Running – Digital Steak

Running the K2000 at the Mont Blanc Skyrace

Charley Radcliffe — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 07:41:04 +0000

Any race that a helmet is mandatory has to be pretty badass, no? Well, the Mont Blanc Skyrace K2000 is certainly that. Starting in Courmayeur with 2,200m of climbing over 11km to Pointe Helbronner at an altitude of 3,300m, the only way is up. And Up, and up, and up. Sold on the idea last...

Enough is enough – feeding the rat

Charley Radcliffe — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 07:28:49 +0000

Al Alvarez defined feeding the rat as: “the need to get out, to test yourself, to flush out the system, and, above all, to have some fun.” To feed that gnawing sensation in the pit of your stomach that drives our motivation for getting out and challenging ourselves, testing our limits and to quell our...

Running for the joy of running at the Cortina Trail

Charley Radcliffe — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 08:14:53 +0000

“You’ve just got to run for the enjoyment of it all; the views, the trails, the people..”, Seb Chaigneau’s words were rolling through my mind as I carried on pushing myself up the last major climb of the Cortina Trail, the middle distance course at The North Face Lavaredo Ultra Trail. I felt good – sure,...

Running with Legends – The North Face athletes shake out runs at the UTMB

Charley Radcliffe — Fri, 02 Sep 2016 14:31:24 +0000

35 people stare at me expectantly. I’m standing in The North Face Store in Chamonix with their professional athletes by my side. I’m about to go running with them and a group of runners from seasoned ultra veterans to newbies like me in the lead up to the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc, one of...

Eating on the go – nutrition while trail running

Charley Radcliffe — Sat, 27 Aug 2016 08:01:17 +0000

I’ll be fine. I don’t need to eat at the moment. I’ll eat in a bit. It’s ok. Then.. it is suddenly not. I crash. I start to slow down first, then my concentration starts to waiver, then I just fall into a crabby and irritable mood. If only I had had eaten when I...

What’s going on in UTMB Week – free runs and events

Charley Radcliffe — Sun, 21 Aug 2016 07:16:42 +0000

Every year, thousands of runners and tens of thousands of spectators descend on Chamonix for one of the highlights of the trail running calendar – the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc. Besides the eponymous 166 km/9,600m ascent mountain race there are a 4 others including the PTL, 300km/28,000m±; CCC, 101 km/6,100m±; TDS, 119 km/7,250m±; and,...

True grit at the Lavaredo Ultra Trail – part 2

Charley Radcliffe — Sat, 09 Jul 2016 06:33:43 +0000

As Mike left the first aid station, to say I was worried, is an understatement. Here he was, 33km into the 119km of the Lavaredo Ultra Trail and he was suffering from food poisoning – I was unable to even get off the sofa when I had something similar yet here he was, with 86km to...

True grit at the Lavaredo Ultra Trail – part 1

Charley Radcliffe — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 06:55:49 +0000

We’re 103km into the enormous 119km of the Lavaredo Ultra Trail and Mike Foote crosses the brow of a hill with Rory Bosio and they jog their way into the last aid station. They both smile. It is clear they are still suffering but somehow they are both still smiling, both still cracking jokes, and both...

Cortina Skyrace 2016 – Race Report

Charley Radcliffe — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 07:21:22 +0000

Fighting to fill my lungs, the magnitude of what I had let myself in for started to hit home. We were barely 2.5km into the 20km of the Cortina Skyrace and we were only just reaching the first climb. How was I suffering so much already? The Lavaredo Ultra Trail The Lavaredo Ultra-Trail is based in...

Preparing for the Cortina Skyrace

Charley Radcliffe — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 06:26:57 +0000

My last long run is done and the race is just around the corner. My legs feel strong and my mind is psyched to get started now. I’ve wanted to return to Cortina since discovering this beautiful alpine town last year while climbing the classic Tre Cime di Lavaredo. Now I’m heading back on Wednesday...