Mont Blanc Marathon
Distance 91km 3.8km 10km 23km 42km
Elevation 6220 m 1000m 325m 1665m 2780m
Description
The Mont Blanc Marathon events are based in Chamonix, France, the internationally-recognized home of alpinism – and, now, trail running. The Mont Blanc Marathon is one of the world’s best-known series of mountain races. Events include a Vertical Kilometer, a 10km, 23km, 42km, and a 90km distance. Added recently, the “Duo Étoile” night race is for teams of two runners. There are even three children’s events, ranging from 800 meters to 3 km.
The 10km race stays mainly in the valley, with some short climbs totalling an elevation gain of 280m.
The 23km is a horseshoe course and after running steadily up the valley for the first half of the race, running on mostly on farm roads, and wide single-track in the forest. The race passes through hamlets, as it climbs steadily up the valley. Upon turning back towards Chamonix, runners are faced with a tough and rocky climb up to the race finish, at the Chamonix gondola station of Flégère.
The 42km marathon race, which is part of the Golden Trail World Series, goes further up the Chamonix valley, heads up the scenic Aiguillette des Possettes. This beautiful, ridgeline peak provides one of the best viewpoints in the Chamonix valley. From there, the race heads down to the border town of Vallorcine, France, not far from Switzerland.
From Vallorcine, the races heads up to Col des Montets, then makes the steady climb to Flégère lift station, then dropping down to finish in the center of town.
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Read Run the Alps stories about this race
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2019 Mont Blanc Marathon in Photos
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Chamonix’s Mont Blanc Marathon Weekend
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The Hidden Importance of Trail Running: A beginner’s experience training for– and running– the Mont Blanc Marathon
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Salomon’s Matt Flaherty on the Marathon du Mont-Blanc
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Allez-Allez! Running the Mont Blanc Marathon
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Mont-Blanc Marathon: Chamonix’s Other Trail Racing Weekend
