Runners doing the 100 miles race from Font Romeu to the sea were passing through Vernet in the late afternoon. The Grande Traversée started in the village. That is only 112 kms and 5500 metres of ascent rather than the 160 kms and 800 metres of ascent of the longer run. From Vernet les Bains, the idea is to reach the sea. After an initial steep climb in the foothills of Mont Canigou, the competitors reach the Cortalets refuge at 2100 meters. Then, leaving the Conflent, they enter the picturesque region of Vallespir before joining the Alberes, a beautiful mountain range that descends down to the Mediterranean.