When is the 2027 Montpellier Half Marathon?

The date is not announced yet. In 2026 the half was run on Sunday 19 April, during the Montpellier Run Festival on 18 and 19 April.

Is the Montpellier Half flat?

Not quite: the organisers announce 123 m of climbing over the 21.1 km, across the city, from Boulevard des Arceaux to Odysseum, then back to the Arc de Triomphe.

Is there a cut-off at the Montpellier Half?

Yes: 3 hours of racing. Beyond that, runners are out of the race and continue at their own risk.

Semi-Marathon de Montpellier: how many weeks of preparation?

For an athlete at intermediate level, Endu builds a 13-week preparation. If your race is closer, the plan compresses phases while keeping the taper; if it's further away, it lengthens the preparation, and when the gap is large the preparation starts right away, gently and at your current volume, before building up.

How many sessions per week?

This example has 4 sessions per week. You choose 3 to 7 training days and the exact days (e.g. Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun): the plan sticks to them.

I'm a beginner, is this plan for me?

The plan adapts to your declared level (beginner to semi-pro): starting volume, progression and intensity change. Endu also offers a "Discovery" mode without a race to build a base first.

Can I follow sessions on my watch?

Yes, on Garmin and COROS. On Garmin, the Endu app (Connect IQ Store) shows today’s session and starts it as a guided workout. On COROS, link your account from your profile: your running, trail and cycling sessions land in the watch calendar. Other brands are not supported yet.

How much does it cost?

14-day free trial, then €7.99/month with no commitment or €59.88/year (€4.99/month). Unlimited objectives and sports.

Semi-Marathon de Montpellier 2027: date, course and training plan

21.1 km · 123 m D+Montpellier2027 edition: date not announced yet

The Montpellier Half Marathon is part of the Montpellier Run Festival, which also offers a marathon, a 10K, 5K races, an ekiden and children’s races around the race village on the Promenade du Peyrou. In 2026 the half was run on Sunday 19 April, starting at 8 am with the marathon, over 21.1 km and 123 m of climbing through the city. It had 3,400 starters in 2024 and 5,300 in 2025. The 2027 date is not announced yet.

Your plan for Semi-Marathon de Montpellier

A plan set to your level and free days, which adapts to your feedback after each session.

Your goal time?

14-day trial, cancel anytime.

Semi-Marathon de Montpellier at a glance

Date: 2027 edition: date not announced yet2026 edition: 19 April 2026
Formats: Semi-marathonPlan below — 21.1 km, 123 m of climbing, FFA Bronze road label, at most 7,000 runners. 8 am start in 2026. Time limit 3 hours. Aid stations at km 5, 10, 15 and 20 and at the finish. Open to over-18s only.
Marathon — 42.195 km, starting together with the half in 2026.
10K — 10 km.
Ekiden — Relay marathon, run on the Saturday in 2026.
Registration: Registration for 2027 is not open yet: the website offers a newsletter sign-up to be told when it opens. The price rises in steps with the number of entries; the 2027 prices are not published. An FFA licence or a PPS health pass is required. The rules online, those of the 2025 edition, accepted no other federation’s licence and allowed free bib transfers through the registration platform.
Official website: montpellierrunfestival.fr/semi-marathon

The 2026 course

Start on Boulevard des Arceaux, west of the old town, near the Promenade du Peyrou. The course passes the Corum and the Citadelle, reaches Parc Rimbaud (km 5, aid station), follows the greenway north-east to km 10 (aid station), then heads back down via the Domaine de Verchant and the Domaine de Grammont, past the Zénith Sud and through Odysseum (km 15, aid station). Back towards the centre via the Bassin Jacques-Cœur and the city hall, then Saint-Roch station and the Tour de la Babote (km 20, aid station), finishing along Avenue Foch, in front of the Arc de Triomphe.

What the race asks of your training

123 m of climbing in town

With 123 m of climbing announced, the Montpellier half is not a dead-flat course. Slip short hills into your easy runs and finish a few long runs on rolling ground to hold your pace when the road rises.

Plastic-free aid stations

The aid stations at km 5, 10, 15 and 20 serve tap water in reusable cups, and the organisers suggest bringing your own soft flask, bottle or hydration vest to fill up. If you plan to carry one, do your long runs with it, and test your drink and gels on them.

3 hours to finish

The cut-off is 3 hours of racing, a little over 8:30 per kilometre. For a first half, the goal is to run for 2 hours without walking by the end of the build-up; in mid-April the race comes after a winter of training, with long runs to fit in during February and March.

The plan below prepares the Semi-marathon format, for an athlete at intermediate level with 4 days available per week. Until the official date is out, the example is set for April 2027. Aiming for another format? Enter its distance when you create your plan, which will be calibrated on your level, your available days and your feedback after every session.

weeks: 13
sessions: 52
sessions / week: 4
peak week: 4.9 h

Plan structure

Periodised in phases: build the base, move to race-specific work, then taper before the race.

General preparation
Weeks 1–2 · 2 wk
Base
Weeks 3–5 · 3 wk
Build
Weeks 6–7 · 2 wk
Specific
Weeks 8–10 · 3 wk
Taper
Weeks 11–12 · 2 wk
Race week
Weeks 13–13 · 1 wk

Volume progression

Week by week: lighter recovery weeks are built in to absorb the load.

Wk	Phase	Hours	km
1	General preparation	2.8 h	28
2	General preparation	3 h	30
3	Baserecovery	2.4 h	23
4	Base	3.3 h	33
5	Base	3.6 h	36
6	Build	3.8 h	40
7	Buildrecovery	3 h	30
8	Specific	4.2 h	42
9	Specific	4.5 h	45
10	Specific	4.9 h	49
11	Taper	3.5 h	34
12	Taper	2.7 h	26
13	Race week	2.3 h	22

Sample week — week 8 (Specific)

Real sessions from the plan with their targets. Each session is detailed step by step, and can be sent to a Garmin or COROS watch.

MondayEasy
51 min easy
51 min · 8.2 km
TuesdayVery hard
6 × 800 m at MAS
2 min jog recovery
57 min · 10.8 km
WednesdayEasy
51 min easy
51 min · 8.2 km
SundayModerate
Long run 1 h 31
last 11 min at marathon pace
1 h 31 · 15.1 km

Example generated for a intermediate-level profile (MAS 15 km/h, 4 days available per week). Your plan will depend on your level, availability and feedback.

This plan’s check-up

Pass

A 13-week build (recommended minimum: 8); a longest run never more than 10% above the previous month’s; volume rising at most 11% from one week to the next; 90% of the time at easy effort; the longest session 3 weeks before the race; a taper cutting volume by 53% in race week.

2 worth knowing · 16 checks passed

Remarks

Strength training — No strength session.
Fueling — Long sessions (up to 105 min in this plan) are where race fueling is rehearsed.

The 16 checks passed, in detail

Length of the build — 13 weeks: enough for this race (recommended minimum: 8).
Sessions per week — 4 sessions a week: the minimum for this race is met.
Volume progression — Running volume rises at most 11% from one week to the next (a signal appears beyond 20%).
Long run increase — Each week, the longest run is at most 10% longer than the longest of the previous month (benchmark: 10%).
Lighter weeks — A lighter week comes back regularly (weeks 3, 7, 11).
Weight of the long run — The long run keeps a reasonable share of the week.
Intensity distribution — About 90% of the time at easy effort: the most common distribution among trained endurance athletes.
Demanding sessions — No more than 2 demanding session(s) a week: suited to the level.
Hard days back to back — Demanding sessions are separated by easy days.
Rest days — At least one rest day a week.
Easy run pace — Easy runs are truly easy (slower than 5:43/km).
Race-specific work — 7 race-specific sessions in the last block.
Timing of the longest session — The longest session falls 3 weeks before the race: the right time.
Taper — Volume drops 53% in race week.
Intensity during the taper — Short race-pace efforts remain in the last two weeks.
Frequency during the taper — The number of sessions stays close to usual (100%).

Endu runs its own plans through the plan check open to everyone: same public rules, same thresholds, same sources. The rules and their sources, and a check of your own plan.

Why this plan works

Science-based periodisation

Base → build → specific → taper, with a recovery week every 3 to 4 weeks. Load goes up, but never two hard weeks in a row without a breather.

Paces, not vague feelings

Every session has target zones (pace, HR) computed from your MAS or a reference performance. A MAS test is built into the plan if you don't know yours.

A plan that listens

After each session you rate how it felt (RPE). Too hard? The plan eases what follows. Skipped a session? It reschedules or absorbs it.

On your watch

On Garmin with the Endu app, on COROS by direct sync: the guided workout shows up on your wrist, step by step.

Reviews

What our users say.

4.8/5

“I used to spend more time looking for a plan than following one. Now I have my sessions, I know what to do and I stick to it. Really glad I tried it.”
Thomas · Running
“Training for my first half marathon and honestly, I’m getting into it! I even look at my next sessions ahead of time, when before I was mostly looking for an excuse not to go out 😂”
Camille · Running
“Simple to follow and really handy with the watch. I start my session and off I go.”
Julien · Running
“I took Endu to prepare a trail race with friends. I really like having my week already organised: it motivates me and I enjoy my runs more.”
Émilie · Trail
“What I like is no longer asking myself a thousand questions before going for a run. I follow the plan and I enjoy training.”
Nicolas · Trail
“With work and the kids, I thought I’d struggle to follow a plan. In the end, having a structure helps me a lot. Running has found a real place in my week again, and it feels good!”
Julie · Trail
“A good find to prepare my swimrun! It’s nice to find a plan for this sport. I’ve recommended it to my teammate.”
Antoine · Swimrun
“I run more regularly and, above all, with more desire. For that alone, I’m delighted.”
Laura · Swimrun
“For triathlon, having all three sports in the same schedule really makes my life easier. I spend less time organising my training and I still enjoy following it just as much.”
Maxime · Triathlon
“At first I just wanted to try it. Now checking the next day’s session has become my little evening ritual 😊”
Sarah · Triathlon

Your plan, not a template athlete's

This plan is generated for an athlete at intermediate level with 4 days available per week. Yours will be calibrated on your MAS, your available days and your feedback after every session. 3 minutes. 14-day trial, cancel anytime.

Create my plan for Semi-Marathon de Montpellier