Grand Raid La Reunion
- 20261 finishers
Races
Grand Raid La Reunion
Saint-Denis to Saint-Pierre across Réunion. Volcanic cirques. Heat at sea level. Cold on the ridges. Fifty hours is tight.
101 mi+22,828 ft-21,096 ft50 hours5,417 ft to 8,161 fttech 6/10Checkpoints per race bookWSER qualifierOctoberRunning Stones · 4 stones
Distance101 mi
Gain+22,828 ft
Loss-21,096 ft
Altitude5,417 ft to 8,161 ft
Technicality6/10
Air55°F to 95°F
- Start5,417 ft
- High8,161 ft
- Low5,417 ft
- Finish7,149 ft
Geometryderived
Steepest drop1,040 ft-9.3% over 2.1 mi
Night miles38 misunset near 19:00 local
Longest climb1,732 ft101 mi at 0.3%
Weather at the cruxderived
At hour 6 of race, feels like 30 C (79 F). Humid, around 75 percent.Sample of 7 race days, medium confidence.At hour 6 of race, apparent temperature P90 is 30 C / 85 F.
The cruxPiton des Neiges sector and the cirques above 2,500 m (near mile 65)
Course DNA
The Course
Grand Raid La Reunion runs 162 km through Reunion. +22,828 ft gain and -21,096 ft loss. Surfaces skew 75% trail / 20% dirt road / 5% paved. Piton des Neiges sector and the cirques above 2,500 m. High point near 8,161 ft. Low near 5,417 ft. October temps run 55°F to 95°F. The course rewards patience early and punishes rushed descents after mile 50.
The Work
Train for 22,828 feet of climbing across 162 km. Back-to-back long runs on trail. Practice power-hiking grades above 15 percent. 50 hours total means limited margin: rehearse fueling every 45 to 60 minutes and downhill eccentric work weekly. Technicality 6/10. Build a block that simulates the crux near mile 65.
Kit
October in Reunion: plan for 55°F to 95°F. Mandatory shell if rain is in forecast. Headlamp with spare batteries if 50 hours pushes past dark. Poles help on sustained climbs above mile 25. Vest capacity for 2 liters minimum. Shoes matched to 75% trail: lugs for mud, rock plate if the course turns technical after mile 50.
Race Day
Hold effort through mile 25. The field often splits on the first big climb after mile 50. Piton des Neiges sector and the cirques above 2,500 m near mile 65 is where time is won or lost. Walk the steep pinches. Run the flats and gentle downhills. Crew at major aids: socks, calories, ice if hot. Transitions under 5 minutes when possible. Final third is 33 miles of fatigue management. Finish with reserve for the last descent.
Results
Grand Raid La Reunion finish lines.
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Sources (1)
- Qualifier: utmb_stones: https://utmb.world/utmb-world-series