Category Archives: Uncategorized

On Keeping the Door Open

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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,

The Infectious Energy of Trail Monte Casto

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A late-season trail race in a quiet corner of the beautiful Italian Piedmont valley, well-organized and offering something for everyone. ‘Bellissimo! Forza!’ shout the hikers in encouragement as I run past, although beauty and strength seem more of an aspiration than a reality for me. The more disconcerting cries of ‘dai, dai, dai!’ (‘Come on!’),

Tot Dret’s 2017 Brutality

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At the close of this year’s guiding season, Run the Alps’ Senior Guide Simon Conroy undertook a little trail race in Italy, for a great cause (Hint: You can still lend a hand). And when we say “little,” we mean, “long, stupidly hard, with a 71% drop rate.”)  Here’s his story.  The Tot Dret, translated

Run The Alps’ Zermatt Matterhorn tour: The View from “Down Under”

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We love sharing stories of trail running in the Alps, and particularly from participants on our Run the Alps trips. Here’s one such story – courtesy of David Lipman, from Gold Coast, Australia. David joined us this summer for our guided trip, trail running in Leukerbad and Zermatt, Switzerland – including a chance to run

At Least One Inch

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Past Run the Alps client Sarah Hansel just finished the epic Tor des Geants. Her short story is one of the best we’ve seen about this year’s Tor, and we’re delighted to share it here.  It has taken me a few days to catch up on sleep and to wrap my head around all that

The Irresistible Lure of Racing the Dents du Midi

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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

Sierre-Zinal: My First, But Not My Last

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​As we look back on another great summer of trail running, Run the Alps is pleased to share this guest post about one of our favorite trail races in the Alps, Sierre-Zinal. Author Matt Flaherty is a professional runner, freelance writer, and running coach​ based in Bloomington, Indiana​. ​He’s been running ​competitively ​for most of ​his

Senior Guide Simon Conroy Takes on the Tot Dret for the Fiona Conroy Trust

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It has now been four years since the passing of my sister-in-law Fiona from a very aggressive strain of Leukemia. Although time passes on, my thoughts of Fiona and her achievements in life still move around my mind, especially when out running solo on long trails. My family endeavors to keep Fiona’s memory alive through

Courmayeur in a Nut Shell

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

Around Mont Blanc with David Laney

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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.

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