When is the Diagonale des Fous 2027?

The date has not been announced yet. The 2026 edition started on Thursday 15 October at 10 pm from Ravine Blanche, in Saint-Pierre, during the Grand Raid held from 15 to 18 October; the finish closed on Sunday 18 October at 4 pm.

How do you enter the Diagonale des Fous?

By lottery for French residents: in 2026, pre-registration ran from 20 January to 6 March and the draw took place on 18 March, with double chances for those not drawn the previous year for the same race. Non-resident foreigners registered without a lottery, from 15 January, and all-inclusive packages were sold by the partner travel agency. The 2027 calendar has not been published yet.

How many points do you need for the Diagonale des Fous?

Two finished trail races worth at least 85 points each, between 1 January 2025 and 31 July 2026 for the 2026 edition. These are not ITRA points: 1 km is worth 1 point and 100 m of climbing is worth 1 point, so a 60 km trail with 2,500 m of climbing is worth 85 points. Only single-stage, ranked running races count, and you cannot add several races together.

What are the Diagonale des Fous cut-offs?

The time limit is 66 hours. In 2026, checkpoints closed on Friday at 1 pm at Mare à Boue (km 56), on Saturday at 1 am at Hell-Bourg (km 81), 11:30 am at Grand Place (km 108) and 8:30 pm at the Maïdo (km 124), then on Sunday at 12:15 am at Îlet Savannah (km 141), 6:30 am at La Possession (km 155), 1:30 pm at Le Colorado (km 174) and 4 pm at the finish, among others. You must leave each checkpoint before it closes.

No. The Grand Raid rules ban poles, and using them costs a one-hour penalty.

Diagonale des Fous (La Réunion): how many weeks of preparation?

For an athlete at intermediate level, Endu builds a 25-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 5 sessions per week. You choose 5 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?

Not as a first long race: if you declare a beginner level, Endu flags it. Aim for a shorter race of the same kind first; Endu builds that preparation too.

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.

Diagonale des Fous (La Réunion) 2027: date, course and training plan

180 km · 10,200 m D+La Réunion2027 edition: date not announced yet

The Diagonale des Fous is the flagship race of the Grand Raid de La Réunion: it crosses the island from south to north, from Saint-Pierre to Saint-Denis, through the uplands, the Salazie cirque and the Mafate cirque. In 2026 it covered 180 km and 10,200 m of climbing, starting on Thursday 15 October at 10 pm, with 66 hours to finish. The 2027 date has not been announced yet.

A demanding distance: it is wiser to have finished a shorter race of the same kind first.

Your plan for Diagonale des Fous (La Réunion)

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

Your level?

14-day trial, cancel anytime.

Diagonale des Fous (La Réunion) at a glance

Date: 2027 edition: date not announced yet2026 edition: 15 October 2026
Formats: La Diagonale des FousPlan below — 180 km and 10,200 m of climbing in 2026 (180.8 km in the official course description). Start at Ravine Blanche, in Saint-Pierre, on Thursday 15 October 2026 at 10 pm; finish at the Stade de la Redoute, in Saint-Denis. Time limit: 66 hours, meaning a finish by 4 pm on Sunday at the latest. Two life bases, at Hell-Bourg and Îlet Savannah. Poles are banned. 3,000 runners maximum. €260 in 2026.
Les autres courses du Grand Raid — The Trail de Bourbon (106 km, 6,200 m of climbing, €190), the Mascareignes (74 km, 3,800 m, €160), the Métis Trail (51 km, 2,500 m, €130) and the Zembrocal Trail, a 160 km relay for teams of four with 8,460 m of climbing (€390 per team). 2026 prices.
Registration: Registration for 2027 has not been announced yet. In 2026, the 3,000 Diagonale places were split as follows: 1,250 for residents of Réunion, by lottery; 1,250 for residents of mainland France and the overseas territories, 300 of them by lottery and 950 through all-inclusive packages sold by the partner travel agency; 250 for non-resident foreigners, with no lottery; 250 for partners. Pre-registration ran from 20 January to 6 March 2026, with the fee paid upfront and refunded to those not drawn; the lottery took place on 18 March. You must be 20 or over on race day and have finished two trail races worth at least 85 points each within the period set by the organisers. The bib is only issued once the medical certificate on the organisers’ form and the PPS have been uploaded, before 31 August. 2026 price: €260.
Official website: grandraid-reunion.com/fr/les-courses/la-diagonale-des-fous

The 2026 course

Start at Ravine Blanche, in Saint-Pierre, at sea level. The course climbs through the cane fields and Mont-Vert to the Domaine Vidot (km 14), then to Notre-Dame-de-la-Paix (km 33, 1,686 m), crosses the Volcano road to the Nez de Bœuf (km 45, 2,023 m) and drops back to Mare à Boue (km 56). A long, often muddy climb leads to the Coteau Kerveguen and the trail junction below the Piton des Neiges, the race’s high point at 2,475 m (km 68), without going down to Cilaos. Next comes a very technical descent to the Bélouve lodge and the first life base, Hell-Bourg, in the Salazie cirque (km 81). Climb to the Plaine des Merles (km 94, 1,808 m), into Mafate via the Sentier Scout, then La Plaque, Îlet à Bourse, Grand Place (km 108), Roche Plate and the hard climb from La Brèche to the Maïdo (km 124, 1,950 m). A long descent to the second life base, Îlet Savannah (km 141), then the Chemin Ratinaud, the Kalla trail, La Possession (km 155), the Chemin des Anglais to La Grande Chaloupe (km 165), Le Colorado (km 174) and the finish at the Stade de la Redoute, in Saint-Denis, after 180.8 km and 10,191 m of climbing.

What the race asks of your training

Over 10,000 m of climbing without poles

The 2026 course starts at sea level and climbs to 2,475 m, below the Piton des Neiges, by km 68. Poles are banned, with a one-hour penalty: your legs do all the work. Long climbs at a brisk hike, hands on thighs, stairs and strength work prepare you for this climbing better than short intervals.

Very technical descents

The official description warns of a long, very technical descent to the Bélouve lodge, the exposed section of the Sentier Scout, protected by a cable, then the descent from the Maïdo to Îlet Savannah, from 1,950 m down to 133 m in 17 km. Practise descending on steep, rocky trails on tired legs, at the end of long runs.

One or two nights out

Start at 10 pm on Thursday, finishes allowed until 4 pm on Sunday: most runners spend at least one night on the course, often two. Big weekends, with two back-to-back long runs, one of them at night, teach you to run tired, to keep eating for hours and to manage short sleep breaks.

From lowland heat to summit cold

The race goes from warm cane fields and coastline to trails above 2,000 m that are cold and damp at night: the rules require a long-sleeved warm layer, a waterproof jacket with taped seams and at least 1.5 litres of water. For a mid-October race, the build-up happens over the summer: use the heat to learn to drink regularly, and test in training what you will eat in the race.

The plan below prepares the La Diagonale des Fous format, for an athlete at intermediate level with 5 days available per week. Until the official date is out, the example is set for October 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: 25
sessions: 109
sessions / week: 5
peak week: 14 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 3–10 · 8 wk
Build
Weeks 11–16 · 6 wk
Specific
Weeks 17–22 · 6 wk
Taper
Weeks 23–24 · 2 wk
Race week
Weeks 25–25 · 1 wk

Volume progression

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

Wk	Phase	Hours	km	Elev.
1	General preparation	7 h	47	1,359 m
2	General preparation	7.3 h	49	1,550 m
3	Baserecovery	6.2 h	44	1,063 m
4	Base	7.8 h	51	1,784 m
5	Base	8 h	52	1,853 m
6	Base	8.3 h	54	1,944 m
7	Baserecovery	6.9 h	47	1,301 m
8	Base	8.5 h	55	2,073 m
9	Base	9.1 h	59	2,237 m
10	Base	9.5 h	61	2,351 m
11	Buildrecovery	7.5 h	50	1,479 m
12	Build	9.5 h	60	2,400 m
13	Build	10.3 h	63	2,563 m
14	Build	10.8 h	67	2,786 m
15	Buildrecovery	8.4 h	55	1,919 m
16	Build	10.8 h	66	2,768 m
17	Specific	11.8 h	72	3,112 m
18	Specific	12.3 h	76	3,057 m
19	Specificrecovery	9.6 h	62	2,142 m
20	Specific	12.3 h	74	3,303 m
21	Specific	13.4 h	84	3,240 m
22	Specific	14 h	86	3,726 m
23	Taper	9.2 h	60	2,213 m
24	Taper	4.9 h	35	695 m
25	Race week	3 h	25	115 m

Sample week — week 14 (Build)

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.

TuesdayModerate
3 × (8 min climb + 4 min descent)
51 min · 6 km
WednesdayEasy
49 min easy
49 min · 5.7 km
FridayEasy
49 min easy
49 min · 5.7 km
SaturdayEasy
Back-to-back long run
2 h 39 · 16 km
SundayEasy
Long run 5 h 41
5 h 41 · 34 km

Example generated for a intermediate-level profile (MAS 15 km/h, 5 days available per week). Your plan will depend on your level, availability and feedback.

This plan’s check-up

Pass

A 25-week build (recommended minimum: 20); a longest run never more than 10% above the previous month’s; volume rising at most 9% from one week to the next; 94% of the time at easy effort; the longest session 3 weeks before the race; a taper cutting volume by 79% in race week.

2 worth knowing · 16 checks passed

Remarks

Strength training — No strength session.
Fueling — Long sessions (up to 420 min in this plan) are where race fueling is rehearsed.

The 16 checks passed, in detail

Length of the build — 25 weeks: enough for this race (recommended minimum: 20).
Sessions per week — 5 sessions a week: the minimum for this race is met.
Volume progression — Running volume rises at most 9% 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, 15, 19, 23).
Intensity distribution — About 94% 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.
Climbing in training — The plan prepares the climbs and descents (37 sessions with elevation).
Timing of the longest session — The longest session falls 3 weeks before the race: the right time.
Taper — Volume drops 79% 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 (84%).
Climbing in the busiest week — The busiest week climbs 3726 m, for 10200 m on race day.
Back-to-back long runs — The plan has back-to-back long runs (9 weekends).

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.

Elevation as the central variable

Weekly climbing volume, long hilly runs, downhill technique and power-hiking for ultras: a trail plan is not a road plan with bumps.

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 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
“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
“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 5 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 Diagonale des Fous (La Réunion)