Chamonix – Digital Steak

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...

Finding my flow

Charley Radcliffe — Mon, 05 Jun 2017 06:54:17 +0000

As I was cruising up yet another stunning crack splitting a 300m granite face up high off the Aiguille du Midi, I felt truly in my element. Recent life events have really knocked my mental strength and the first thing to suffer is my ability to climb, or at least feel comfortable climbing. My recent...

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...

A basic strength, stability & mobility workout for trail running

Charley Radcliffe — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 13:43:39 +0000

Running is hard on your body, there is no doubt, and, your body needs to develop the strength and resistance for the miles you put it through. However, putting your body through too many miles without the relative strength, stability and mobility opens you up for injury and, potential, missing your race. As I train...

Kettlebell classes in Chamonix – The Mountain Foundry grows!

Charley Radcliffe — Thu, 12 May 2016 11:44:45 +0000

It’s only 10 minutes until my first kettlebell class in Chamonix and there are already over 10 people here – not bad for a debut! Fine, the class is free and the weather is glorious but, hey, I’m thinking this is a win! Growing The Mountain Foundry in Chamonix It was just 12 months ago...

Because it is there. For now.

Charley Radcliffe — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 10:37:06 +0000

When asked why he wanted to climb Everest, George Mallory famously replied “Because it is there.” There is something undeniably attractive about scaling both massive peaks in the Greater Ranges and more humble hills in the British Isles. Sadly, the question now seems to be, “But for how much longer?” When Climate Change can’t be...

.. and then I get spanked – climbing the Supercouloir

Charley Radcliffe — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 15:03:25 +0000

Yep, after going on about feeling stronger and the benefits to being stronger in the mountains, I headed out and got firmly put back in my place. And it’s not a bad thing at all. I headed up to climb a stunning but very challenging route here in Chamonix, the Supercouloir, with Graeme – mentally,...

Strength training for the mountains feels like cheating..

Charley Radcliffe — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 13:03:31 +0000

As I sit on a lift going back up for another ski run, tie onto the rope for another lap, or catch my breath before running up another hill I can’t help feeling like I’m cheating, that I’ve given myself an advantage over myself in previous years. Strength has given me a capacity to do...

Big Mountain Dreams

Charley Radcliffe — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 07:24:09 +0000

What are you training for right now? What is on your wish list that, maybe, you’ve not started training for yet? I’ve been ticking along recently, which has been a much needed gear to be running in but I’ve recently been feeling the need for something more. For picking an objective and committing to the...

Skiing the Vallee Blanche for the first time

Charley Radcliffe — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 07:05:09 +0000

I’m grinning ear to ear and I can hear Steve laughing out loud ahead of me. We’re skiing the Vallee Blanche, it’s my first time, and I’m loving it. The winter is just getting better and better with everything building up to this moment where I am making fresh tracks in knee deep powder, weaving between...