Our Story
From Run the Alps Founder Doug Mayer
Flower-covered high pastures. Centuries old herders huts. The distant cacophony of cow bells. Hut caretakers with mugs of fresh café au lait. And, all around, rugged peaks piercing Europe’s rooftop.
It’s hard to write about the Alps without sounding like a string of guidebook clichés. The thing is…it’s all true. Trail running in the Alps is hard to beat.
I’ve been at it for years, now—ever since my brother and I first stuffed ten franc bills in our socks and headed off for a run, no particular destination in mind. That day, we ran to a local summit, coasted along a ridge next to the Eiger, and stopped in at a mountain café for warm cups of Ovomaltine and croissants.
I was hooked.
One thing led to another, and I was soon planning trips for others. Next, together with trail-running friends in both Europe and the United States, we started Run the Alps.
We’re now more than a decade old. We live here and experience the trails every day. As a result, I like to think we’re the Alps trail running experts. And we love nothing more than sharing the trail with others.
I hope one day, you’ll be able to join us.
Our Values
Whether you’re going self-guided or guided, our trips are designed for anyone who likes to trail run. It’s not about being hard-core. It’s about sharing a wonderful adventure together in the mountains, at a pace and level of challenge that works for you.
That’s the heart of who we are, and why we’re committed to bringing to life our five core values in everything we do:
Inclusivity
We believe everyone should feel welcome in the trail running community. We celebrate diversity, build partnerships and aim to foster community spirit through shared experiences.
Challenge
We believe getting out of your comfort zone is a good thing. We seek to challenge our guests and ourselves, expanding personal boundaries and helping develop new perspectives.
Camaraderie
We believe in the power of mutual support. There’s nothing better than cheering each other up a hill and sharing a piece of blueberry tart at the top.
Net Positive
We believe we have a responsibility to leave the world a better place than we found it. We act responsibly to have a net positive impact on the lives we touch and the physical environments and communities in which we operate. Learn more here.
Fun
We believe we could all do with a little more fun in our lives. We strive to keep things lighthearted, infusing the trail running community with laughter and joy.
Stay in touch
If you’d like to receive our latest updates, you can sign up to our newsletter, or follow us on Facebook or Instagram to get our latest updates.
Thank you— and happy trails!
The Story of Paul & Me: Reflections on Swiss Peaks 380k and what it takes to tackle 200+ mile races in the Alps
Willie McBride, endurance athlete & coach, and his friend Paul undertake a 200+ mile race in the Swiss Alps.
Tour du Mont-Blanc Trail Running
The Tour du Mont-Blanc (TMB) is our most popular guided and self-guided tour. We offer multiple tour options each trail season.
Join the Club: Run the Alps on Strava!
Run the Alps has just launched a Strava Club. We’ll see you on the trails for our first Challenge – kudos and goodies are waiting!