Running in Belgium

If the capital of Belgium is Brussels, the number one attraction for travelers in Belgium is the Venice of the North, Bruges! This medieval city, surrounded by and crisscrossed with canals, is a truly lovely place to visit. Like the "real" Venice in Italy, Bruges owes its architectural wealth to the prosperous era of merchants. You should know that in the 15th century, the city was one of the most powerful in Europe... Brussels, for its part, is also highly appreciated by its guests, notably for its vibrant cultural scene. Music, theater, painting—Brussels is lived day and night! Tintin, Spirou and Lucky Luke are the flagships of Belgian comics, known worldwide and whose traces you’ll find in Brussels... Painters 🧑🏻‍🎨 have also shaped the country’s history. Set out to discover the many museums displaying works by Magritte, Rubens or Ensor, to name just a few... Liège, located near the borders with the Netherlands and Germany, is a former principality. The city’s prestige, governed for centuries by a prince-bishop, is revealed in particular through its many religious buildings, such as Saint Paul’s Cathedral. The Coteaux de la Citadelle district will definitely win your vote... And since we’re at it, let’s take advantage of the city’s terrain to show you that Belgium isn’t that flat! The Province of Liège is home to the Hautes Fagnes State Nature Reserve, where Belgium’s highest point rises: the Signal de Botrange (694 meters). Lovers of nature can feast on the fauna and flora of this region, covered with peat bogs and forests 🌲, like the Hertogenwald. The seaside on the western side of the country is popular with Belgians for its beaches, especially when it’s sunny ☀️. Oh yes, we almost forgot: check the weather before choosing your weekend in Belgium—the weather is sometimes cold 🥶 and rainy 💦... Well, you can always enjoy a good Belgian beer to warm up. Since Belgium’s climate isn’t suitable for growing grapes, Belgian monks "took revenge" by producing beer 🍺. And the quality is still there centuries later. Enjoy in moderation...

... especially if you’re coming to run in Belgium! Just look at how the "almost" flat country has put together a nice race calendar for you. Whether on the road, on the trails or for walkers! The homeland of Eddy Merckx is home to a bunch of great races, some with evocative names! How about taking part in the event The Last Man Standing, a date counting toward the UTMB® World Series that offers different courses (Discovery Trail, Short Trail, Long Trail) including one over 150 km? You didn’t think you’d come to Belgium to suffer, did you?! Well, yes. Go prove the Trail des 600 Boitheux (in Theux near Liège) wrong by finishing it properly! Road-racing fans have already circled the Brussels Marathon, which takes place in the Belgian capital. Not far from there, south of the city, the Sonian Forest hosts every year the Brussels Trail! Finally, let’s not forget walkers, who can have a field day at the magical Trail des Fées. This event takes place in Bertrix, in the southeast of Belgium, in the least densely populated province in the country. Peaceful in the forest 🌲, in the heart of the Flemish Ardennes...

Belgium isn’t limited to trails and boulevards 🚴. Triathlon enthusiasts have a prime date on the Flemish coast: the Knocke-Heist Ironman 70.3 lines up 1.9 km of swimming in the North Sea, 90 km of cycling on the flat roads of the Belgian coast, and 21 km of running along the seafront—an ideal half-distance format to test yourself without (too much) suffering. Two wheels aren’t left out either: the Belgium Bike Festival The Classics in Andenne, in the heart of Walloon Condroz, offers gravel and road routes ranging from 20 to 180 km on the region’s rolling roads and stony paths. A two-wheel festival where everyone finds their distance, from a relaxed Sunday to the peloton’s tough one 🏅.

Belgium doesn’t mess around.