More running! This time a classic route: Montenvers, Grand Balcon Nord & Plan de l’Aiguille. Nice day, some sun but not too hot. I’m prepping for my recce of the TDS route which starts Saturday & involve 3 back-to-back days of 50km / 3,000m vert 😬 The race itself is in 36 days #trailrunning

Yeah I wouldn’t fancy any part of that in the dark sans frontal. There was a bit of thunder rumbling around, definitely had one eye on the weather. My Strava map is below. You can see where my Garmin sent me right instead of left, straight to a cliff edge 😬

More terrible views today 😉 Left at 5.30pm & got the cable car straight to 2,000m to escape the heat. Did a higher altitude loop to Col Cornu & Index, had cooled down by the time I got back around 8pm #trailrunning

I’ve only done it once, the year I moved here before I’d started running. I would be quicker now but at an easy pace I doubt much less than 3hr. Racing pace less but I won’t be doing that

Out running just now & got caught in the most almighty storm. Was on a pretty exposed mountainside at 1700m, lightning ⚡️everywhere & huge thunderclaps reverberating around 😬 Luckily I was only a few minutes from a refuge; took shelter there for 30 mins until the danger passed. Soaked to the skin!

With the recent DNFs, have felt like progress was stalling / going backwards with the running lately. I went out last night on a regular route with a 15 minute push on an uphill Strava segment. Wasn’t expecting a PB, especially with a tight hammy at the end, so pleasantly surprised! #trailrunning

Lush #trailrunning

Evening trails - glorious #trailrunning

Did something similar with Freddie (600m / 7km) on the north facing side to stay out of the heat this morning

Love this part of the morning dog walk #chamonix

Absolutely gobsmacked by the winning times of the Mont-Blanc 90km. 88km & 6,200 vertical metres of rough, steep, rocky terrain. Very few “runnable” sections. Without mentioning the heatwave. Top 3 <9hr 42m 😳. Insane 🤪 The gap between elites & the rest never been wider. #trailrunning #runsky

Check out this beauty from my run on Sunday night:

Evening run, very quiet. Quite a few ibex 🥰

Today’s run; stuck behind a berger moving his (very reluctant) sheep up to higher pastures. Lots of cajoling & nudging required! #trailrunning #runsky

Sun’s back. Nice to get out for an hour #trailrunning #runsky

How was it in the end? Did the broken axel mean you had to skip some kms on the final day? Anyway, are some photos of my cat seeing as you said you like them

Not very quick. The big climb was >1,000m with some slow snow traverses at the end. Probably took 1hr20m. GAP for me at race pace would be 5:00/km on a shorter race going up to 8 or even 10m/km on a really long (100km+) event

Today’s run. You can rack up similar total elevation to here along the SWCP but it’s all in smaller climbs. Here tend to be big ups followed by big downs. Not sure which is easier. The constant up & down of the SWCP is tough on the legs

Some slightly vomit 🤢 inducing video but this view was 👌🏽

Partial recce of the 90km Mont-Blanc course. Still plenty of snow on the shady side of Tête de Balme, couple of slightly sketchy traverses. Gorgeous day, did the first section with friends & had a little family hike to the buvette at Cascade de Berard beforehand

Daughter made me a nice lunch 😋

Storm ⛈️ last night left it feeling nice & fresh this morning; perfect conditions for a loop from home to the Mer de Glace. Stunning views as always #trailrunning #runsky

Another cow moooovie 🐮 from the weekend, but with added views from the approach to Nifflon d’en Haut. Just after this section, we had a near vertical scramble upwards using hands & ropes to access the summit. #trailrunning

Interesting. I get this view from the tile then the 2nd when I click in. No heat acclimation. I looked at my run yesterday & it says the temp was 16C - which it was at 7.30 when we started… it was 29C by the end. I wonder if that’s accounted for?

Good news, I didn’t expire in the heat! Actually I did pretty well and ended up 3/36 in my category and 51/264 overall 🤩 I saw a man playing an accordion, a man blowing an enormous horn, and also got caught up in a cow stampede at one point. 13/10 - would recommend

Last long run before a race next Sunday. Stayed off the higher ground because of snow, but did a nice loop to Le Tour & back. Still cold but sunny’ish. 26km / 850m vertical. Freddie 🐶 a happy boy #trailrunning #runsky