{"id":1229,"date":"2026-04-16T17:20:27","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T15:20:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cace.be\/?p=1229"},"modified":"2026-04-16T17:31:47","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T15:31:47","slug":"revival-new-challenges-trail-sangliers-belgian-ardennes-irish-folk-paris","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cace.be\/index.php\/2026\/04\/16\/revival-new-challenges-trail-sangliers-belgian-ardennes-irish-folk-paris\/","title":{"rendered":"Revival & New challenges: Trail Sangliers \u2013 Belgian Ardennes – Irish Folk – Paris"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Following the great experiences of the previous year<\/a>, the CACE team headed to the Ardennes mid of March 2026 for another trail mission. 28 runners from several EU institutions joined up for a long weekend in the Belgian forested hills, even flying in from Austria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many arrived at the accommodation Friday evening being welcomed with dinner and the bib numbers for those starting early Saturday morning already organised. Lasagne and a richness of culinary delicacies, such as self-made Portuguese tarte, laid the foundation for powerful and enduring runs the next day. The question whether one should drink alcohol or not the evening before a race, still went around the heads of some runners on race morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While there were many repeat offenders, some joined a CACE trip for the first time and\/or were also new to trail running. CACE teams were at the start line of all distances of the Trail Sangliers:<\/a> 57 km (2316 m D+), 35 km (1521 m D+), 26 km (952 m D+), and 15 km (582 m D+). The 57 km and 35 km runners started with frost into a super sunny day, while others still relaxed at the chalets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CACE Teams before the races<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At latest at km 3 of the trails, road runners learned why the course is named \u201cTrail Sangliers\u201d \u2013 mud was a key characteristic, accompanied by water courses and tree trunks to be crossed as well as by steep hills. Downhill was not easier than uphill as it required quite advanced techniques to keep the balance on the twisted and slippery forest paths.<\/p>\n\n\n

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All runners had different ambitions \u2013 approaching new challenges, such as running the first time an ultra-distance or a first trail, beating last year\u2019s performance, training for a marathon or triathlon, enjoying the landscape, running without watch, or working for deserving the dinner. There was also some smiling about potential wellness runners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indeed, while wellness as such was not on the agenda, post-race gathering in the sun enjoying achievements and drinks, waiting for and tracking the other team members was relaxing and certainly contributed to well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Post-race relaxation and rituals<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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While no CACE member made it to the podium this year, results were still very strong with some 4th<\/sup> and 5th<\/sup> places in the overall rankings, and top three placements in the age-groups. Paulina\u2019s performance in the 57 km finishing 4th<\/sup> was outstanding. It also appeared that a beer ahead of the race had not reduced performance, as revealed by the 26 km race with Angelo being among the top 10 competing with many youngsters. Maybe CACE spirit is a stronger enabler than the impact physio-chemical effects? We may discuss at and test after the next CACE Social Run (17 April).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Essentially, no major injuries and no DNF (\u201cDid not finish\u201d) were to be registered for the CACE team – just a missed aid station, some scratches, wet shoes, and muddy trousers, as well as some exhausted, but empowered runners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Putting the feeds up on the balconies of the chalets enjoying the view, was a perfect recovery before the dinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The evening can start \u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A well selected restaurant in La Roche-en-Ardenne, just a 10-minutes drive from the accommodation, offered a perfect place for an exhaustive dinner \u2013 one room for CACE and cheese in all its variations. Raclette and fondue revealed the different rituals across countries and cultures, yet there was common understanding that vine can enhance the fluidity of fondue cheese and much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Claire was physically not in the Ardennes, the team still accompanied and followed her in the evening hours and shared excitement, when she met a great challenge \u2013 a 120 km eco-trail in Paris, competing with professional runners; and a 6th<\/sup> place could be celebrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt home\u201d it turned out that the trip was perfectly planned. – There were no non-CACE neighbours next to the central CACE chalet, thus the evening could run its course. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The night revealed, the team has not only talented runners, but also singers \u2013 Irish folk set the scene for the international trip of CACE to Dublin in September. Another trail that CACE members are excited to explore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting up next morning was facilitates by an incentivising breakfast with view on the sunny and calm Ardennes, a rich buffet, and – importantly – good coffee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The return journey offered the opportunity to make plans for the future \u2013 the trails were certainly a perfect preparation for the last 3 km of course of the \u201c20 km of Brussels<\/a>\u201d in May, where CACE will be well represented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to all organisers and drivers and the whole teams \u2013 it was a great trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doris<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stop on the way back to enjoy the landscape \u2013 Was the weekend too short?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Following the great experiences of the previous year, the CACE team headed to the Ardennes mid of March 2026 for another trail mission. 28 runners from several EU institutions joined up for a long weekend in the Belgian forested hills, even flying in from Austria. Many arrived at the accommodation Friday evening being welcomed with…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1229","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-race-calendar"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cace.be\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1229","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cace.be\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cace.be\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cace.be\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cace.be\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1229"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.cace.be\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1229\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1259,"href":"https:\/\/www.cace.be\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1229\/revisions\/1259"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cace.be\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1229"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cace.be\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1229"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cace.be\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1229"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}