Getting Cold

It is still slowly creeping towards winter here in France. The snow is lying in Chamonix and the temperature is dropping( -12 today) but the running has continued.

I love the crisp cold winter air. Brilliant for running but don't stop for too long
or warming back up could take some time.

I have been out for some great little tours on the skis with the usual crew. We are not going for epic skiing but just to get the uphill legs in shape for the season ahead. You would think that coming from my summer of running that my legs for skinning up would be super strong. Think again! I can't say I am struggling with the tours but my legs do feel it more than when I run but it is only a matter of time before I get into the swing of things. It is more my back and hips that are feeling it as I am using muscle I have not really used since last winter.

Very cold afternoon skin up Le Tour

Running has been great. I have been out running in fresh snow in the evenings and also had some fantastic lunchtime jaunts along the side of the river in glorious sunshine albeit bitterly cold. I have not had to use my proper running spikes yet as it is more hard packed snow than ice at moment on the trails and roads so I have been using Yaktraks which are awesome. They are pretty much crampons for your shoes and they work very very well. I have not had a problem yet with them coming loose and they give me loads of confidence on descents and so far have yet to have a little tumble with them on. I would definitely recommend them. I totally love running in the snow and even more so at night. If I pick the time correct then I can run around the forests here after work and not even need a head torch sometimes as the snow glare can be so bright. It is a nice change from charging down trails dodging rocks and tree roots. Running on snow is great and just a nice change for a while.

I do prefer skiing powder than running in it
but it was fun this night.

The neoprene socks are on every run now and needed. Along with another pair of socks they keep my feet dry and very warm. I have a decent collection of trail running shoes but I am drawn more and more to one pair and I hate to admit it but it is my Salomon S-lab Sense Ultras. A shoe I always swore was not for me and was way too expensive. I still think it is very overpriced but I managed to find them online for half the £180 price tag so I snapped some up and I love them. I am going to be reviewing some kit next summer so thought I would share on here what shoes I run in and what I like and don't like about them.

Excellent for Winter running

From Top L to Bottom R. Adidas Adizero , SLab Sense Ultras , SLab Sense
New Balance Leadville , Brooks Cascadia 7's x 2 pairs

My Adidas Adizero XT is the one shoe I run the least in purely because I think this is a shoe for the UK. It has amazing grip from the Continental outsole(same rubber as used on the classic and brilliant Sportiva Raptors) and huge thick tread like Inov8 shoes but better. It is perfectly suited to fell running and very muddy wet conditions something I don't see much in Chamonix but I use them in Scotland on the Munroe’s and they perform amazingly well. They are slightly on the small side for me but I chose this for more precision on technical ground but I could never run an ultra in them. They just don't have the right support or comfort for me for long distances but defo a great shoe for short UK fell/hill running races. They can be picked up super cheap these days online. Mine were £40!

I briefly spoke of this shoe and could talk for hours on how much I love them. The Salomon S-lab Sense Ultras. Yes a ridiculous price but also ridiculously light(210grams UK 8.5) and comfortable with the best fit of any running shoe I have ever worn. These shoes are a beefed up version(in a very small way) to the original Kilian Jornet shoe the S-lab Sense which I also have a pair of and yes they are also stupid money(£200) but again I hunted down some half that price at the end of the summer. The original Sense is a little lighter at 185grams (UK 8). It is a very minimalist shoe meaning it has very little cushioning in the heel and forefoot to help you run in a more forefoot striking pattern. I am not going to go into the right and wrong ways to run and all this barefoot running is the way forward malarkey. There are pros and cons to everything and if you want to find more about it to make up your own mind then just type it into Google and you could be there for days reading through it. Anyway the Sense has the most amazing sock like snug fit of any shoe I have ever worn. It has very little grip on the sole so is best suited to smooth trails or dry rock. I use them for short races up to 20km and they work great but think I would struggle trying to do 100k with them as my running technique is not quite good enough to be able to use them properly forefoot striking for that distance but short distances I find them great. They are not for Scottish hill running. They do not grip on wet grass or rock , trust me on this! The Sense Ultra was brought out to aim at a broader market than the very specific Sense (apologies if the names confuse you) it has a little bit more grip on the sole , not much at all though and the toe box is a slightly different dogleg kind of shape making it a tiny bit more roomy. The biggest difference is the stiffness of the shoe. The Sense is very soft and flexes very very easy. Salomon added longer support struts to the Ultras to make it a bit more stiff and it really does make a difference to us normal runners. I have built my running up from small distances on the Ultras and I reckon now I could run 40km if not more quite comfortably on these. They are great great shoes but do cost a lot of money and will not last as long as most other shoes but if you can find any of these cheap then snap them up. The best way for me to describe running in either of these is like running in a very comfortable cushioned sock and the precision on trails is phenomenal. Sorry if this was all a bit vague comparing these but I could go on for hours about them. Bryon Powell of irunfar.com wrote a great review about these shoes a while ago so go check it out.

Now to the New Balance Leadville 1210. These are quite hard to come by in the UK but you guessed it I bought mine in Leadville(special edition colour!) the day before the big race. Yeah you could say the name is all marketing to get people like me to buy these shoes but I must admit this is not the reason I bought these. Well not purely the reason. My three main reasons for buying them came up in two seconds when I asked the shop staff in America about them as I had never seen them before. He said they fit like a Brooks Cascadia , are lighter (292grams Leadville , 389grams Cascadia 7's) and have a vibram sole. Done. Sold. I will get to Cascadias in a minute but I love them so another shoe that fits like them will work for me. Lighter is always good and a proper grippy sole is the one thing missing from the Brooks so the New Balance Leadville was born. The shoe fits snug and very comfortable all around and the toe box is deliberately made roomier to accommodate your foot swelling when doing an Ultra and it works. The shoe holds your foot and there is plenty of room in the toe box in both height and width but doesn't ever feel too big even when at the start of a race when your foot hasn't swollen up. Good job New Balance. Love them.

Now my go to shoe for long distances. The Brooks Cascadia 7's. I admit I wore the 8's for the first 50 miles of Leadville and for all of the Mont Blanc 80km with no problems but each time I go back to the 7's they just work better for me and they can be found for £50 online. I have 3 pairs of 7's and a pair of 8's. I love how comfortable they are and the cushioning for long distance is perfect. They are super robust and dry out pretty quick after river crossings. The only downside is what I briefly mentioned before and that is the grip. It is not the best but by no means terrible. I used my 8's for the first 50 miles of Leadville and then changed to a pair of 7's for the final 50 when my feet were sore and they worked a dream.

All of these trainers will be updated for next summer so keep an eye out for them. I will continue to use my Cascadias for long runs but the Leadvilles are creeping up to be my go to shoes for an Ultra. I am eager to see what the new Cascadias will be like next year and also the new grippier Salomon S-Labs! To find out more in depth/proper reviews head over to irunfar.com.

Hope I didn't bore anyone too much on this , this is just all my opinion after a summer of using all of these. Everyone’s feet are different so none of these might work for you but if you get a chance just trying slipping your feet into a pair of S-labs. Be it the Sense or Ultras and you will not be disappointed.

The Final Cham Winter?????

Well it has been a bit strange since I have been back in France. Back to work , arranging the shop opening deliveries of skis and boots etc.. but I just cannot get into winter mode yet. The skis have been back on and the running has continued.

I have been out for a few great little runs and just taking it easy now with two or three runs a week. Depending how I feel they are either during lunches or in the evening. I had an excellent run in the snow last week. 12km mostly flat with a little climb involved to get to the snowline then I had an awesome run down through ankle deep fresh powder back to Chamonix. Totally loved it although the feet got slightly cold so neoprene socks are on the shopping list. Other than that I have just been out for anything between 7-10km. As I said nothing at all like the summer but just keeping the legs ticking over. It will become more difficult to get out when the snow properly hits and the temperatures in town plummet but I am pretty determined this year to make sure I do get out twice a week. I actually went out this evening for 10km after work and felt I could have gone for 50! Just one of those nights , hood up , head torch on , head down and mellow tunes full blast and I was zoned out and totally at ease on the trails not really wanting to stop but I was hungry and needed my dinner. I love it when I get that feeling. The feeling of being able to go on and on and on. Breathing was spot on , heart was at a steady rhythm , I was not too hot nor too cold and my legs just felt so fresh going along at a chilled 50 min 10km pace. Typing this up I actually kinda wish I had stayed out.

Getting deeper

Tights are back on and S-labs are crap in snow

I never ever talk myself up about my running because at the end of the day there are always millions of people way better than I am so what's the point in going on and on about yourself. I know I am not the fasted out there and to be honest most of my friends who do not run as much as me are probably the same pace or even faster than I am but I do take great pride in my ability to keep going and stay relatively fresh. I know many people out there don't really see the point in doing races unless you give it 100% all out maximum effort for the entire race. Fair play to these people I think that is great but I touched on this before I think and I have been to races and done that and now I just go out to enjoy and love the fact I have trained myself to complete some of these distances and not wish the finish was just round the corner because I am in so much pain. It's meant to be fun isn't it? I run trails because I love to run trails. I don't do it to then get halfway and moan how sore I am and I wish it was all over. Yeah there are plenty of stages on a big race I am in tremendous pain but I love the challenge of fighting through that then an hour or maybe two down the trail you feel great again. I don't go out looking for the pain , it will come , it will go. That's Ultras. I ain't really into doing races or finishing races to tell people how hard it was or how sore I got. I want to let them know how amazing it was. This is not me sounding like I am above all of that or don't feel pain it is just that I know that is going to happen so what's the point in going on and on about how tough it was when it is pretty obvious running 50k , 100k , 100 miles is going to be bloody hard.

Fun Times

So Skiing has begun again and I have been out with the usual crew for a few days in Verbier skiing some great early season powder and also out for a couple of little tours to get the skinning fitness back. I do apologise to any non skiers out there as there is going to be a fair few skiing pictures coming up on this blog for the next few months but I promise I will try keep this minimal and it will not turn into a ski blog. I will let you know how the running is going and what is going through my head looking to summer! Yes summer! It is only just beginning to snow and all I can think about is those sweet sweet Colorado trails. 

Yes I know - Too good to leave behind

The two Grahams out for a wee tour in Flaine

Verbier powder hunting

It might all sound a bit far fetched but my trip in August feels like it totally changed my outlook on my life and where I want it to go. To be honest I have never really had a life plan and never had a clue what I really wanted to do but my trip to Colorado was so amazing it really had a massive effect on me. I totally believe this was not just a holiday buzz. I genuinely felt when I was out there that that was the place I am meant to be. Chamonix has never really felt like home. I love it here , it's totally amazing and I can forever see myself returning but it was always a stop gap for me to escape what had gone on back in Scotland and try to look ahead. It has been amazing here and I have met amazing people who will forever be great friends but my time here really is ticking away. I am sure I will have a tremendous season out here but all I am thinking of is Colorado. At the end of the day it looks near impossible for me to get a long term visa but I will make do with 3 months next year just to get a taste for life there a bit better and maybe even try pursue the long road of obtaining a visa. After my spell there it is looking more and more like Scotland. Now no way on earth could I do a summer back there but a winter I could handle as there are many winter climbs I still really want to get done but after one more Scottish winter I have no idea where the road will lead to next......... absolutely no idea.

Ready for the ice

Time up in Scotland

So it is the end of my trip back to Scotland and overall it was alright. The 17k Race in Culloden actually went rather well. I was not expecting much from this race at all. It was all on tarmac and to be honest I have actually ran loads in the past month and ran pretty much every day(10k minimum) I have been back in Scotland so I was not particularly fresh. It was a bigger race than I first thought with 275 people starting. From the off it went fine , I started way at the back and just moved on up the pack keeping an eye on my watch and my pace. I hit the 10k mark at 42 mins and was feeling great , I actually wished I had gone out faster as I easily could have. I was way too cautious. It was a really nice road race and had some cracking views out over Inverness. I was surprised the whole way how good I felt. Around the 14km mark I managed to gain on a guy in front of me and as usual decided I wanted to pass him. Now I thought in all honesty that I was around 20-30^th in the race. So no chance of a great finish but for some reason when you see someone in front near the end you just want to pass them. I got past him at km 15 , he stayed with me for the next km and a half and I quite liked the fact that he too did not want to loose his place so it was a bit of a sprint finish for the last half km and thankfully I came out on top and finished 30 seconds ahead of my fellow sprinter in 1hr 13mins and was pretty shocked I had finished 13^th.

A rare serious picture during Culloden

Maybe I should start going all out at smaller distance just to see how I get on because on this race I felt great the whole time and when I was passing people who were clearly beasting themselves I was still cruising along fine and having a little look and enjoying the views as everyone else was staring into the tarmac. Now I would never win this kind of distance as the winner was 1hr 2mins but looking at the results if I had knocked off 5 or 6 mins off my time I would have been close to a top 3 finish. I do admit I totally underestimate myself sometimes. I do believe there are some races out there I have finished well but could have been a top 3 if I knew my limits on shorter stuff. I am never ever going to get a top finish in an Ultra. As much as I would love to it just wont happen , I enjoy Ultras too much to destroy myself for 20 odd hours and feel like hell for most if it. I have done that before on my first couple of 70kms and yeah I did enjoy the races but enjoyed it at the end. Nowadays in my Ultras I can genuinely say I enjoy them from start to finish as I seem to have a good idea of my pacing but don't get me wrong here I do feel the pain but it is manageable. Now I am no Ultra Running guru and to be honest have not ran a great amount of long long stuff but that will all be changing in the next few years I guess. I just love to run races and take part. All three I have done whilst back have been great. Well except that 12km road section in Ennerdale but on the whole I have enjoyed the varying distances but it is damn hard to get pacing right when changing distances every week.

Looking back to the start of the Greenock Cut loop

Since Culloden the weather has been pretty terrible and I have been spending most of my time running around areas near my home town. I don't know if I could ever face living near here again. Yes it is lovely when the weathers good but the weather on a whole is terrible a lot of the time. I think in Chamonix this summer we had maybe a handful of days of bad weather. I never once had a day off work that was raining or I didn't want to go a run , it was blue skies every day I was off. The past week and a half in Scotland I have been thinking to myself thank god this was not my days off work. I have had my fair share of bad weather in the past , ran in near monsoons , climbed in horrendous white outs with gale force winds(which I do miss) but having spent all the years in France with great weather then I cannot see me leaving to live back in Scotland. Little trips back are fine and I will continue to enjoy them. I must admit my time in France feels like it is nearing an end. I am super excited about this winter and a little rest from running but next summer is looking more and more like it is going to be a long long trip to Colorado and I so hope this all goes to plan.

Lovely Trail on the Cut

I have been a few cracking local runs the past few days but nothing more than 12kms. I ran around the Greenock Cut not far from my house. A great trail loop of 11.5km then I drove home and done my usual 10km run along the shore as I was feeling fresh. Other than that it has just been little cruisy runs along beside the sea and it has been really nice. I love these local runs when I am home. There are so many little hills and trails all around Largs that I guess nobody every bothers about as I never see anyone else on them. Not that I am complaining I am happy to have them to myself.

See ya in a while Scotland

Back to France on Sunday and getting ready for what is hopefully going to be an epic winter. I will still be out running for the next month around the Chamonix trails then when snow hits town I will be trying to force myself out the door two nights a week to run in the snow and the freezing temperatures. Excited!