Trail nocturne de la Montagne de Gury

The Trail nocturne de la Montagne de Gury is a night trail race held on a Saturday evening in mid-November in Gury, a small village in the Oise department north of Compiègne, part of the Pays des Sources community of communes. It is organised by Lab'Venture Oise Orientation, a sports club founded in 2022 and affiliated to the French Orienteering Federation. The race was previously called the Trail nocturne de la Montagne du Paradis and took Gury's name when it adopted a new route centred on the village.

There is a single distance: a loop of about 12 km with just over 180 m of climbing, starting at 7:30 pm. Runners set off together from the Chemin du Tour de Ville and finish on the square in front of the town hall. The course is marked with tape and staffed by marshals, following the paths and woodland around the village, with a few road sections where runners must obey the highway code and do not have right of way. Results are based on finishing order and handled under the club's gazebo.

With its moderate climbing, the race is within reach of anyone comfortable over 10 to 15 km, but darkness changes everything: runners have to read the ground by the light of their head torch, keep a close eye on the markings and cope with footing made slippery by November leaves and damp. The race is open to men and women aged 18 and over, and numbers are capped. A head torch is compulsory to start, and carrying water in a bottle, soft flask or bladder is recommended. Any outside assistance or unofficial feeding is forbidden.

Much of the atmosphere comes from the setting: a quiet Picardy village, woods plunged into darkness and a start lit up by the organisers' lights. Coming from an orienteering background, the club places strong emphasis on respect for nature, wildlife and plants, and on runners helping one another. A hiking option is also advertised for those who would rather walk.

Bibs are collected on site on race day from 5:30 pm at the village hall next to the town hall. Entries are online only and close the evening before. A refreshment table awaits all runners at the finish, every finisher receives a medal and a souvenir gift, and the top three men and women are rewarded. Parking, toilets and a bag drop are provided. In the event of dangerous weather, the organisers may alter the course or cancel the race.