Montpellier StaRT Running is a running club in Montpellier, France, and it also offers visitors a way to see the city on foot at an active pace. Its sessions cover track, trail and road running, so a visit can take in the streets and squares of the city as well as its surrounding landscape.
What a visit involves
The club describes itself as Montpellier's first running club that is not based at a stadium, which means its sessions move around the city rather than staying on one track. Visitors who join a group run will pass through sun-drenched streets, historic quarters and lively squares, and will run alongside local runners as they go.
The club is open to runners aged 17 to 97 and runs a friendly, multi-level group, so newcomers can join at a pace that suits them. Its seven weekly group sessions range from easy social jogs to track intervals, nature intervals, and a Sunday long run or trail outing.
Coaching and getting started
- Sessions are led by qualified trainers.
- The club was created by Laurent Vicente, a trail and mountain-running champion.
- Training runs all year round, 52 weeks a year, in any weather.
- A trial session is offered to people who want to try the group first.
For details of sessions and how to take part, the club's own website, start-running.fr, is the place to look. A visit suits anyone who would like to see Montpellier from the inside of a group run, whether they are experienced runners or simply want an energising way to explore the South of France.