Alex on Trails

  For years, Vincent, Thibault, and I had dreamed about this adventure. Our annual tradition of ski de randonnée tours in the Alps had always been special, but for our common 40th birthday, we wanted to do something extraordinary. After some negotiations with our respective “headquarters” and careful synchronization, we managed to carve out a five-day window just for ourselves and our favorite guide, Christian, who has been with us for over a decade. Our destination: the mythical Haute Route, also known as the Chamonix-Zermatt traverse. We were incredibly fortunate with the conditions. After two weeks of snow, the sun finally made an appearance just in time for our first day of ski touring. We set off straight up to Refuge Bertol, a perfect warm-up for the days ahead. The route was blanketed with fresh powder, and the impressive arrival at the refuge, perched high atop the mountain, set the tone for our adventure. The second day was undoubtedly the most iconic. We climbed up to 370...

After a summer dedicated to hiking and training in the mountains, building on the momentum from the Marathon du Mont Blanc, I felt prepared. July was filled with rides, including a memorable ascent of Mont Ventoux, while August saw me running trails and hiking. Despite a busy September at work, my training remained strong. Although tired, I arrived in Chamonix confident and ready. The race began at 5am in Chamonix, with 55 kilometers and 4000 meters of elevation ahead. The cold at the start was biting, and the organizers had mandated that everyone wear pants due to the snow at the top. This requirement, though understandable, was intimidating. I had trained on these trails during the summer with my friend Victor, enduring such intense heat that I became dizzy and had to stop just 2 kilometers from the end due to heat exhaustion. This time, conditions were vastly different. A week of rain had left the trails soaked, and snow covered the ground above 2000 meters. The first couple of hour...

  After more than a year of being injured, I am finally back on track. I can’t express how excited and thankful I am to wear a bib again. Countless hours spent at the physio, training, and reinforcing my hip and flexibility, have led to this moment. I started running again in March, giving myself just three months to prepare for one of the most beautiful races on earth, in the trail runner’s paradise: Le Marathon du Mont Blanc. The race covers 45 kilometers through the stunning Chamonix Valley, starting and ending in Chamonix, and passing through some of my favorite spots: L’Aiguille des Posettes, Vallorcine, and La Flégère. A heat wave added to the challenge, causing many runners to faint during the final climb. The emotions were overwhelming. As I crossed the finish line, I couldn’t hold back the tears. The joy of being back in the mountains, having spent such a wonderful day running through breathtaking landscapes, was indescribable. Waiting for me at the finish line was my dear...

This year has been quite a rollercoaster when it comes to my running endeavors. Persistent tibial tendinitis has plagued me, forcing me to take multiple breaks of 4-5 weeks at a time. Just as I was ready to hit the trails again at the end of June, a foolish mishap at home resulted in a calf injury requiring 15 stitches. After a month of recovery, I was finally able to start running again on July 18th, just five weeks before the CCC. The CCC (Courmayeur-Champex-Chamonix) is one of the most challenging trail races in the world, covering 101 kilometers with an elevation gain of 6,100 meters. It traverses three countries: Italy, Switzerland, and France, offering some of the most breathtaking and demanding terrains in the Alps. Completing this race requires not only physical endurance but also mental fortitude to navigate the steep ascents, technical descents, and unpredictable weather conditions. Facing a dilemma, I pondered whether to wait another 2-3 years for a chance to qualify again, ...