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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
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.
First sunrise of the UTMB after just crossing into First sunrise of the UTMB after just crossing into Italy.
After 5 years of training and qualifying races I l After 5 years of training and qualifying races I lined up under that famous arch in Chamonix for the UTMB - 171km and 10,000 vertical metres through France, Italy, Switzerland and back. The weather was perfect, with sunny days but not too hot, and cold nights getting down to freezing but staying dry. The race starts on the Friday evening ensuring even the elite athletes run through a whole night, but for us mortals that means two consecutive sunsets and sunrises which adds a huge psychological element to the already significant physical one. Despite Covid-19 measures, the atmosphere at the start line was phenomenal and the French supporters lined the roads for miles out of Chamonix. Up into the mountains and the night and groups of supporters were up there too, jumping up and down waving cowbells and the first 30km felt effortless, carried away on a wave of excitement. I managed to hold enough back though and despite flagging after the halfway stop in Courmayeur, I managed to make up 400 places in the second half, inexplicably feeling amazing on Sunday morning after 38 hours and 155km of running. The last few hours above Chamonix along la Tête aux Vents were phenomenal and the running felt easy all the way down to the finish line. So happy to finish that way rather than hobbling over feeling broken. My goal was simply to finish the race (about 800 people didn't) but 42 hours was the target I had in the back of my mind so was happy with 42h37. A huge thanks to @amyfox100 for crewing me throughout. Driving to obscure Swiss villages at 4am and force feeding me pasta was much appreciated as was the motivational Spotify play list made for me that powered me through the later stages. Most of all, putting up with years of smaller races to get the qualifying points, the weekends where I've disappeared for hours on end for long training runs and the moaning about injuries and niggles. #chamonix #utmb #ultramarathon #100miles #runsteepgethigh #frenchalps #running #ultrarunning #lifegoals
Ridgeline run along the Crête des Crocs, still di Ridgeline run along the Crête des Crocs, still discovering new routes after living here two years. That's it now - just a couple of leg-stretchers planned before attempting 170km around France, Italy and Switzerland in Friday's UTMB. #frenchalps #igersvercors #fromwhereirun #roadToUTMB #igersgrenoble #mountainlovers #lovewhereyoulive #alpes #runsteepgethigh #vercors #trailrunning #mountains
Beach running at #spurnpoint #run #beach #cloudlo Beach running at #spurnpoint #run #beach #cloudlovers #skylovers #yorkshire #naturereserve
Hay there! #alps #naturephotography #greatoutdoors Hay there! #alps #naturephotography #greatoutdoors #montagnes #visitlafrance #frenchalps #vercorsphotos #igersvercors #igersfrance #igersgrenoble
Lac de la Grande Moucherolle #hike #mountainlovers Lac de la Grande Moucherolle #hike #mountainlovers #alpine #frenchalps
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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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