Training Log Archive: Craney

From the local lake in the early arvo heat. Exploring what looked like a fun route on the map but what turned out to be mainly logging trails. Not feeling great in the legs so didn’t especially enjoy myself.

From Labrespy in the Montagne Noire, where we’re staying for the next week or so. Nice area with loads of hilly forest trails, steep sided valleys and medieval villages. Like a big Forest of Dean. Good explorey run, and felt ok.

Early run from the chalet before packing up and leaving the Alps. It was nice and cool and very quiet - I don’t think French people do early mornings. I’ll miss running around here.

Legs were pretty tired after yesterday, so today I did a flatter run from Risoul Station on a big wide trail. Hit the edge at about 25mins and got some great views over the Embrun valley. Ran up a steep winding trail for a bit, then turned around and retraced my steps. Didn’t feel too bad running in the end.

Daisy was squirming on the chair lift and her shoe came off! So of course muggins here had to run up under the chair lift later on to find it. Good extra hill rep though.

Stunning alpine run - run of the year probably. From Guillestre at 1150m to Pic d’Escreins at 2734m. First 3.5km had 900m climb - also very hot. Then it got nice and Zigzaggy in pines to what I thought would be the high point of the run... But the next peak tempted me so I carried on and it was proper good high alpine mountain paths to the top. Views were incredible - phone died so no photos but I stopped a while to take it all in. On the descent I saw the only other human for the whole run - a paraglider 50m above me - we waved at each other and I yelled hello forgetting I was in France. We both would have felt pretty free. Saw a few marmots. Fun descent on a better path that was less steep.

Ran up the other side of the valley from Eygliers on a windy path - forestry track at first, but nice windy goat track after. Got quite high but not to and distinguishing feature before needing to turn back to get to pizza in time :) Nice day out at Col d’Izoard and Fort Queyras before that.

Cool and rainy today. Ran from Risoul Station up to Pointe de Razis (2575m), where the rain had fallen and stuck as snow. Cold. Climb was steep and I felt a bit tired. Then ran along the ridge to l’homme de Pierre, which was a bit shit as it was all bulldozed muddy piste and big pylons. Down through the trees was nice though.