Conquering Trail des Aiguilles Rouges: A 2023 Season to Remember

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 hours were shrouded in darkness, adding to the challenge, but I was excited.

As we set off into the dark, frigid morning, I could feel the cold seeping through my gear. The climb to Brévent went well, and halfway through the race, I met a friend. We spent three hours together, navigating the difficult terrain. At one point, I took a hard fall, scraping my hands, and 25% of the race was spent trudging through snow. Despite these challenges, the afternoon brought bright sunshine, transforming the day into a beautiful adventure.

What a wonderful day it turned out to be! This experience definitely deepened my love for trail running. Reflecting on this season, I couldn’t be happier. The mix of intense training, the beauty of the mountains, and the camaraderie on the trails made it unforgettable.