Author Archives: Doug Mayer

Yesterday, Run the Alps Senior Guide Simon Conroy and I ran from Courmayeur, Italy to Chamonix, France, along the second half of the Tour du Mont-Blanc. The route we chose was 85 km with about 4,300 meters of climbing. I’m getting ready for a certain trail race in a few weeks.  Here’s how I fueled:   Continue Reading →

Run the Alps is pleased to offer this short piece from past Sierre-Zinal Race Director Jean-Claude Pont. Pont, retired from careers as a university professor, researcher, and Swiss mountain guide, remains a sort of Renaissance man – deeply intellectual, charismatic and thoughtful, though often holding views counter to the prevailing sentiments of the day. I   Continue Reading →

This summer, Run the Alps added a new position to our list of seasonal crew – intern and staff writer. Julia Maxwell, a recent graduate of Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calfornia, joined us in Chamonix in June and will be staying through the end of August. Julia splits her time between Run the Alps   Continue Reading →

The miracle was not that you finished, the miracle was that you had the courage to start. (Matthieu Girard, at Trail Verbier St-Bernard pre-race briefing). I’ve always agreed with that sentiment. I suspect it resonates with each of us who dares to enter a challenging mountain race. To that quote, I’d add a corollary: Too   Continue Reading →

Run the Alps’ friend Matt Flaherty, a US-based athlete running for Salomon, recently came in fifth in the very challenging Eiger 101 race in Grindelwald, Switzerland, with a time of 12:30.34. We talked to him about his race, and got a few tips in case you’re interested in tackling this course in the beautiful Berner   Continue Reading →

This past month Run the Alps, along with our friends at Elevation, wrapped up a project 18 months in the works: Run the Alps: Switzerland, 30 Must-Do Trail Runs. The book is now available in the United States, and can be purchased right here and also on Amazon. Run the Alps Switzerland launched in Europe a   Continue Reading →

Well… sort of. We didn’t really make it. It was produced and created by Chamonix, France-based filmmaker Katie Moore, with images from Seb Montaz-Rosset. But we did help out— because, well, it’s about us. More accurately, it’s about trail running in the Alps, and why we love it so much. It’s only 1:53, and we   Continue Reading →

Yes, you do. For many of our guests and friends, the fact that you need a signed medical certificate from a doctor in order to trail race is a real surprise. In the US and elsewhere, most of us are simply used to suffering a bout of dubious judgement – usually concluding with, “Oh, sure,   Continue Reading →

Sierre-Zinal is one of the original trail races in the Alps. It’s also one of the best. The course, the organization, and the spirit all come together to create a very special experience, each year for the past 46 years. Run the Alps is pleased to share that we’re now offering the opportunity participate in   Continue Reading →

An occasional update from Run the Alps founder, Doug Mayer Hi Friends: As we get ready to dive into another busy summer season, I wanted to share an update with you, our guests, friends and partners. Here are the highlights: *2018 will be our busiest summer yet – but there’s still room available! We have   Continue Reading →