Where do I even begin with this weekend’s activities? We certainly took advantage of the nice weather, that’s for sure! Both days deserve a dedicated post so today is all about Chamonix while tomorrow I’ll share our bike ride from hell, or the time my husband confused a flat 10 mile ride with a 29 mile ride including 3 steep climbs.
Yesterday morning after a hearty bowl of oats, I headed to Chamonix with three of my friends for a morning of trail running in preparation for the Mt. Blanc 10k in two weeks. 
Renaud’s original plan for our group was to complete a 10k trail run in the Chamonix valley which would mimic the path of our upcoming race as best as possible. While it wasn’t the exact course he ensured that we had some elevation change and terrain that would challenge and prepare my legs.
The trail included a few inclines, shaded dirt trails, streams, and an adorable pup who we met in a small park towards the end. The group worked out perfectly as Emily and I were able to keep each other company on the trail without holding back Renaud and Ranald who are considerably faster. The below pictures are from the valley part of our adventure yesterday, which totaled 6.5 miles. 
At this point, our plan was to jump in the car and drive back to Geneva; our 10k complete. I thought it silly to head back to Geneva after only an hour in Chamonix. We hopped in the Flegere cable car and headed up 3,000 feet to begin part two of our adventure at 6,200 feet! I am so thankful the group was okay tacking on more miles because the views were absolutely beautiful! For an hour and a half we crossed the top of Les Praz while doing a mix of running, scrambling across a few rocky areas, and hiking the steep inclines. By the time we reached 12 miles my legs were exhausted.
The outfit I chose for yesterday’s run will probably be the same thing I wear for the Mont Blanc 10k as everything worked perfectly. I absolutely love and would highly recommend the Salomon XR Mission for anyone looking for a beginner trail running shoe. My CEP Compression socks kept my legs and calves happy during the run and definitely helped speed up recovery.
A day trip to Chamonix is always one of my recommendations when we have guests as the trails are easy to navigate, the views are spectacular and there is a perfect mix of trail exploration and delicious restaurants in town to refuel.
The sun doesn’t set in Geneva until almost 10pm during the summer so weather like yesterday’s just beckons us to spend the evening outside. We met up with a few of our friends for drinks along the lake at La Terrasse followed by dinner at The Hamburger Foundation, enjoyed al fresco.
What a perfect Saturday with good friends and plenty of sunshine & fresh air!
While overcoming a great deal of my fears on the slopes and enjoying a few hours of skiing with friends was a lot of fun, the highlight of the weekend was definitely last night’s adventure: fondue & sledging. 
Our eyes quickly became adjusted to the darkness and Bo and I were in awe of the stars, snow capped trees and views. I wish I could capture the views for you but my iPhone couldn’t do it justice. 
We laughed and joked for over two hours and somehow miraculously managed to finish both pots. It was then time for the sledging down the longest path in Western Switzerland! NOW, let me tell you…if you want an adventure, sit down on a plastic sledge heading down the mountain for 30 minutes along a 10 ft wide path in the dark with a cliff on one edge after consuming 6 bottles of wine and two pots of cheese between 8 people – for us, it was the ride of a lifetime though its evidently normal course in the Swiss Alps. Yes mom and dad I know this wasn’t the best decision but we survived, had a blast and don’t regret it! 