Tailwind Welcomes Run the Alps to the Family!

At Tailwind, we know that every great adventure needs a solid support crew. So we’ve partnered with Run the Alps to provide that kind of support – and in one of the dreamiest places on earth to trail run, no less!

Based in Chamonix, France, in the heart of the Alps, the US-founded Run the Alps is the go-to-crew for trail running tours and, well, just about all things trail running in the Alps. That’s because they do a whole lot more than just their guided and self-guided tours– they create trail running books, online content, support Alps-based nonprofits - and even oversee an annual Alps trail running film festival of which Tailwind is now a leading partner!

Why We Love Run the Alps

Like Tailwind, Run the Alps has an authentic, wonderful origin story that was born out of a basic need - to support folks while out on the trails. They were founded by US trail runner and former NPR Producer Doug Mayer. (Remember Car Talk?!) Doug loved trail running in the Alps and about 15 years ago, he started writing about the scene for Trail Runner magazine and irunfar.com, and sharing his runs on social media. 

Friends started asking for help to set up trips…. Then friends of friends, and well, the rest is history. Today Run the Alps offers more than three dozen trail running tours around the Alps, from the Dolomites to the famous Tour du Mont-Blanc.

Run the Alps and Tailwind also share a lot of important values. They’re an important part of the trail running community. They are deeply connected to the region’s trail running scene, committed to having a positive impact on the environment and communities in which they run. They have a Race Finder that lists all the trail races in the Alps, produce stories about the Alps trail running world, and last year they created a beautiful trail running guide to the Mont Blanc region. And just last month, they launched a grant program to make Alps trail running more accessible to trail runners who might otherwise be excluded from the experience. 

To kick things off, we chatted with Doug, who lives in Chamonix year-round. We asked him three big questions. 

Here’s the Q&A!

Q: What makes trail running in the Alps different from running in, say, the United States?

Doug: I’d say three things: accessibility, huts, and culture. 

The mountains here are very accessible. Because communities have been here in the mountains for centuries, they’ve had time to figure out mountain transport. That’s one of the things that makes our trips so much fun. You can run up to a glacier, have lunch, then coast down a trail to a lift and be back in a village in no time. That gives you a lot of options for each day!

Second, the huts. There are– literally– over a thousand of them. They are in the most rugged of places– and stocked with cheese, wine, coffee, and all kinds of fresh-baked pies. To an American like me, it’s ridiculously decadent. You can run hard, then have a wild blueberry tarte. How nice is that?

Finally, when I say culture, there’s obviously the joy that comes with experiencing a bit of life in the mountains of Italy, France, or Switzerland. But perhaps even bigger and often overlooked, is the trail running culture. Here, trail running is huge, and it’s part of the mainstream. A small trail race will be on the front page of the regional newspaper. Locals will clap as you run by. And you don’t feel quirky wearing your vest in town– not even when you’re running in, say, Paris!

Q: What’s the one mistake runners often make when they come to the Alps?

Doug: They think they have to run all the time. The fact is, everyone here hikes the hills. It’s just more efficient. Even Kilian Jornet and Jim Walmsley will fast hike a steep climb. So, you have to throw out your expectations about minutes-per-mile and just enjoy the scenery. Don’t worry– at the end of the day, your Strava stats will be incredible!

Q: What’s your top tip for anyone coming to trail run in the Alps?

Doug: For US runners, not a lot of our trails have the vert of the Alps. So, mix in a few more big climbs in the months before you come here. You’ll be glad you did!

Q: Okay, one more. That makes that four. Sorry, we couldn’t resist. The Alps are big - do you have go-to-areas to run?

Doug: Oh, that’s like picking a favorite child. I truly don’t have a favorite. It depends on my mood. Switzerland is a great intro area, with smooth trails through high pastures. Italy has that, but also lots of technical vert that takes you to airy ridges– that’s where Skyrunning was born, after all. And France is great if you want huts with tasty treats and a vibrant trail running culture.

Welcome to everyone at Run the Alps to our Tailwind Family. You can see more stunning photos of the Alps and check out Run the Alps’ trips at their website. Get Alps news with their newsletter, and follow their adventures on Instagram and Facebook. 

Cover photo: Sam Hill