Monthly Archives: July 2022

The Austrian city of Salzburg is both old and incredibly beautiful. It does not, on initial investigation, imbue you with thoughts of a trail running demi-mecca. That is until you focus your gaze past the turrets of the Hohensalzburg Fortress…

While small in size, races like Argentrail have everything you would find at a bigger event: a giant blow-up start line, a well-marked route with stocked aid stations, photographers and crowds cheering along the route, and wrapped up with an award ceremony and prizes.

Taking place near to the Grand St Bernard pass, at the southern tip of the Valais canton, the Trail du Vélan is one of the longest-running trail races in the Alps. The local support and pride in the race is clear, and not surprising given the poignant story behind its creation.

It’s my first ever trail race: Italy’s Gran Trail Courmayeur 30km. The race starts in Courmayeur, climbs approximately 2,000 meters (6561 feet), and winds along the Val Ferret balcony.

The Montée du Nid d’Aigle, a near 20 km uphill-only lung-buster of a trail race, rises 2000m into the sky where the sun melts you and the oxygen in the air deserts you faster than that New Year’s gym-going resolution.

Run the Alps recently sat down with Erica Motta, Head of Communications for VDA Trailers, to find out more about this organization powering the Aosta Valley trail running scene.

In US trail running circles, and within the trail running world internationally, the name Buzz Burrell is very nearly legendary. Buzz, 70, is still going at it.