Work and Run

It has been full on work work work since I got back. I have been doing long shifts in the shop getting it painted and sorted out for the new season. I have been pretty knackered in the evenings but have made it out for a few short 40 mins runs around the Balcon Sud and down around the Cross Country ski track. On my days off I have managed to get out for a bit longer. It is super quiet here at moment and I don't have anyone to climb with as Ally is away doing things I couldn't get up so I have just been content with keeping my running fitness up.

Last weekend I got the lift up to mid station on the Midi and did a run over to Montenvers and took a new trail down before heading back to Cham , it was around 2 and a half hours and I felt good. Today I decided to go for something big as weather was great so I left the house and blasted up to the top of the Cornu Chairlift at 2300m. No lifts are open on this side so it was great to have the whole place to myself. I then ran up and over to Lac Noir and just ran around exploring into an area I have never been. After a few hours I decided time to descend so I just reversed my route but instead of being smart I decided to blast the descent and it was not a good idea. From where I started the descent at around 2550m it is a long way down to my house at 1080m. The last 500m were brutal , I haven't had pain like that in my thighs in a long long time and I even had to stop a couple of times and moan to myself how sore they were. This could be due to a few things , I could have just went to fast at the start of the descent , I didn't eat enough( 6 chewy Alligators and a Mars Bars)  , maybe my legs are a bit fatigued from being on them for hours on end the past few weeks in work or maybe the summer has just taken its toll on them and they need nothing more than a good rest. Anyway it was a cracking day for a run and I certainly made the most of it by being on the go for 4 hours.


On the way up to the top of Cornu at 2300m

Pretty good place to run eh??

Lac Noir 2500m

I will be starting to wind down the running soon but I reckon as long as I can run on the trails without snow then why not as come December running wont be happening that much until April probably. I do plan on getting some spiked shoes this season and doing some short runs again on the Cross Country Ski track in the evenings after work just to keep the legs ticking over , nothing long again just 40 mins hopefully twice a week as my ski touring should keep up a really good fitness for me.

Off again tomorrow and I will see how the legs have recovered as I spotted an awesome trail quite a bit away from Chamonix today that I want to get on , it looks like it descends down to the village of Servoz but I will have a look at maps tonight and if legs feel ok then I will be going for that and it looks like a longer run than today.

Bonnie Scotland

Well it has been a while since I last posted. I was planning on taking a bit of time off from running but to be honest that has not happened and it has again been non-stop.

I arrived back in Scotland on Tuesday 18^th and was away up north on the Wednesday. The weather was kind to me as I ran up and down Ben Lawers with only the summit being pretty windy. I managed to summit in 1hr 10mins and was back at the car 30 mins later , then the following day I went and ran Schiehallion , This time I was a little quicker being just under an hour to summit and again 30 mins back to car. These were two Munros I had never done so thought I had might as well go get them done and there was no way I was just going to go for a plod. Where is the fun in that!

Looking back from just below Lawers Summit

The way back to the car

Summit up in the Cloud

Schiehallion Summit with the typical Scottish View

Great descent path

Friday I went a long run around the hills of Largs in glorious sunshine. I have this amazing two and a half hour jaunt I go on up over the moors following some farm tracks but mostly it is all off road. I then join the seafront and run along the promenade back to my home. It is a stunning run and has great views out over the west coast of Scotland.

Never come across anybody ever when I have run up here

Largs Below

At the sundial after mistakingly thinking the puddle I was running in was going to be small

Then on Saturday I was feeling good when I woke up so drove up to Arrochar and ran up and over The Cobbler and then Beinn Narnain on another cracking day and was happy with 1hr 58mins for the round trip.

Cobbler Summit

Heading down Narnain

The weather then decided to turn and the rest of my time at home was spent catching up with friends , having a bit of a drink and I finally managed a little 10km road run the night before I drove back to Cham.

So I am now back in Chamonix and start work tomorrow. I managed a 1hr trail run today and as good as Scotland is it just cannot come close to Cham for trail running. So now begins the off season and I have never been here this time of year , it is very quiet around town but we have lots to do at the shop for the next month and I will just been spending my days off Climbing and Running as much as possible to stay in shape for what hopefully will be an epic winter ahead. I must admit I would quite like to do another race before the year is out as the next big one is not until May 2013 which is a long long way off.

The Balcon Sud Trail thats on my doorstep

 

Rockhoppin'

 

Simply the greatest Trails I have ever run. After all these years they still impress.

It sure is good to be Home though.