Tayte Pollmann’s Tuesday Trail Tips series of articles are supported by American Trail Running Association corporate member Nike Trail Running. You can follow Tayte from the wine country of Southern France on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
I arrived in France on September 2, with a one-way plane ticket, ready for my fifth adventure in France. Now, one month later, I’m still in France and I continue to discover more things I love about this wonderful country. The Pyrenees Mountains in the south of the country are becoming a new training base for me and I love its small villages, farmland, bakeries, steep roads (with friendly cows always in the way) and a simple way of life.
Find Falguières on a map…
Due to my injury, I’m not yet running but I’m finding new ways to enjoy my time in the French mountains and countryside. Last week I helped with Le Vendanges — harvesting of grapes for wine –in the small agricultural commune of Falguières, France. I spent half a day picking grapes (envision all the grapes in a Costco times 100!), and I traveled to a wine-processing facility to witness how these sweet little fruits transform into world-renowned French wine. However, the many French wine-making secrets will not be revealed in this article!
I realized that vineyards are not only a great place to snack on grapes and learn about wine, but vineyard landscapes are one of the most beautiful places for trail running. One can easily get lost in the vast rows of grapes, seeing nothing but green manicured hillsides and endless fruit in all directions. While I was harvesting grapes in Falguières, I imagined myself running down the rows of grapevines, wondering what it would be like to race in this environment. Luckily, there are “Vineyard Races” all over the world and across the United States.
Listed below are a few Vineyard Races in the United States you can find on our race calendar. Perhaps these races can give you a little insight into the beauties of country life, and inspire you to someday purchase your own one-way ticket to the South of France!
Western United States
September 22, 2018 – Enchanted Forest Wine Run – Grants Pass, OR
October 21, 2018 – Cloverdale Vineyard Races – Cloverdale, CA
October 27, 2018 – Napa Wine Country Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K – Calistoga, CA
Central United States
September 8, 2018 – Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Harvest Stompede – Suttons Bay, MI
October 6, 2018 – The Vine Wine’d – Fennville, MI
October 6, 2018 – Vineyard Trail 5K – Huntington, IN
Southern United States
November 17, 2018 – Dirty Spokes Chateau Elan Muscadine Trail Races – Braselton GA
December 1, 2018 – Fainting Goat Vineyards Trail Race – Jasper, GA
May 25, 2019 – The Crusher Vineyard and Trail Race – Cleveland GA
Eastern United States
April 14, 2019 – Run the Vineyards-Ingleside Vineyards 5K – Colonial Beach VA
August 11, 2019 – Wine Glass Dash – Mt. Airy MD
August 11, 2019 – Charm City Run 5K Trail Run at Boordy Vineyards – Hyde, MD
International
April 6, 2019 – SciaccheTrail 47K – Monterosso, Italy
