Run The Alps

29/10/2026

Our photographer, Sam Hill, recently headed out to shoot the very last route for our upcoming trail running guidebook to Switzerland!

After a summer spent running, exploring and photographing more than 30 routes across the country, this one in the Swiss Jura was a pretty special way to finish.

As the higher mountains begin to disappear beneath a blanket of snow, the lower elevations of the Jura still offer fantastic trail running, especially with the beautiful autumn colours. There aren’t many places where you can see quite so many mountains stretching out in front of you!

With most of the work on the book now complete, we’re looking forward to sharing more of what we’ve been working on over the winter, ahead of the book’s release next spring.

Read more: https://www.runthealps.com/blog/swiss-guidebook-updates/

📷: Sam Hill

28/10/2026

Love the idea of running the Alps on your own terms? Self-guided tours give you the freedom to choose your dates, your companions, and your pace, with all the logistics sorted for you. We’ll handle the accommodation, baggage transfers, and route materials. Our app and WhatsApp support team are there whenever you need them.

From a guest this past summer:
“We chose to go with Run the Alps because it was so convenient to have all the trails chosen for us, our accommodations booked, food included, and luggage transfer. We loved not having to take a day off just to travel to a new village. Instead, we got to explore multiple villages, valleys, and mountains every single day because we used our legs to travel from one area to another.
I’m already planning our next Run the Alps tours and texting my friends and family that they should join us!”
-Vanessa, Classic Bernese Oberland Self-Guided

See all our Self-Guided tour options:
https://www.runthealps.com/tour-finder/?type=self-guided

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25/10/2026

It’s sweatshirt weather where we’re at in the Alps. We’re having some soup and crunching through the fallen leaves in our favorite Run the Alps logo-ed pullover. If you’re looking for a comfy reminder of many things to love about cruising along single-track in the Alps — cows, chalets, café au lait,, croissants — slip into our new Icons Hoodie and cozy-up.

The organic cotton hoodie has a pouch pocket that’s perfect for rewarming chilly fingers after a late fall run, whether you’re in your local park, in San Francisco’s Marin highlands, or just off Chamonix’s Grand Balcon Nord. There’s cozy fleece on the inside, with 35% recycled polyester that creates a lining so super soft you can rip off that sweaty shirt after a run, and it’ll feel downright luxurious against your skin.

Unisex XS - ###XL

Special pre-order pricing now in Run the Alps shop just until Nov 15!
https://www.runthealps.com/shop/

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24/10/2026

“2:12 am.

I step back into the night.

My headlamp barely scratches the mist clinging to the refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme. I hunch my shoulders and force my legs forward. My short rest wasn’t enough – they’ve already stiffened.

There was no reason to stay.

The refuge had been empty. No guardian. No volunteers. No runners. Warm soup was laid on the table, the lights were on – whoever guarded the refuge must have stepped out. The guestbook lay open by the door. I signed without stopping. Above my name, a single entry in rushed, block letters:

Back again.

My watch buzzes. I glance down. 79.2 kilometers.

Halfway around Mont Blanc.”
…
“The Chase” by Melanie DesAutels is one of three stories selected as runners-up in our Writers Residency Contest in partnership with Like the Wind magazine.

Melanie - Mélanie DesAutels - is a two-time Montreal Marathon champion and road running specialist who writes fiction inspired by the endurance world.

Continue reading “The Chase” on our BLOG:

"The Chase" by Melanie DesAutels is one of three stories selected as runners-up in our Writers Residency Contest in partnership with Like the Wind magazine.

22/10/2026

At Run the Alps, we believe the mountains should be a place where more people can find confidence, connection, and joy.

This summer, six recipients of our Tour Grant completed their guided tours in the Alps. Along the way, they took on new challenges, shared stories, built community, and created memories that will travel home with them.

Here are a few moments from their tours and what the experience meant to them.

Thank you to On’s Right To Run for partnering with us to help reduce barriers to trail running and the outdoors. We’re looking forward to where this grows!

Want to apply for 2027? Stay tuned...more info coming this winter.

📷: Aleksandra (Ola) Janiak Sam Lhermillier Sam Hill Tom Benitez

Tamanna Rahimi, Afghanistan
Classic TMB, July 2026
“Between Afghanistan’s mountains and Alpine trails, running has become a way to remember where I came from, who I am, and how far I’ve come.”

Sarah Nyarko, Ghana
Culinary Trail Tour, July 2026
“I left the Alps feeling very proud and grateful for the opportunity to be an inspiration to women, young people and everyone in my community.”

Hurrie Kamaruzzaman, Malaysia
Discover Bernese Oberland, July 2026
“I couldn’t have experienced running in the Alps without the grant; the experience deepened my love for running and outdoors.”

Nicole Smith, USA
Classic TMB, Aug 2026
“The whole trip was an amazing experience: both the perfect first trip to Europe for me and a trail running adventure I’ll never forget!”

Patricia (Patty) Lopez, USA
Classic TMB, Aug 2026
“I hope participating in this tour encourages others from diverse backgrounds to feel welcome exploring the outdoors and endurance sports.”

Akakem Onyekachi, Nigeria
September in the Alps, Sept 2026
“I applied for the Grant to challenge myself, try out new things, meet new people outside my network, and experience Run the Alps firsthand.”

20/10/2026

Can non-running friends and partners join a Run the Alps Trip?

It’s one of the most common questions we get.

And the answer is, absolutely yes! Just because your family member or friend isn’t a trail runner shouldn’t be a reason not to share the experience of being in the Alps.

Here’s what one guest had to say:
"I highly recommend people to join a tour in support of a spouse, partner, friend or family member as a way to explore these beautiful towns and all they have to offer, and at the end of each day you will see the smile on your loved one’s face as they return." -Greg

Hikers and sightseers can join a runner on either a guided or self-guided Run the Alps trip. Learn exactly how it works on our BLOG: “Can non-running friends and partners join a Run the Alps Trip?”

Just because your family member or friend isn’t a trail runner shouldn’t be a reason not to share the experience of being in the Alps.

15/10/2026

Where’s your next big trail run?

While extremely popular, the TMB is not for everyone - some days it feels very busy - or maybe you’ve already experienced the TMB and would love to continue running in the Alps ... so now what?

If you want something quieter, a tour that takes you deep into the wild heart of the Alps, or a trip that explores some place entirely new to you— we’ve pulled together some of our favorite alternatives:

-Via Valais
-Grand Bernese Oberland Traverse
-Classic Haute Route
-Dolomites Cortina Region
-The Wild Italian Alps: A Taste of Tor des Géants

Ready to move on from the run around Mont Blanc? We’re happy to help you explore these and more options for guided and self-guided trips.

You can read about each of these recommended tours on our blog:

Depending on what you’re looking for in a multi-day trail running adventure, these Tour du Mont-Blanc alternatives might be preferable.

12/10/2026

Choose how you TMB!

Senior Guide Emily Geldard describes the joys of guiding trail runners along one of the most famous routes in the world, the Tour du Mont-Blanc, through France, Italy and Switzerland.

We offer four distinct TMB tiers— Deluxe, Classic, Express, and Essentials— with the hope that a broader range of runners will be able to find an experience that fits their comfort level, pace, and style of adventure.

🔹Essentials TMB: 8 days / 7 nights
Simple. Authentic. Adventurous.
Our most budget-friendly way to run the full TMB. Stay in shared mountain huts, enjoy hearty meals, and keep your days flexible and authentic.

🔹Classic TMB: 10 days / 9 nights
Balance Adventure with Comfort.
Run the full TMB, with a warm-up day in Chamonix and a rest day in Courmayeur. Enjoy 3* and 4* hotels, with nearly all your meals included.

🔹Deluxe TMB: 10 days / 9 nights
Premium Comfort. Thoughtful Extras.
Stay in the region’s finest hotels, with private Geneva transfers, catered apéros, and gourmet dining. The most comfortable and convenient way to run the full TMB.

🔹Express TMB: 6 days / 5 nights
Fast, Fit and Unforgettable.
Run the full TMB in four challenging days, staying in 3* and 4* hotels, with all meals included. Designed for experienced trail runners.

👉To compare our TMB trips and for full details on our guided and self-guided tours: https://www.runthealps.com/tour/tour-du-mont-blanc/

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09/10/2026

We asked some of our previous guests if they have any advice for someone thinking about joining one of our trips. Swipe through to find out what they say! >>>

📷: Sam Hill Tom Benitez I’m toni sam_lhermillier Irina Kudres

07/10/2026

Have you ever noticed ‘ITRA’ on race websites, runner profiles, or next to performance indexes and wondered, “What does ITRA do?“

It’s one of those names that often appears in our sport, yet many runners don’t fully understand what ITRA - International Trail Running Association does. So, after chatting with some of our friends at the association, we thought it was worth putting together a simple guide to what ITRA is, what it does, who is behind it, and why it matters to trail runners – whether you’re pinning on a bib every weekend or simply dreaming up your next mountain adventure.

New on our BLOG: What is ITRA? A guide to the International Trail Running Association by Izzy Chanel.
https://www.runthealps.com/blog/what-is-itra/

Photos: Aleksandra Janiak from ITRA Women’s Trail Day in Chamonix