GORILLA's First Trail Race

GORILLA's First Trail Race

A race to celebrate our 5th birthday 🦍🏃‍♂️

Why organise this trail as Gorilla?

2025 marks Gorilla’s 5th anniversary, as well as the 50th anniversary of Le Joint Technique, the industrial partner (our factory) that produces our laces.

We wanted to celebrate with an event that reflects who we are, but above all brings people together. At Gorilla, our DNA has always been about creating connections — with you, our customers, with athletes, with other brands… and all thanks to our laces.

So what better way to unite everything we love than a trail run?

The idea came to us in December 2024 during a team meeting, and just like that, we decided to organise our own trail: The Gorilla Race!

Organising an event alongside all our daily brand projects wasn’t easy, but we embraced the challenge!

The race was held under the Trail Running Foundation label, ensuring quality, safety, and environmental responsibility, and brought together amateur runners, seasoned athletes, and corporate teams to enjoy the spirit of trail running in the Monts du Lyonnais.

Our Project

The Gorilla Race

The Gorilla Race is an outdoor sporting event conceptualised and organised by the Gorilla team, bringing together runners, walkers, partners, and friends of the brand.

For this first edition, we offered several formats so that everyone could enjoy the experience at their own pace:

🏃 8 km Trail – accessible and energetic
🏃 17 km Trail – more challenging, for those seeking a true test

The goal: to bring together our customers, suppliers, and companies for an event that truly reflects Gorilla!

The routes were varied and technical, alternating between forest trails and village paths, giving participants a complete immersion in nature.

What really makes the Gorilla Race unique is its inclusive, community spirit. Thanks to a joëlette, a participant with a disability was able to enjoy the course, supported by enthusiastic and motivated volunteers.

The Gorilla Race also included a corporate challenge, giving teams the chance to compete in a friendly and motivating environment. It was the perfect opportunity to combine team spirit, personal challenge, and camaraderie, while sharing a memorable experience in a stunning natural setting. Over 30 teams took part.

The Big Day

On race day, the energy was electric.

Paced starts, perfect weather, cheers along the trails — and above all, a true community in motion. Runners, volunteers, and spectators all came together to create a unique atmosphere, fully in line with Gorilla’s DNA.

The team’s enthusiasm and drive were evident at every stage. Each member had a role to play, contributing to a friendly, festive atmosphere, ensuring every runner enjoyed an unforgettable experience.

Seeing so many people share this moment together was one of the most special gifts we could have hoped for on our 5th birthday.

Feedback That Exceeded Our Expectations

The response from participants went far beyond what we imagined.

Runners especially appreciated:

• The overall organisation of the event

• The quality and variety of the courses

• The friendly, welcoming atmosphere

• The Gorilla spirit felt throughout the race

A satisfaction survey was sent out to participants, showing:

• 95% of respondents would sign up again for the next edition

• 88% would recommend the race to friends and family

These results reflect the high-quality organisation, the fun and challenge of the courses, and the warm welcome given to all — runners, volunteers, and corporate challenge teams alike.

Truly, it’s the best reward we could hope for!

Our thanks to our partners

An event like the Gorilla Race relies on collaboration and trust with quality partners. We warmly thank:

• Our industrial and local partners, who have supported us from the very beginning

• The volunteers, for their energy and enthusiasm

• The technical teams, who ensured safety, logistics, and course marking

Every partnership is an opportunity to build strong, lasting connections, contributing to the success of the event and the enjoyment of all participants.

Re-Live the Race!

Want to dive back into the atmosphere of this edition? Check out our after-movie and relive the best moments of the race: La vidéo sur Youtube

Follow all the latest news, photos, and behind-the-scenes content from the event on our official Instagram: @gorilla.race.trail