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Chamonix
Trail Running Advice
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Advice
from real experts...
All of our trail running guiding
team live in the Alps, and participate in trail races
on a regular basis. Their running and guiding experiences
make them ideally positioned to advice you well, whilst
you are out in the Alps. Some of the guiding team are
sponsored for their trail running or snowshoeing. This
page is still under construction, and will be developed
over time, but all the information already here is a
great start, which is why this page is live.
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Minimum
environmental impact ...
Trail running events have traditionally
been critisised for their environmental impact, the
pollution of travelling to the event, the mountains
of drinks cups and water bottles. We run our trail running
courses with the aim of minimum environmental impact.
We carry rubbish out off the mountain every day, and
use public transport wherever possible.
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| Trail
running advice; training, equipment, diet, hydration... |
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It
is generally agreed that trail running is a lot better
on the bones joints, than road running on the flat, yet
you get all the same benefits of improved fitness, aerobic
indurance, and maybe weight loss too. |
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As
trail running is over a variety of terrain and gradients,
most trail runners do not suffer typical road running
injuries and conditions, such as shin splints and knee
problems. |
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Whilst
the benefits of trail running are clear to see, it is
essential that you have suitable footwear. Unlike road
running, where it is generally flat and on the same surface,
trail runs involve you running and jumping on all sorts
of uneven terrain, with a wide variety of surfaces underfoot
from wet grass to scree and mud. |
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You
should ensure that your trail running shoes offer you
the correct level of support as well as suitable levels
of traction, so that you don't slide about. Another factor
to consider in the choice of trail running shoe, is that
they suit your stride length. Some people lope uphill
with long strides, whereas others really shorten their
stride and run in a compact style. |
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Never
neglect the details in the clothing you select. As everyone
who has ever run in a bad pair of socks can testify, no
matter how good the shoe, the choice of socks is crucial
too. |
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Ensure
that you wear technical wicking base layers on your upper
body to protect you from the UV of the sun, to transport
moisture away from the skin, and to cover you in case
of a fall or slide. |
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Trail
running is famed for the development of lower leg (calf)
strength, as well as increasing your core strength and
balance too. The varied terrain ensures that you use your
stomach musles, ankles, feet and achilles tendons in a
variety of positions and movements, which ensures more
rounded training, and less risk of RSI style injuries
through repetative movement. |
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The
variety of movement is responsible for more holistic and
rounded muscle development, than road running, which is
useful if you undertake a variety of other sports too. |
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In
terms of diet and hydration whilst on a trail run, we
advise electrolyte laden powders that can be added to
your hydration system (bottle or bladder systems). Everyone
has their prefered energy foods, such as bananas, energy
gels, trail mix, or over Savoyard sausage. Whatever works.
The key is to stop the blood sugar level drops, and to
take on enough fluids to ensure the sugars can be broken
down too. |
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| Selection
of summer running trail routes... |
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Montenvers
to the Plan d'Aiguille - this is one of our favourites,
and you really feel you are in the mountains. You take
the mountain railway up to Montenvers and the glacier
of the Mer de Glace, then the trail ascends to the high
point at Signal Forbes. From here you follow the Gran
Balcon Nord across towards Plan d'Aiguille. |
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Nid
d'Aigle (Eagle's Nest) to Les Houches - to discover the
Western side of Mont Blanc opens a different panorama,
and the run from the high mountain railway station at
Nid d'Aigle descends towards Bellvue via Mont Lachat.
You can extend the run towards Le Prarion, or follow some
tracks to reach Les Houches. |
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Argentiere
to Barberine - this run is the best for staying relatively
low on forest and alpage tracks, exploring the two valleys
of Chamonix and Vallorcine, as well as crossing the watershed
at the Col des Montets. This run can be shortened or lengthened
to suit how you feel on the day. |
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Col
des Montets to Planpraz - if you are after a longer run,
this is quite a tough one. At first the trail is flat,
then it ascends steeply to the Flegere ski area, before
a wonderful balcony run across to Planpraz. The wise can
even opt to start this run at Flegere, and just enjoy
the run across to Planpraz or Brevent. |
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The
Italian Val Veny and Val Ferret - for an international
feel, why not escape to Italy for a day and run along
the valley floors of either the Val Veny or Ferret. At
the end of each valley is a hut (Elizabetta or Elena),
and you can return by a different trail to return to your
starting point. |
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Chamonix
Petit Balcon's & River Trail - an absolute classic
that starts in Chamonix centre and ascends through the
forests to Argentiere, then returns along the track beside
the Arve river. Still a technical run in terms of tree
roots and rocky trails, but nice on hot days, as it is
mainly in the shade. |
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| Selection
of winter snowshoe running trail routes... |
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Vallorcine
and Les Granges - there are hundreds of snowshoe trails
that lead through the woods, and the route can be tailored
to how far and how high you would like to go. An absolute
gem. |
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Italian
Val Ferret - this is a classic snowshoe running trail
from Planpincieux to Lavachey and for those undaunted
by a steep hill climb, up to the Bonatti refuge at just
over 2000m. |
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Lavencher
and Tines Circuit - a favourite forest trail route in
the Chamonix region passing through small villages that
have remained untouched by time, and offer a real flavour
of how Chamonix used to be. |
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