7 or 14 km: how to choose your distance and get ready

Both Rendeux Trail Experience routes start from the same village on the same morning. The choice comes down to your training over the past few weeks — not to your "level" as a runner.

Two loops, two moods

• La Découverte — 7.5 km, about 290 m of elevation gain, starting at 10:00. An accessible loop, also open to fast walkers. Allow 45 minutes to 1 h 15 running, up to 1 h 30 if you walk the climbs.
• L'Expérience — 13.5 km, about 540 m of elevation gain, starting at 10:15. Steep climbs, more technical paths and the view over the Ourthe valley. Allow 1 h 15 to 2 h 15 depending on your pace.

Elevation changes everything: on trails, 14 km with 540 m of climbing takes as much energy as 18 to 20 km on flat roads. Running much slower than in town is normal, and it says nothing about your fitness.

Choose the 7 km if…

• this is your first bib or your first trail race;
• you run less than 20 to 25 km a week;
• your longest recent run is around 6 to 8 km;
• you want to discover the atmosphere without any pressure.

Choose the 14 km if…

• you regularly run 25 to 40 km a week;
• you can already run for 1 h 15 to 1 h 30 non-stop;
• you have taken on a few hills, even walking them;
• you want a real goal for the autumn.

Getting ready in 6 to 8 weeks

Three sessions a week are plenty:

• One long run, building gradually: add at most 10 % a week, and look for paths that climb.
• One hill session: 6 to 10 times 1 minute uphill, recovering on the way down. Nothing pays off faster.
• One easy run, at conversation pace, to let your body absorb the work.

Three habits that change your race:

• Walking the steep climbs is not cheating: it is basic trail technique, even for the best.
• Practise your descents: short quick steps, eyes 3 to 4 metres ahead, shoulders relaxed.
• Run at least twice on muddy ground before November: Ardennes trails are rarely dry at this time of year.

In the final week, halve your volume and keep just one short run with a few pick-ups.

On race day

• Have breakfast 2 to 3 hours before the start, and arrive early enough to collect your bib calmly.
• Do not set off too fast: the first kilometre in a group always feels easy.
• Cup or bottle mandatory: the RTX runs without disposable cups. Aid stations are shown on each route profile.
• Dress for November in the Ardennes: often 5 to 10 °C and sometimes damp. One layer too many beats one too few at the start.

Everything is set out in the race rules, and both profiles are on the races section. To know what to put on your feet, we listed the shoes and kit that matter. All that is left is to pick your distance — and, after the finish, to share your race in the guestbook.