Foulées du Gois

The Foulées du Gois (French pronunciation: [fule dy ɡwa]) is an international road running race held annually on the Passage du Gois, a tidal causeway between Beauvoir-sur-Mer and the Île de Noirmoutier, France.

[1] A series of alternate races are undertaken earlier in the day, when the tide is not over the causeway, for youth and non-professional divisions; the adult non-elite divisions are 8.3 kilometres (5.2 mi) in length, a round trip of the Passage du Gois.

The professional race, which is limited to 30 competitors selected from French and international applicants, begins when the water first crosses the road.

[4] The current record for the race is 12 minutes and 8 seconds, by French athlete and Olympian Dominique Chauvelier in the 1990 running of the event.

The athletes use the wave caused by this meeting as a path, as it provides less resistance to wading compared to undisturbed water.