Author Archives: Doug Mayer

Paging all trail running medical professionals! Okay, well, not that kind of paging. You probably have enough of that already. Here’s the news: Run the Alps is partnering with Tahoe Wilderness Medicine, a unique company that offers continuing education programs for health care providers and outdoor enthusiasts. For those of you in need of certified

Salomon, the largest producer of trail running gear and clothing, recently announced the “Golden Trail Series” – a new, elite-focussed trail racing series. The Golden Trail Series leverages existing events, with a goal of bringing together some of the world’s best trail runners. In Salomon’s words, the Golden Series “aims to promote professional trail runners

I’m not quite sure I’m hardcore enough for this trip. It’s the most common concern we get from prospective trip guests at Run the Alps. And it’s one that has proven universally off-base. Run the Alps trips are focused on inclusiveness, with plenty of options to accommodate a variety of ability. I understand the sentiment,

Some trail races just have it. It’s a vibe, a feeling you get from the moment you arrive. Everyone’s smiling, happy to be there. You’re meeting new friends and enjoying the atmosphere. You get the sense the volunteers have worked together for years, because they probably have. And, whatever happens on the course, you’re happy

Tim Tollefson’s pretty confident that when in Italy, if you retire without an evening gelato, it’s considered disrespectful.

Editor’s note: It’s UTMB season in Chamonix, and trail runners from around the world are converging on the town. One of them is Ashland, Oregon-based David Laney, a friend of several of us here at Run the Alps. In this post, David shares his thoughts about trail running in and around the Mont Blanc region.

I had been trail running for five hours. Well, the truth is, I hadn’t run much at all. While scoping out a route for a trail-running book project, I was supposed to be running, but rain, dense fog, and wind were conspiring to make the day challenging. Anticipating a thunderstorm for hours, I felt lucky

Sometimes, things just fall into place. That’s what happened this last month when Run the Alps’ friend Brian Tinder and fellow Flagstaff, Arizona runner Rob Krar announced they’d be taking part in the DDM Trail, one of the oldest trail races in the Alps. As a result, Run the Alps is able to offer a

Helmet required. It’s a phrase I had never seen when looking over the required gear list for a trail race. And it certainly piqued my interest. So, when the first edition of the Mont Blanc K2000 Skyrace in Courmayeur, Italy, debuted, I had to check it out. That was August 8, 2015, and it didn’t

Europeans love vertical races—and the more up, the better. Steep vertical kilometer or “VK” races are commonplace. They happen throughout the year, with trail running shoes giving way to snowshoes, climbing skins and other forms of winter traction, as grassy alpine slopes turn white in the winter months. Nowhere in the Alps do they love