My Journey: Allez les… chariots ! — Traverser le centre-ville pendant Aix en Foulées

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Today in Centre Ville, I discovered a new athletic category: the Sprint du Caddie. At the Fontaine des Quatre Dauphins on rue Cardinale, a woman with her grocery chariot waited in that respectful Aixois half-stance—one foot forward, one eye on the peloton, the other on her yogurt warming in the sun. When the pack thinned, she launched. At that exact second, a dad with a stroller made his own break. Reader, I switched allegiance. While the crowd cheered the runners, I cheered the everyday athletes trying to faire les courses across a live 10K. “Allez ! Allez ! Allez !” I shouted, which is also how I encourage myself to conjugate aller after coffee.



If you thought (like me) the course would politely loop the périphérie, surprise: Aix en Foulées snakes right through the heart of town—starts on avenue des Belges, cuts across our beloved Cours Mirabeau, and winds in 5 km downtown loops (twice for the 10 km). A scenic dream for runners…and a moving labyrinth for baguette-bearers. (Mairie d'Aix-en-Provence)


For context: this year’s edition scheduled the 5 km and 10 km on a Sunday morning (minifoulées for kids the day before on the Cours). Starts on avenue des Belges; partner village at Place Cézanne. If your errands cross that axis—bring patience, water, and your best “merci” smile. (Mairie d'Aix-en-Provence)

Tiny survival guide for non-runners caught mid-errand

  • Scout crossings: Runners move in waves; marshals will create little gaps. If you’re near Quatre Dauphins or rue Cardinale, hover at the curb and make eye contact with volunteers before stepping in. (They’re saints.)

  • Foldable strategy: Strollers and chariots are wide—angle them slightly, look for the “elastic” in the pack, then glide. Act like a gentle roundabout, not a stop sign.

  • Language helps: A quick “Je traverse après vous, merci !” earns space and smiles.

  • Plan B: If Cours Mirabeau is gridlocked, detour via parallel streets (rues d’Italie / d’Anvers) to skirt the flow.

A respectful bow to the organizers

Aix en Foulées is a happy beast: 5 km and 10 km road races, measured, marshalled, and very downtown on purpose—because it turns the city into a collective Sunday heartbeat. Times typically stagger (5 km first, then 10 km) and the route is fully urban. Even the kids get their moment on the Cours. Brave work by Aix Athlé Provence and the city teams. (Mairie d'Aix-en-Provence)

Want the official low-down?
City page (times, route gist). (Mairie d'Aix-en-Provence)
Aix Athlé Provence info (loops & Cours Mirabeau passage). (Aix Athlé Provence)
Third-party listings for race nerds (distances, elevation, schedules). (Ahotu)

Mini phrasebook for today’s “everyday athletes”

  • A1: Je peux traverser, s’il vous plaît ? Merci !

  • A2: J’attends une pause dans les coureurs pour passer avec mon chariot.

  • B1: Désolé·e, je me faufile pendant l’intervalle—promis, je serai rapide.

  • B2: Je contourne le parcours par la prochaine rue. Vous savez si l’avenue des Belges est encore fermée ?

  • Advanced: Entre Cours Mirabeau et Quatre Dauphins, la logistique devient un sport urbain à part entière—chic, mais technique.

Pro-tips (so you don’t melt your mozzarella)

  • Timing: The biggest packs pass just after each start; thinner streams appear a few minutes later—golden window for crossing. (Ahotu)

  • Map-in-mind: If your goal is Rotonde → Mazarin, approach from rue d’Italie; if Mazarin → Marché, try rue du 4 Septembre. (Less perpendicular to the flow.)

  • Etiquette: Smile, signal, and aim for the gap between clusters—don’t thread the front row.

  • Bonus: Buy a runner a croissant after; karma points unlocked.

I’ll admit I was out there earning my cardio yelling “Allez !” at people with spinach and apple compote—proof that in Aix, even grocery runs get a race-day soundtrack. Consider this my curated love letter to those who don’t wear bib numbers but still have places to be and yogurts to save.

Your Turn 👇

Were you running, volunteering, or—my heroes—pushing a stroller or chariot through the chaos? Drop your mini-report below: Where did you cross? What French phrase helped? Any detours to recommend?

(Psst: learners—post a sentence at your level A1, A2, B1, B2, or full-tilt literary. We’ll cheer you on just as loudly.)

Location: Aix-en-Provence, France

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