New developments and a focus on sustainability to highlight the upcoming Maxi – Race 10th edition.

Several exciting new developments and a greater focus on sustainability will highlight the upcoming 10th edition, offering runners the opportunity to participate in a mountain trail race and take full advantage of Lake Annecy’s beautiful natural landscapes.

The MaXi-Race continues to change for the better by being a part of the “Steps to Nature” program.
The intent for the 2020 edition is to reduce the number of participants in each race, planning courses in line with today’s expectations for a major mountain trail run, ensure local trails stay in great condition, and strive for zero waste. This includes drastically cutting the amount of plastic and cardboard used during the event.In addition, race organizers are working to decrease traffic at aid stations by providing dedicated buses for crew and/or companions assisting runners. Here are further details on plans in the works that will allow the MaXi-Race to become much more proactive in its new approach to sustainability and quality.

A NEW PARTNER, RENEWED TRUST. Greenweez, France’s largest organic and eco-friendly online store, based in the Northern French Alps (Haute-Savoie), is a new title sponsor for the MaXi-Race. Through this new partnership, organics take center stage at the event, boosting the sustainable approach race organizers started in 2018 when they signed the Steps to Nature charter.

Salomon and Gore-Tex® will continue as title partners and are as motivated as ever to become more involved in the event.

Salomon develops products at its Annecy Design Center headquarter offices, where engineers, designers, and athletes work together to continuously create innovative solutions that enhance the outdoor experience. The trails around Lake Annecy offer an amazingly vast all-natural playground where they run every day! At the forefront of breathable -waterproof technology for outdoor gear, Gore-Tex’s partnership with the MaXi-Race has been a shared adventure for the last 4 years. With this dream team of partners, the MaXi-Race faces storms, heat waves, and enjoys one success story after another.

COMPLETELY ORGANIC. Pushing their pioneering approach one step further, event organizers will make new changes at aid stations, stocking them with only organic and local (cheese) products.

For the 10th edition, the types and quantity of food and drink will be more in line with runner expectations. A dietician will provide guidance for certain choices, differentiating the MaXi-Race from other trail running events to ensure the highest possible quality.

In the participant survey for the 2019 edition, most runners expressed interest in enjoying a glass of draft beer, lemonade, or soda at the finish line. Based on this feedback, event organizers plan to offer organic beer on tap as an additional choice for the traditional finish line beverage.

OFF TO THE RACES

To cater to everyone’s expectations and to offer participants the chance to run at their own pace based on their personal objectives, event organizers will considerably limit the number of available slots per race. For the 10th edition, there will be two marathons on two different courses, both limited to 1000 runners.

Please note that the MaXi-Race (official distance of 85km or 90km to be determined) will have 300 less runners out on the course in 2020, dropping the number of available slots from 2000 to 1700.

>> Two Marathons: the Marathon eXperience and the Marathon-Race

For the past two years, event organizers have been thinking about changing the course for the Marathon-Race, which usually fills up in just a few hours after registration opens, to better manage the exponentially increasing number of participants.

For the 2020 edition, organizers will offer a choice between two marathons on two radically different courses in terms of difficulty (a ratio of 5.9/10 and 8.1/10 of distance to vertical gain), cutoff times, aid station rules, and registration criteria.

The Marathon eXperience, 42km with 2500m of vertical gain and drop, is for those runners looking to embark on a new 42km trail running eXperience and to hone their skills at this race distance.

Limited to 1000 participants, the course will bypass the extremely technical mountain trail sections like Col de l’Encrenaz Pass, while still taking runners on a truly breathtaking adventure high above Lake Annecy. The race will start in Doussard (the traditional starting line for Marathon Race) and finish in Annecy, passing by Crottes Chalet, the aid station in Menthon-St-Bernard, and up and over Mt. Veyrier with its amazing views of the lake.

Cutoff times will be calculated based on the ITRA 300-point standard, equivalent to 3.8km/hr.

There will be no podium or official ranking for this new race, the first and last person to finish will receive the same medal. Through this new format, event organizers want to place a greater emphasis on running as a personal challenge, focusing on the sheer pleasure of galloping through the great outdoors and the very personal victory of finishing such a challenging endeavor.

That written, with 2500 meters of overall vertical gain, this Marathon is no walk in the park, and still very much a mountain trail run and eXperience that will prepare participants to one day compete in the new version of the Marathon-Race.

This will also be the same course for the 2nd day of the XL and XXL Race for those runners looking to circumnavigate Lake Annecy via the surrounding summits in two days.

Marathon-Race, 42km with 3400m of vertical gain and drop

This all-new version of the Marathon-Race will include a much more challenging course reserved for mountain trail runners with a more competitive mindset looking for points and results.

The starting line will be along the lake in Talloires. The course begins with a steep uphill section and throws one thigh-pounding descent after another at runners for a truly unforgettable race!

The new-and-improved Marathon Race will only share 15km of trails with the Marathon-eXperience, primarily the final kilometers of the course.

Registration is limited to 1000 runners who have a minimum of 450 ITRA points.

This race is part of the 2020 Golden Trail National Series.

Other changes for all races.
All cutoff times have been revised: while certain times will be more difficult to meet – still doable for most participants, other cutoff times will be easier than other major French and international mountain trail races.

MORE NEW EXCITING CHANGES FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY!

– As a welcome gift, runners will receive a t-shirt with a collectable print, a specific design made for the MaXi-Race by local artist “blackpeuf.com” (located in the Bauges Mountains).
– For the 2020 edition, every finisher will earn fantastic swag from Salomon.
– Medals for the Ultra-Race, MaXi-Race, and Marathon Race: finishers will receive a specific medal for their race, either gold, silver, or bronze based on their times.
– Finishers in the new the Marathon eXperience race will all receive the same medal.

Entertainment and other activities: The MaXi-Race is as festive an event as it is athletic. Bands and solo artists will be playing music throughout the weekend at different points along the course to provide runners with moral support in a wildly entertaining atmosphere.

INFO: Maxi – Race