A Wee ReCCCee

Helen and I part way up Col De Montet

I've just had an awesome weekend...I hate to go on about it...really, I do.... However, I do just want to capture a quick reminder of it to help me in my old age when my brain and body function even less well than they currently do!

Ages ago, when there were discussions around entering the CCC (after suffering much 'race' envy when John, Helen and several others were taking part in the UTMB race week last year), an idea was floated of having a cheeky wee girls weekend to Chamonix to allow me to get an idea what the place was like, how big the mountains are, and ideally run a little part of the route itself.  Our wonderfully understanding and supportive husbands raised no objections...so, in the blink of an eye, a date was found in the midst of Fings, Caterans, holidays....and it was booked!



Our wee abode was in this building

And so, last Friday, we jetted off to Geneva (Easyjet flights, much cheapness, only slightly delayed), hopped into our wee minibus and were duly deposited at midnight at our wee apartment in central Chamonix.  Small but fully equipped and perfect for what we needed....bed, bathroom, wee kitchen area, wee seating area etc.  Ideally situated above a lovely bakery and a great restaurant!

And then we had a massive sleep!  Didn't really wake until 9.30am on Saturday (oops!).  Clearly we both needed it...we've both been ill in varying guises, so I think were both a bit apprehensive of how the weekend activities were going to pan out.  Thankfully we didn't have much to worry about - I think the warmer climate, and clean air and altitude agreed with us!

Saturday morning we had a potter around the town.....the sun was already beating down, so we treated ourselves to a leisurely breakfast in the main street in the sunshine, watching the world go by (croissants, jam, baguette, coffee, juice was to become the brekkie of champions for the weekend)....did some more pottering....I stared at the mountains a lot......tried to buy a book (didn't exist in English).....bought some tourist train passes....watched the paragliders....went to the supermarket (strawberries and fizzy the main order of the day)....had some more coffee....and eventually came up with a run plan for the day!

Selfie while Helen chomped a sour Haribo

Thankfully, Helen's experience of the area paid off and we chose a 'fairly' low level option (thus avoiding the snow on higher ground).  A cheeky wee train journey to Montroc (full of Japanese tourists!) and after a wee bit of fannying around finding the start of the path, then diverting to avoid an avalanche which blocked the path we were on our way, splashing down the waterlogged path to the amusement of the 'locals'.



Me admiring the view

I think we both found the heat and the altitude a bit of a challenge, but there were plenty of opportunities for pictures, checking the map, avoiding the snake and the killer bird of prey etc etc as we made our way up, up, up to the viewpoint at La Pierre a Bosson, where there was a spectacular view of the mountains and glacier and a serious cliff edge!

View at the top of La Pierre a Bosson

A wee snack of (my new fuel) jambon comte (sp?)...cheese and ham baguette! And then a wee trot down (to the pub) in Argentierre before a train back along to Chamonix for traditional dinner (molten cheese in fondue, wine, bread, pudding....).  Hmmm....calorie intake perhaps higher than expenditure today!  Day one, big tick!

We also had a Sunday plan by now!  Train to Vallorcine and a run back along the route of the CCC.  Very exciting!  More miles, and some bigger hills!

Sunday...not far from Vallorcine

Alarm set.....time for brekkie and onto the train (no Japanese tourists!).  Found the start of the path very easily and trotted off....the sun was already belting down, and the forecast was much hotter....  Skorts, vests, shades, poles, (spare jackets, foil blankets, food etc in backpacks)....no kahtoolas (Mr Munro had suggested we weren't going to need them....).

Climbing up...

I won't go through the route in detail, other than to say it was awesomely beautiful and pretty darn scary in almost equal measure. 

We needed a lot of MTFU-ery, and we survived!  In no small part to 2 French ladies we befriended on the ascent of Col du Montet.  One of whom was an experienced mountaineer, who spoke no English, but cut steps in the snow for us all the way up...and helped find our path at the top, delaying their lunch break to ensure we were heading the right way.



These 2 ladies saved the day.
This was one of the less scary snow
traverses.

We didn't say much until afterwards....both agreeing we had felt it was less frightening to go forwards than the thought of trying to go back the way we had just come!  The poles were invaluable!  And I think we are both quietly proud with our bravery!

Helen on the move

Fuelling on more baguettes, pastries and haribo seemed to agree with me.  Probably didn't drink as much as I should have been in the heat (despite the alpine glacial stream water being delicious!).  Energy wise felt pretty good all day.


Leg on sunday night!

Epic fail on suntan lotion....proper burnt and still suffering today (Wednesday)!



At the CCC finish line

Well earned refreshment

We missed one junction on the route, (not bad for 2 self-confessed poor navigators), so ended up doing the last couple of miles along the river back into central Chamonix.  Not to be defeated, Helen then made me run the entire lap of the town that the race finish follows, ending at the famous church, where we rewarded ourselves with a selfie and a MASSIVE beer!  Followed by a bottle of bubbly, and a great dinner at the place under the apartment.

Monday was home day and we still managed a wee run up and down the part of the route we missed out on sunday...more sunshine, awesome views....and a well earned breakfast!

I would, without shadow of doubt, go back for another training trip to Chamonix.  With an affordable 2 hour flight, reasonably priced accommodation, good places to eat/drink and phenomenal trails to run on with fantastic views....  Good thing I enjoyed it really, given I'm all booked up for the CCC in August!

And I can't wait!!