The Chamonix 2009 Cross Country and 10k Races (along with smaller distances for children) were going to be held Saturday, June 27 and the Marathon on Sunday, June 28, the day we were leaving for Annecy, France. I saw the posters and announcements all over Chamonix and my eyes lit up. Once a runner, always a runner. Perhaps not a fast runner, or able to do Marathons any more but running is still in my blood and I get all teary-eyed whenever I see a race.

I began running in 1978 and progressed from one mile to 26.2 miles in a four-month period making poor ex-Marine, who hated every footstep, join me. (I can be very persuasive.) This is definitely not recommended today but 1978 was the Jim Fixx, Alberto Salazar, Bill Rogers, Kathrine Switzer, Lorraine Moller era and neophytes were told to run mega-miles. Anal, obsessive-compulsive, Type A, overachiever listened and began running 10k’s, marathons, training 60 miles a week, and trying to convert whomever would listen into becoming runners. This lasted until 1985 when my poor shins, and bony knees couldn’t take it anymore. We both still run around three miles several times a week but I will never forget the excitement of my first blue Nike “Waffle trainers” when I became a bouncy, trouncy, runner. S-I-G-H.

race start for cross-country and 10k in Chamonix, France
I’m looking at these signs and my pea-brain is churning away. “Perhaps, I could run-walk the Marathon” and then I read the extremely daunting details. WELL! The regulation marathon, 42.195 km/26.2 miles begins right by the tourist office at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 28, and is limited to 1,500 runners. The race course starts at 1,036m/3,398′, goes up to 2,201m/7,221′, down to 1,363m/4,471′, with one last uphill at 2,016m/6,614′ – fastest runners usually doing it in under 4 hours. That, most definitely took care of any Marathon ideas I might have had.

Chamonix race routes in France
The Cross Country 23 km/14.2 miles held Saturday, June 27, merely began at 1,036m/3,398′ and headed continuously uphill, ending at 2016m/6,614′ with the fastest runners finishing in 3:30 hours. Both the Marathon and Cross Country finish at the top of the Plan Praz lift, the same lift it took us almost three hours to walk up to.

Now my thoughts have diminished to the 10k, also on Saturday, June 27. This begins and ends at the parapente (parasailing) area, 1,036m/3,398′ goes up to 1,281m/4,202′ before coming back down. Even nutsy me knows all of the above are impossible to do. We’ll just watch which thrills ex-Marine no end, worried that somehow I’d coerce him into this madness along with me.

For all of you extreme athletes, e.g. Pike’s Peak marathoners, come on down in 2010 and give this one a try! Even in my best running days, this feat would have been so far above my ability it was ludicrous to think of. We leave on Marathon day but are determined to at least see the start at 7:00 a.m.