Skip to content
Trail Running in the French Alps

Trail Running in the French Alps

A Brit Lost in the Mountains of France

  • Home
  • 2019 Goals and Training Plan
  • Race Reports
  • Running Routes
  • Other Running Blogs

  • 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.
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

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
Sunday morning run taking in the Cornafion, Rocher Sunday morning run taking in the Cornafion, Rocher de l'Ours, Balcon Est and and Col de l'Arc with Franck, Leo and Marie from @cap_vercors. Autumn is making these mountains look truly amazing at the moment and these pictures don't even remotely do them justice. -3° at the start in the shade, brutal climb up to the Cornafion warmed us up nicely then t-shirt weather in the sun running along the peaks. #vercorsphotos #igersvercors #igersfrance #igersgrenoble #mountainlovers #lovewhereyoulive #alpes #vercorstourisme #runsteepgethigh #stravarun #run #trailrunning #igersgrenoble_automne2021 #outdoorlife #outsideisfree #iserephotographie #alpesishere
Evening hike up to the Col Vert. #vercorsphotos # Evening hike up to the Col Vert. #vercorsphotos #igersvercors #igersfrance #igersfrance #igersgrenoble #mountainlovers #lovewhereyoulive #alpes #auvergnerhonealpes #autumn #goldenhourphotography #sunset #coucherdesoleil
Autumn is properly getting underway in the mountai Autumn is properly getting underway in the mountains. Gorges du Furon photographed from Bec de l'Aigle.
After work run up to the Pas de Bellecombe. #verc After work run up to the Pas de Bellecombe. #vercorsphotos #igersvercors #igersfrance #igersgrenoble #mountainlovers #lovewhereyoulive #alpes #runsteepgethigh #vercors #trailrunning #mountains #frenchalps #skylovers #clouds #sunset #inspirationvercors
Back where the French adventure started. #mountain Back where the French adventure started. #mountainlovers #alps #naturephotography #greatoutdoors #frenchalps #like26 #lajarjatte #drôme #igersdiois #visitlafrance
The mornings arw getting misty and autumnal now. The mornings arw getting misty and autumnal now.
East Yorkshire Power. #bigsky #yorkshire #windpow East Yorkshire Power. #bigsky #yorkshire #windpower #flatlands #skylovers #eastridingofyorkshire #sealevelrunning
Opening up the course, checking the markings and s Opening up the course, checking the markings and signage ahead of the runners on this year's #ultratrailduvercors organised by @cap_vercors.
On paper the undulating section between Refugio Be On paper the undulating section between Refugio Bertone (86km) and Arnouvaz (99km) seemed to be one of the easier sections of the UTMB, a chance to gently get back into the race with some stunning scenery and afternoon running after a big rest stop in Courmayeur. It turned out to be my worst section and was when everything started to hurt. Running on the flat was difficult and I was concerned that a niggle in my right knee, which arrived on the sharp descent into Courmayeur a couple of hours previously, was going to turn into a race-ending problem with nearly 90km still to go. After this 12km section we faced an 800m climb up to Col Ferret and the Swiss border in 100km wind. However as soon as I set foot on Swiss soil at the summit, my body had decided it could run again. Not only that, I felt amazing and ran the following 30km downhill to Champex-Lac passing dozens of runners in the process. I decided to keep going, not sure how long it would last and found that bizarrely that despite some sleep deprivation on the second morning, I felt fantastic right through to the finish. I never cease to be amazed by the ability of mind and body to turn it around on a long run. Highs and lows are a huge part of ultra marathons and learning how to ride them out is one of the most valuable lessons I've learned over the years.
The first night of the UTMB starts to fall and hea The first night of the UTMB starts to fall and head torches come on as we climb the brutal 2500m Col de la Seigne that passes from France to Italy. We're all still in shorts since we've been working hard since being in the warm valley hours earlier but at that altitude the temperature got down to freezing over night, and the football sized rocks that covered the descent were coated in a sheen of ice making the run down into Italy treacherous and slow going.
The last 100m towards the UTMB finish line after 4 The last 100m towards the UTMB finish line after 42 hours on the trail.
Tête aux Vents, one of the last couple of UTMB ra Tête aux Vents, one of the last couple of UTMB race checkpoints before the final descent to the finish line in Chamonix.
Load More... Follow on Instagram

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.

Posts by tag

360° airport albertville annecy budapest buëch challenge trails 05 chamonix city courmayeur cycling dog etape featured france grand ferrand haute-alpes london madrid marathon mougious paris photos photosynth pic de l'aigle product review race road routes running snow spain spring summer tour de france trail uk ultra ultramarathon utmb vercors veynes video winter yaktrax

Follow me on Twitter

Tweets by @jchaffey
Powered by WordPress and Courage.