Author Archives: Doug Mayer

It’s that time of year… we’re itching to be trail running in the Alps! Thanks to a relatively low snow year and recent warm temperatures, trail running season is coming early to the Alps. From Chamonix, France, to Grindelwald, Switzerland, our guides and ambassadors have already been out and about. Before we get really busy

Trail running in the Alps is growing—and fast. Every month seems to bring new races and events, from trail running festivals to winter, night trail races. Now, a group of Zurich-based ultra runners have bonded together to form a new organization, Swiss Ultra Trail. What’s their mission—and what do they see for the future of trail

In less than a decade, Trail Verbier St-Bernard has become known as a true trail runner’s race. It makes sense, since it was both inspired and designed by trail runners. And, “TVSB,” as it’s known, passes through one of the most beautiful regions in all of the Alps—the Valais Alps, on the Swiss border with

In the Alps, trail running is booming. And nowhere is that truer than the Jungfrau region of the Swiss Alps. It makes sense, because for trail runners, this is a Nirvana of sorts, with flowy single tracks, glacier covered peaks, and even the occasional cow ready to lick the sweat off your arms! The centerpiece

Trail racing… with your dog? In the Alps, it’s called Canicross, and it’s gaining popularity around Europe and, more recently, in the United States as well. This past fall, Run the Alps friend Natalie White, a British and English fell running champion, competed in a Canicross event in Lyon, France. That was followed by another event in the

Here’s a fact about the trail running scene in the Alps: Everyone knows JeePee. Which makes sense, because you won’t meet a more enthusiastic, friendly or energetic trail runner, anywhere. JeePee Lüthi, 51, from the pre-Alp village of Leysin, Switzerland, is a force of nature. He’s been trail running for close to three decades. And not

For my fifth birthday, my mom baked a cake with mocha frosting. My favorite. Ready one day early on November 18th, I remember seeing it under the plastic wrap in the fridge. That evening, I snuck down the steep staircase from my bedroom on the second floor and ate the frosting scraps on the plate.

Joe Gray is one of the strongest mountain runners in the world today. He’s been named US Mountain Runner of the Year no fewer than seven times. Last fall, he won the 12.7-km World Championships race in Bulgaria, leading the US team to their first gold medal win, ever. He didn’t squeak out the victory, either.

This coming summer, Run the Alps is pleased to partner with Run Wild Retreats + Wellness. Run Wild Retreats + Wellness offers premier trail running and wellness retreats in the world’s best trail running destinations. The company has a unique approach, inspired by its founder, Elinor Fish. A writer, speaker and educator, Elinor has made

Run the Alps is pleased to be partnering with Run Wild Retreats + Wellness this year, for an upcoming women’s trail running retreat in the Swiss Alps from July 10–16, 2017. The host, coach, and educator will be someone “just slightly” known to the ultra-running community: trail runner Krissy Moehl. In fact, it’s hard to