Parcourues

Parcourues is the plural form of the French noun parcour, meaning a course, path or route. The term is commonly used in both sporting and geological contexts. In physical education, parcourues refer to the series of tracks or courses laid out for running, walking or hiking events. Organisers often label these running routes as parcourues to distinguish them from stationary training exercises. The phrase also appears in cycling and triathlon competitions, where each parcours represents a distinct segment of a larger event and may be described by length, elevation gain and terrain type.

In French geographical literature, parcourues can describe natural trails in mountain or forested areas, often traced through generations of informal footpaths. Local park authorities occasionally publish guides titled parcourues, outlining recommended routes, difficulty levels and points of interest such as hydrological features or historical sites. Within environmental studies, parcourues refer to specific ecological corridors that enable wildlife movement across fragmented landscapes.

The word parcourues is also used in crossword puzzles and other word games. The plural form can appear in the clue “Marathon tracks” or “Hiking routes,” leading to the answer “parcourues.” In such contexts the term is chosen for its precise trilingual origin: the French language being the source of many modern sporting vocabularies that have entered English usage.

Overall, parcourues carries both a literal sense of a defined path in physical activity and a broader sense relating to routes within natural or cultural landscapes. The term is widely understood by outdoor sports enthusiasts, geographers, and educators alike, indicating a versatile concept that bridges sport, conservation and recreation.