Archives for posts with tag: Chamonix
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For the love of running

December 10, 2011 //

With 2011 almost over and my last race of the year finished, I’ve been reflecting on my love of running. Just why do I love it so much? Enough to make me buy a headtorch and run on cold winter’s nights. Enough to get myself back up again after falling flat on my face and finish that run. Enough to get up early, drive to a race and run til I’ve got nothing left to give and then some. Coping with bad weather, sore toes and cold noses is just part of the runners winter skill set. I’ve pulled muscles, am about to lose a toe nail and grazed myself in places you can’t even imagine with a fall. Yet I still love it – why?  
 

 
This year started off with a promise. I promised myself that I would see a running coach to try to work out why I was so slow. In February I drove up the motorway and met up with Ian for the first time. I was nervous and excited. What would I do if he thought I was rubbish? What if I couldn’t change? Running with him was a revelation. A revelation in what I could achieve. With him I ran 8 minute something miles (I was more of an 11/12 minute miler at this point) off road in the beautiful Peak District.  

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Categories Lifestyle, Running

Chamonix 10k

June 26, 2011 //

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It’s been a festival of running this weekend in Chamonix. Yesterday was the 10k and half marathon and today is the full marathon. In-between was a variety of children’s races, pasta parties and prize giving ceremonies.

Having lived in Chamonix for several summers I’ve been longing to have a go at one of these events as they start from my doorstep and pass through some of my most favourite routes. I decided to tackle the 10k race. It was billed as a taster for mountain races but if knew anything about alpine sports and Chamonix it was not going to be easy.

I checked out the route online, decided to take advantage of my local knowledge and run the route a few times before raceday. The route consisted of a fair amount of double track trails and one large section of single track, technical trail. After walking the single track section and working out some crafty corner cutting and tricky foot placements I felt quietly confident that I could run a good race. I figured that the race would be won or lost on the double track section before the single track where overtaking would be tricky. Read the rest of this entry »

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Categories Running

Running, riding & sunbathing

May 24, 2011 //
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Well, we made it! After six months of soul destroying living in Milton Keynes we’ve finally got some payback. I’m sitting on the balcony with a view to die for, blogging on my iPad having just walked into Chamonix for some supplies and to drool over the latest running gear – what more can a girl ask for?

We arrived a week ago but Milton Keynes seems like a lifetime ago. It surprising how quickly we slotted back into Chamonix life – we literally unpacked a couple of bags and walked into Chamonix and that was that. I suppose it’s not actually that surprising as we’ve spent more time here since 2007 than anywhere else and we consider it our home. Chamonix has everything we need, from trails on the doorstep to welcoming coffee shops and stunning views.

We’re doing some different things this time though. As most of you are already aware from previous blogs and prolific tweeting we previously spent 6 months here in 2010 & 2008. This year is different – instead of giving up our place in the UK we decided to keep it on and only come for 10 weeks. It’s risky because 10 weeks is not nearly long enough to be ‘home’ but we get the advantage of not having to find somewhere to live when our time is up. We’ll see how it pans out but I suspect we’ll be back for 6 months again next year!

We’ve also come out with a lot less stuff – I’m down to 5 tee shirts and 2 running kits! Although the car was still full on the drive over least we could see out of the rear window and make it up the alpine passes to get here in one piece.

Our first ride was awesome. We were worried about fitness as you just cannot prepare for the rigours of the alps whilst working full time in the UK. But we were OK – we made it up the steep hills and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. My first run was also fabulous. I ran about 5k in the sunshine along the L’Arveyon river and up to Les Bois – scrambling over rocks and streams deep in the forest and taking the single track route to the bread van for the all important baguette.

Today is an enforced rest day as my legs are empty. Yesterday I ran 7k up through Les Bois to Les Tines and back down through Paradis de Praz. Then Mr R took his new bike out for a ‘proper’ downhill ride from Le Merlet while I raced him by car to pick him up at the end of the run – he won! So the rest of today will consist of some sunbathing, social networking and eating – heaven!

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Categories Lifestyle, Mountain Biking, Running

Countdown to France

April 17, 2011 //
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My training has ramped up a gear as there are only 4 weeks left until I leave the UK to spend 10 weeks in Chamonix running, riding, hiking and swimming in the Alps.  Last year I arrived with adductor tendinitis which is not something I’d ever care to repeat, so this year I have been gradually increasing my training to try to avoid injury.

As you will know from my previous post, I have been to see a running coach and we have totally ripped up my previous running style for a much more efficient, body friendly one.  At 43, I have to look after my body as I want to be running into a ripe old age, not bent over with bad feet and a bad back!  It’s been hard to change my running style but an invaluable tool has been video.  It turns out that what I think I’m doing is nothing like what I am actually doing!  I thoroughly recommend getting a friend to video you as it’s a great insight.  I made a rookie mistake of trying out my new style for the first time on my long run – stupid, stupid girl.  I came back from that run with a nice new hip injury!  Learning from that mistake and after a week of rest, I cut down the length of my runs whilst I got to grips with the new technique.  That meant only running for 20 minutes at a time and gradually building it back up.  Today, I ran 5.5k in 35 mins without any hip pain and I’m pleased with that.  I can now build on that distance over the next 4 weeks and will hopefully arrive in France in better condition than last year!

Yesterday, we also christened the mountain bikes for their first off-road ride of the year.  We tried to do it last weekend, got everything loaded on the car, all the gear on but the car wouldn’t start.  Yesterday, £350 worse off – we managed to do it.  Whilst I’ve not been riding my mountain bike at all this year I have been riding Matilda to work and back for 6 months (4 miles a day) and it must have helped as I didn’t feel too out of shape.  I’m sure my heart will feel like it’s pounding through my ribs at the first site of an Alp from the saddle but at least I have a base level of bike fitness to start with.  My bike has had some modifications over the winter including shorter crank arms to stop me grinding into rocks etc.  I’m hoping to be more graceful on the bike this year as I’m a bit of a clutz on it normally!

Swimming and hiking are the other two passions in the alps – neither of which I’ve done over the winter.  I do have a spangly new Adidas bikini for swimming though and am looking forward to trying it out in the open air pool in Chamonix.  It’s amazing there because when you do backstroke you can see Mt Blanc just like in the picture above but closer –  stunning!  I still have some bits and bobs to buy before we set off – new running socks, a swimming cap and a new water bottle but hopefully all the big purchases have been done now and I can get on with the exciting prospect of toughening up for the mountains.

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Categories Health, Lifestyle, Running

Mont-Blanc 10k Race

January 20, 2011 //
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I’ve just signed up for the Mont-Blanc 10k race which is held in my old stomping ground of Les Bois, Chamonix, France.  I’d love to be able to beat my personal best of 58 minutes and have a not so secret goal of 52 minutes.  Check out the race here.

Les Bois has a huge trail system that runs up the Chamonix valley.  It’s full of doubletrack and singletrack trails dissected by L’Arvyon and L’Arve rivers towered over by massive conifers and enormous mountains.  Best of all, I only have to fall out of bed to start the race as it’s right on my doorstep!

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Categories Running
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