Aixperiences: Aix en Foulées this Sunday — route, start times, and all the bus detours you’ll actually feel (And Saturday for Kids)

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What’s happening & when

Aix en Foulées takes over the city center this Sunday 19 Oct. It’s a fast 5 km city loop (do it once for 5K or twice for 10K), start on Avenue des Belges and finish by avenue Napoléon Bonaparte—the whole thing stays right in the heart of town. First gun 08:30 (5 km), 09:15 (10 km). Bib pick-up: Saturday  14:00–18:30 (Place Cézanne) and Sun 07:30–08:15. Saturday also brings the Mini-Foulées for kids on Cours Mirabeau from 16:30. (Mairie d'Aix-en-Provence)

Where to watch: anywhere along Cours Mirabeau, the Rotonde (Narvik side), Avenue des Belges (start), and the finish stretch on avenue Napoléon Bonaparte. (Expect barriers and cheery volunteers in hi-vis—smile and they’ll wave you through like you’re elite.) (Aix Athlé Provence)

Essentials for runners (and their fan clubs)

  • Start times: 08:30 (5 km), 09:15 (10 km). Handisport & team challenges slot between. No on-site registration. (Mairie d'Aix-en-Provence)

  • Bib pick-up: Place Cézanne Sat 14:00–18:30, Sun 07:30–08:15. (Mairie d'Aix-en-Provence)

  • Course: one 5 km loop, 10 km does it twice—all downtown; start Avenue des Belges, finish near avenue Napoléon Bonaparte. (Aix Athlé Provence)

  • Mini-Foulées (Sat 18 Octobre): kids races on Cours Mirabeau from 16:30. (Mairie d'Aix-en-Provence)

  • Good deeds: proceeds support Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque & Le Point Rose—good vibes, good cause. (Mairie d'Aix-en-Provence)

Watch like a local (spectators)

  • Early coffee at Cours Mirabeau, then slide to Rotonde Narvik for wide-angle cheering.

  • Avoid the barriers at Belges if you’re meeting a runner post-finish; pick a side street rendez-vous (Mazarine/Italie) and text. (Yes, this is my “I lost my runner once” voice.)

  • Strollers & mobility: sidewalks are broad on Cours Mirabeau; curb cut-outs at Rotonde Narvik make it easier to position and there are benches.

Getting in without tears (drivers, this is for you)

  • Park-and-Ride (P+R): Krypton (south) and Lt-Col Jeanpierre (west) are open Sundays; center buses are diverted until ~13:30, so expect a short walk from drop-offs like Pompidou/Archives. (Hauts-de-Brunet & Route des Alpes are closed Sundays.) (aixenbus.fr)

  • Heads-up: Diabline/Line A doesn’t run Sundays as a rule, so don’t count on a city-core shuttle. (Mairie d'Aix-en-Provence)

  • Best low-stress plan: Park at Krypton (or Jeanpierre), validate, then stroll in 15–20 min, or hop a diverted route to Rotonde Narvik/Pompidou and walk the last 5–10 min. (Aixenbus)

Weather at race time

Expect a crisp start (around 10–12 °C at 08:30), brightening late morning with a chance of showers after midday. Layers + a light shell = happy runner/spectator.

    Handy links (official)

    Bus detours you’ll actually feel (Sun, start of service → ~13:30)

    The entire city-center sector is not served during the race window. Lines are running but diverted, skipping the core stops (Rotonde/Belges/Cours). Below are the official changes plus where to stand instead. (aixenbus.fr)

    • Diabline A: Victor-Hugo, Rotonde, Gare Routière Belges, Gare SNCF, Facultés not served. Use Brossolette or Sous-Préfecture. (aixenbus.fr)

    • Ligne 3: Tour de ville off; Saint-Pierre, Sainte-Anne, Tour d’Aygosi, Tourelles not served. Nearby options include Pompidou, Archives, Pérouse, Rotonde Narvik, Desplaces SNCF, Reine Jeanne (and others listed on the alert). (aixenbus.fr)

    • Ligne 5: Skips République, Niollon, Rotonde Bonaparte, G.R Belges (dir. Monclar) and G.R Belges, Rotonde, Malherbe, Roi René (dir. P+R Brunet). Use Pompidou, Archives, Gare Routière, Rotonde Narvik, Desplaces SNCF. (aixenbus.fr)

    • Ligne 6: Same central skips (République, Niollon, Rotonde Bonaparte, G.R Belges one way; G.R Belges, Rotonde, Malherbe, Roi René the other). Alternatives posted as Pompidou, Archives, Gare Routière, Rotonde Narvik, Gare SNCF, Reine Jeanne, Desplaces SNCF. (aixenbus.fr)

    • Ligne 8: Skips République, Niollon, Rotonde Bonaparte, Malherbe, Roi René → try Nelson-Mandela, Rotonde Narvik, Reine-Jeanne (plus usual out-of-center stops). (aixenbus.fr)

    • Ligne 10: Skips République, Niollon, Rotonde Bonaparte, Rotonde, G.R Belges → use Pompidou, Archives, Pérouse, Gare Routière, G.R Mouret, Brossolette, Nelson-Mandela. (aixenbus.fr)

    • Ligne 11: Same skips as 10 → use Pompidou, Archives, Gare Routière, Pérouse, Nelson-Mandela. (aixenbus.fr)

    • Ligne 13: City loop off between École Militaire and Tourelles; use outer stops like Pompidou, Archives, Pérouse, Rotonde Narvik, Gare SNCF, Reine-Jeanne (full list on alert). (aixenbus.fr)

    • Ligne 22: Skips République, Niollon, Rotonde Bonaparte, Rotonde Narvik → go to Pompidou. (aixenbus.fr)

    • Ligne 25: Skips République, Niollon, Rotonde Bonaparte, G.R Belges, Rotonde → use Gare Routière, Pompidou, Archives, G.R Mouret, Desplaces SNCF. (aixenbus.fr)

    Tip: if your bus normally says “Rotonde” or “Belges,” plan to get off one ring further out (Pompidou/Archives/Rotonde-Narvik) and walk in. The live info page will update if anything shifts on race morning. (aixenbus.fr)

    La Langue: cheer like an Aixoise/Aixois 🎉

    • A1: Bravo ! Allez, allez ! (bra-VOH! ah-LEH!)

    • A2: Courage ! Plus que cinq minutes ! (koo-RAHZH! “only five more minutes!”)

    • B1: Respire, garde le rythme, c’est la dernière ligne droite !

    • B2: Super allure—tu vas exploser ton record personnel !

    • Advanced: Quel negative split de rêve : gestion d’allure impeccable du départ à la Rotonde !

    If you want a curated list of race-day French (from “où est le sas de départ ?” to “où rendre la puce ?”), say the word and I’ll spin it up.

    Your turn 👇

    Running? Volunteering? Spectating with a croissant and a cowbell? Drop a comment with your plan, your bus workaround, or a photo spot you love. A1–C2 learners: try a line of French in your reply—we’ll cheer you on, too!

    Sources: City of Aix (official event page), Aix Athlé Provence (course info), Chronosports/MilesRepublic (schedule snapshot), Aix en Bus live detours, and P+R operating details. (Mairie d'Aix-en-Provence)

    Location: Aix-en-Provence, France

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