Monthly Archives: August 2013

When talking about trail running in the Swiss alps, discussions usually turn to the dramatic: the thousands of meters climbed, the peaks summited, the distances covered. For me, though, one of the great pleasures is the family farm. In Switzerland, many alp farms fly the Swiss flag, a sign that the farm sells its products and perhaps offers a few other local goodies and refreshments like homemade bread or hot coffee.  For   Continue Reading →

This past week, Jim Maddock and I found ourselves in the Val Anniviers, looking for great trail running routes along the course of the fabled Sierre-Zinal trail race route.  (We found them! But, that’s a story for some other time.) Running along, chatting, half distracted, we were enjoying a late summer, sunny alp afternoon on a ridge a thousand meters above the village   Continue Reading →

A handful of years ago, I crossed paths with Salomon Team trail runner Rickey Gates. We have a number of outdoors friends in common. It was the night before the Mount Washington footrace—which Rickey subsequently won– and I had just started getting addicted to trail running in Switzerland. Rickey had a number of European trail   Continue Reading →

When I registered for the Swissalpine half-marathon in Davos, I expected something … wild, just like its name implied. If you read my blog about the Aletsch half marathon, and after reading this one, you’ll probably think, “this guy is never satisfied!” Well, I AM French and, like a lot of French people, I complain   Continue Reading →

Changing trains in Landquart, my last switch before arriving in Davos, I’m uncertain which track I want. I look around me, and realize everyone looks like a runner. They’re moving towards platform 2. I follow and hop on the train. Salomon, Inov8, Nathan and Patagonia. I don’t even bother to check the destination. Davos is   Continue Reading →