Category Archives: History

Ivan Parasacco is the voice of ultra trail running in northern Italy, including the internationally known Tor des Géants trail race around Aosta Valley.

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.

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.

This summer, Run the Alps staff, guided, ambassadors, and friends will be trail running around the Alps, and we’ll share the untold stories about the races that don’t get the lavish media spotlight.

The year before the first edition of Tor, there was a “Zero Edition” with a grand total of four finishers. This wasn’t an official race. In fact, it was a trial run to prove the very concept.

One of the more unusual aspects of the Alps comes when one enters the high pastures. There, where shepherds have tended flocks for centuries, it’s not uncommon to see dogs guarding the animals. In particular, they are entrusted with protecting the young from predators such as wolves, lynx, foxes and bears. With their beautiful cream-colored coats, these “guardian” dogs often look   Continue Reading →

On the morning of August 8th, 1897, ten guides from Chamonix’s Compagnie des Guides gathered next to the Saint Michel church. Their objective? A mountain race up and down the Brévent. It was, as far as historians can tell, Chamonix’s first trail race. The route, according to Chamonix’s Blog de Christine, went via Les Moussoux,   Continue Reading →

Got someone with a little Alps trail running problem on your holiday list? Or, maybe you just want to bring a little bit of the Alps trail running scene home for the holidays? We’ve polled Run the Alps staff and friends for their favorite Alps trail running gift suggestions. Some of these items can be   Continue Reading →

One of the more popular trail runs in Chamonix is also one of its more unusual ones –  the “Kilométre Vertical” or “KV” – “VK” in English. The 3.8 km-long route, an attraction for both local trail runners and those visiting from afar, has also been a race as part of the Mont Blanc Marathon   Continue Reading →