village hall in Arre, and the first three and a half kilometres are a prelude: the trail climbs moderately for a little over 80 metres, then hands a good part of that back before the real mountain begins.
It arrives at km 3.5. Over 2.7 kilometres you gain about 400 metres, averaging almost 15 percent, terrain where most people walk. After a short shelf, another 1.3 kilometres at nine percent start at km 6.5 and leave you more than 500 metres above Arre. The menhir on the Serre de la Tune gives the loop its name and its point: an outing from the Arre valley up onto the Cévennes ridges, along paths and past small hamlets.
The way back comes in one piece. From km 8.5 the trail drops about 550 metres in a little over four kilometres, reaching village level again just before km 13. What remains is nearly flat and leads to the hall; expect your watch to read closer to 14 kilometres than a clean 13.
| Start | Length | Ø | Max. | Gain | Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km 0.2 | 0.4 km | 5.1 % | 11.4 % | +18 m | — |
| km 0.9 | 1.6 km | 4.2 % | 19.3 % | +67 m | — |
| km 3.5 | 2.7 km | 14.9 % | 34.8 % | +402 m | Cat. 2 |
| km 6.5 | 1.3 km | 9 % | 14.2 % | +117 m | Cat. 4 |
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 Trail d'Arre.
Start under control
The first three and a half kilometres are the only ones where speed feels comfortable, and that is the trap. Run with the field here and you reach the foot of the ascent with a high heart rate and no recovery ahead of you.
Hold your rhythm
The race is settled between km 3.5 and km 8. Walk from the start whatever you could not keep running higher up, in short even steps, and leave out the heroics on the steepest pitches. This section takes longer than the whole run-up to it, and overdoing its first half cannot be repaired in the second.
Spend what is left
The descent is the second test, because it lands on thighs that have just carried you up the mountain. Keep it controlled rather than chasing minutes up high that catch up with you on the nearly flat final kilometre. No aid is planned on this course and water is available at the Lembrusquières washhouse, so carry what you need and drink on the ascent while the pace allows it.
Training plan for Trail d'Arre: 12-week build
Build the base
Age-group runners should plan on roughly 1:45 to 2:45 hours, depending on how well they climb. The effort splits in two: a long, even aerobic grind going up, then muscular work going down, where the heart has it easy and the thighs do not. Almost nothing on this loop is flat.
Train race pace
The core of your preparation is the long ascent. You will be climbing for three quarters of an hour or more without a break, which short hill sprints do not reproduce. Build in sessions of 20 to 40 minutes of brisk walking on gradients above ten percent. Without a suitable slope, a treadmill on incline or long flights of stairs will do.
Rehearse the course
The descent needs its own stimulus, because 550 metres in one go is a shock to untrained legs. Start with a few hundred metres at the end of longer runs and build over the weeks until you can run a descent of this size without your stride turning short and wooden. Strength work for the thighs, lunges and step-downs above all, supports that.
Arrive fresh
The 9 May date puts the serious part of your build in spring. Use the last long runs to rehearse being self-sufficient: a vest or bottles, drinking while walking, and a volume that lasts the whole loop.
Courses
Download the Trail d'Arre course as a GPX file for your watch or bike computer.
Let YOUB adapt your plan for Trail d'Arre dynamically
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.
Everything about Trail d'Arre.
How long is Trail d'Arre?
Trail d'Arre is 13 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 Trail d'Arre have?
Trail d'Arre has around 680 m of elevation gain over 13 km. That affects pacing, muscular load, and preparation for late-race sections.
What is the route profile of Trail d'Arre?
Trail d'Arre is classified as Mountainous, averaging 49.5 vertical metres per kilometre. 6% of the route is flat, 17% climbs moderately (2 to 6%) and 29% is steeper than 6%.
What climbs does Trail d'Arre have?
The hardest climb of Trail d'Arre starts at kilometre 3.5, runs for 2.7 km at an average of 14.9% and gains 402 metres. Cycling-convention rating: Cat. 2. 4 climbs are mapped in total.
Is Trail d'Arre a loop course?
Yes, Trail d'Arre is laid out as a loop: start and finish are in the same place.
Is there a GPX file for the Trail d'Arre course?
Yes. The Trail d'Arre 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 Trail d'Arre?
Preparation for Trail d'Arre should account for 13 km, 680 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 Trail d'Arre?
The pacing strategy for Trail d'Arre should reflect 13 km, 680 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 Trail d'Arre take place?
Trail d'Arre takes place on May 9, 2027.
Where does Trail d'Arre take place?
Trail d'Arre takes place in Arre, France.
Which distances does Trail d'Arre offer?
Trail d'Arre offers 3 distances — Trail du Serre de la Tune: 13 km; Trail du Rocher du Comte: 25 km; Trail des Pitchouns: 1.4 km.
How do I register for Trail d'Arre?
Registration runs through the organiser: arre.fr. YOUB shows you the course, elevation profile and training plan for your preparation.
