Race information

• What? Chamonix Training Run - Town to La Flégère
• When? December 13, 2016.
• How far? 8.5 miles

Goals

Race/Run

4:00am - The Throne Room from Star Wars starts soft, but grows louder. It’s time to take on the last day in Chamonix.

We have been here for three days and today is the last chance to get into the mountains before we head for a train tour of Switzerland. Our job was to scout trails and the town for our camp we are running in Chamonix in July. The town is incredible and I cannot wait to bring a bunch of runners here to play in the mountains for a week.

Turn on the electric kettle. Warm up with a cup of tea. Temps are around 20F - not too chilly, but certainly not warm. Breakfast of champions is served, Nutella and croissants.

Eat all the food and drink my tea and grab my gear to head out. I fail at not waking up my 8 m/o son. My ever loving wife comes out and grabs him for some snugs. I’m free and clear to head out. Not to mention it's our two year anniversary.

Today’s route was a bit of an unknown. Thanks to the AllTrails app - I’m able to download detailed maps of the region and then with the phone on airplane mode - I’ve got a built in guide. Plus, the trails are so incredibly well marked., it's really hard to get lost.

The morning's plan was to head through town for about 1 km, then shoot up to Petit Balcon Sud - which would take me parallel to town, then start the climb up to La Flégère. I'd then figure out if I wanted to go on to the lake or not.

I stepped out the door. Beep - chimed the TomTom. Time to go.

I run through the main square in Chamonix and head onto the road - winding back through town, watching the ice shine in the moonlight. Trying to not fall on my ass. I am successful.

Trails in Chamonix are incredibly well marked. The trick is finding the trailhead. AllTrails is spot on, and it helped that yesterday, Jess, West and I walked Petit Balcon Sud back to town from our afternoon hike.

The trail takes an immediate rise up out of town, and climbs steadily for 1.5 miles. I already know from my first two days in town that my climbing legs are nonexistent. Day two, I ran a 3,000 ft climb up toward Planpraz, which is directly behind the town. It was a real quad killer. Day three was a long hike/climb with my wife and son. I had him on my back, and we tried to hike to see the glacier. We were denied by trail closures twice, so instead we cut across town and headed toward La Flégère, this morning’s destination.

My headlamp casts a faint glow on the Petit Balcon Sud. I prefer the dimmest setting out of the two options. My eyes adjust well to the trail, and the spotlight harsh glow gives me a headache. Jumping over roots, winding along. It’s a really enjoyable trail.

I come to a fork and the map directs me left. It’s a different area than yesterday, but I know it will link up top. The real climb begins.

I always carry my poles in the mountains. Moreso for safety than for everyday use. I have a terrible right ankle which likes to give out now and again. The poles have saved me on numerous occasions. Today, I get out my wuss sticks and start with a steady rhythm.

The lights from Chamonix grow fainter as I head up and up. About a mile into the main climb, I see what looks like a sketchy house, sided with corrugated metal. Convinced I’m going to be mugged by crazy French mountain men, I tip toe by, and realize it’s a refuge that is closed up for the winter. I look around, and I’m not even sure if it’s open at all.

I head on, left, right, left, right - settling into a rhythm.

I hear it before I see it. 50 feet away, Two green eyes, staring me down as I turn a corner. I stop. It stops.

It then jumps off the trail and down the mountainside. Phew. My heart is still racing a bit, but I push on.

A quarter mile up the trail, I come to a rock clearing. The trees open up. As I pick my way across I hear a LOUD squeal and squeak right next to me. It has to be within 20 feet.

At this point I realize a failure of my ways. Having ran in Rocky Mountain National Park - a lot, I always am aware of the wildlife that are in the park, especially in the mornings. Mainly, bears. I realize I don’t know what lives here. And if it can eat me, or hates me, or is scared of me.

I fucking jump the air and my HR skyrockets. Flight kicks in. No fight. I sprint a few hundred yards and pop my phone off of airplane mode. Google tells me “What wildlife live in Chamonix” - Some goats, Ibex and,..

A marmot.

Yes, I got fucking scared by a marmot. A marmot is like a big woodchuck.

A marmot. This is a marmot

I laughed at myself for a good five minutes, and kept climbing. Up and up and up. Twisting through the switchbacks. The sun started to rise as I came out of the trail and to a short chairlift.

An icy road greeted me at 6,000ft and I strapped on my microspikes in my bag to finish the climb. Up the road, straight toward La Flégère.

Sitting on a bench at the base of the cable car, I took it all in.

I could see Mont Blanc off in the distance, and a bunch of the Aiguille peaks. Aiguille means needle, in French, and describes many of the pointy, straight peaks that dot that side of the mountains.

My wife and I have a habit of sitting in the mountains and just staring out. We don’t talk, we just be. It might sound crunchy, but we love the mountains. We are happy in Chamonix. Very happy.

I take the option to head back to town instead of another 2 hour climb to the lake. It’s our two year anniversary and I want to enjoy the last day in Chamonix with my wife and son. I picture them curled up, cuddled in bed, my son laughing at me when he wakes up.

I head down the icy road to the ski lift. Back down the switchbacks, past the Ibex encounter. I give the marmot a good old “Fuck you, asshole!” as I run by. Yes, I swore at a marmot I couldn’t see. I ran through the sketchy refuge, and find an amazing rhythm down the trails.

Quickly I’m on Petit Balcon Sud, taking a big descent into town.

The chill on my arms and legs reminds me I’m back in town. I take the quick 1 km town route and click off my watch.

I gloriously open the crazy French lock on the first try, pop on the kettle, down a Nutella and croissant. I shower up and enjoy the absolute delight of a warm towel on the warming rack.

Then, I hop back into bed to get the smile from my son and an anniversary kiss from my wife. The best travel partners.

A solid four days of trail scouting and work in Chamonix is done.

Strava file for those interested.