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Trail Running in the French Alps

Trail Running in the French Alps

A Brit Lost in the Mountains of France

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  • Race Report: Ultra Trail du Vercors 2019

    It’s strange how things sometimes have a circular feel to them. On Saturday 7th September I found myself lined up at 5am in Lans-en-Vercors, back where it all started, and where fingers-crossed

  • Race Report: Grenoble-Vizille 22km

    Taking a break from the trail with a road race from Grenoble to the historic Château Vizille

  • Race Report: FestiTrail d’Autrans

    Fun and muddy run around this Vercors mountain town was a great end to the 2018 season.

  • Race Report: UTMB Traces des Ducs de Savoie (TDS) 2018

    Read my race report on the 2018 TDS from Courmayeur to Chamonix.
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Latest Posts

Race Report: Ultra Trail du Vercors 2019

September 29, 2019 Leave a comment

Race Report: Grenoble-Vizille 22km

April 14, 2019 Leave a comment

Race Report: FestiTrail d’Autrans

December 28, 2018 One comment

Race Report: UTMB Traces des Ducs de Savoie (TDS) 2018

September 2, 2018 Leave a comment

Race Report: Jurassic Coast 100 Miler

June 8, 2018 Leave a comment

Race Report: UTMB: CCC 2017

September 17, 2017 One comment

Race Report: Montée d’Oule/La Bombarde

April 24, 2017 Leave a comment

Race Report: Ultra Trail de la Motte Chalancon 2016 – 86km

August 16, 2016 Leave a comment

Race Report: Trail des Cimes du Buëch 2016 – 42km

May 25, 2016 Leave a comment

Gear Review: Brooks Cascadia 11

March 29, 2016 Leave a comment

Race Report: Bayard Snow Trail 2016

February 25, 2016 Leave a comment

Problems with Brooks Cascadia 10s?

December 16, 2015 One comment

@chamoisbotherer on Instagram

chamoisbotherer
Only 7 weeks until the #utmb so the next few weeks Only 7 weeks until the #utmb so the next few weeks will be the last chance to get some long training runs in. This weekend I put in a 10 hour run around the Vercors, discovering some new trails in the process (and getting lost a few times). #vercorsphotos #igersvercors #visitlafrance #mountains #frenchalps #mountainlovers #alps #runsteepgethigh #stravarun #roadToUTMB #fromwhereirun #instarunners #inspirationvercors #igersgrenoble #igersfrance #villarddelans_correncon
Early morning Saturday run with @cap_vercors among Early morning Saturday run with @cap_vercors among the chamois and Marmottes before the weather got crazy for the rest of the weekend. #vercorsphotos #igersvercors #igersfrance #igersgrenoble #mountainlovers #lovewhereyoulive #alpes #vercorstourisme #runsteepgethigh #stravarun #run #trailrunning
Finally after 16 months - running in the mountains Finally after 16 months - running in the mountains while wearing a race number. Organised events are back on and yesterday I ran the 46km Trail du Moucherotte as part of the @multisportsfestivalduvercors. A ridiculously hot day meant my sub 7 hour target went out the window and was lucky to finish as heat stroke and dehydration made for a painful final 15km. Us Brits aren't made for these temperatures. The whole race was on local trails and for about 90% of the course I could see my house on the other side of the valley knowing there was easy access to shower, comfortable reclining chairs in the garden and cold beers in the fridge! #vercorsphotos #igersvercors #igersfrance #igersgrenoble #mountainlovers #lovewhereyoulive #runsteepgethigh #traildumoucherotte #trailrunning #mountains #vercorstourisme #vercors
Summer in the Vercors #vercorsphotos #igersvercor Summer in the Vercors #vercorsphotos #igersvercors #igersfrance #igersgrenoble #vercorstourisme #inspirationvercors #mountainlovers #frenchalps #visitlafrance #iserephotographie #summer #mountains #alpes #montagnes
Beautiful Sunday afternoon in the Vercors. #verco Beautiful Sunday afternoon in the Vercors. #vercorsphotos #igersvercors #igersfrance #igersgrenoble #mountainlovers #lovewhereyoulive #alpes #vercorstourisme #runsteepgethigh #stravarun #run #trailrunning #vercorsphotos #trailporn #outsideisfree #freshairclub #frenchalps #courseapied #montagnes
The ski lifts of France have been idle all winter The ski lifts of France have been idle all winter due to the Covid pandemic but Villard will start running the cable car up to 2000m next Friday for the summer season. Today everything had to be powered by my legs and peanut butter wraps to get up here on my training run. #visitlafrance #mountains #frenchalps #mountainlovers #alps #villarddelans_correncon #skilift #trailrunning #trainingrun #runsteepgethigh #outdoorlife #outsideisfree #inspirationvercors #igersgrenoble #vercorstourisme #instarunners #vercorsphotos
Post-work run around the block. #vercorsphotos #i Post-work run around the block. #vercorsphotos #igersvercors #visitlafrance #mountains #frenchalps #mountainlovers #alps #naturephotography #runsteepgethigh #stravarun #igersgrenoble #vercorstourisme #inspirationvercors #freshairclub #outsideisfree
Lans-en-Vercors waking up this morning in the mist Lans-en-Vercors waking up this morning in the mist, with the mountains of the Vercors in the background. #vercorsphotos #igersvercors #igersfrance #igersgrenoble #mountainlovers #lovewhereyoulive #alpes #vercorstourisme #cloudlovers #mistymorning #inspirationvercors #montagnes #nuages
Evening run up to the plateau de Molière and thro Evening run up to the plateau de Molière and through the Pas de l'Ours. #vercorsphotos #igersvercors #igersfrance #igersgrenoble #vercorstourisme #inspirationvercors #mountainlovers #runsteepgethigh #frenchalps #fromwhereirun #freshairclub #spring #frenchalps #stravarun #trailrunning #running #feetintheclouds #vercorsphotos
Enjoying a run along the rocky, technical trail be Enjoying a run along the rocky, technical trail between Col de l'Arc and Col Vert. Super windy conditions but mostly snow free apart from a few gullies that can be crossed with care. Saw mother and baby Chamois putting my trail handling skills into perspective. #runsteepgethigh #trailrun #vercorstourisme #vercors #fromwhereirun #frenchalps #training #igersvercors #igersfrance #igersgrenoble #mountainlovers #lovewhereyoulive #roadToUTMB #inspirationvercors #vercorsphotos #instarunners #iseretourisme
The ski jump at Autrans has seen better days (was The ski jump at Autrans has seen better days (was used in the 1968 Winter Olympics) but is still a great view from the top. Apparently this was just the 'normal' hill event, with the Large hill event across at St Nizier. This was taken Saturday morning during an enjoyable club run with @cap_vercors, but this was also the site of my 'induction' into ultra running 10 years ago during my first ever 80km+ race. I still remember sitting up here at the top after having climbed all those steps in the searing heat, trying to force down disgusting energy gel and not be sick at the same time and wondering why anyone would do this. I abandoned that race after 60km but learned a lot and have since finished it two more times. I didn't know at the time that I would end up living here and scenery like this would be my 'back yard' running trails. #skijumping #runsteepgethigh #vercors #mountains #frenchalps #mountainlovers #alps #igersvercors #igersgrenoble #igersfrance #trail #running #roadToUTMB
Out on a morning run with our club keeping a respo Out on a morning run with our club keeping a responsible social distance between groups of six. Last night's snow soon melted and the mist lifted revealing a magical backdrop between Autrans and Méaudre. #trailrunning #running #feetintheclouds #vercorsphotos #inspirationvercors #igersvercors #igersfrance #igersgrenoble #vercorstourisme #inspirationvercors #mountainlovers #runsteepgethigh #frenchalps #igersvercors #fromwhereirun #roadToUTMB #snow #trail
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About me

Originally from Yorkshire, I discovered running late in life, but after moving to the Vercors in the French Alps over 7 years ago, I decided my experiences in the mountains were too amazing not to share with like minded runners.

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