Running the Tour du Mont Blanc is more than a sporting challenge: it's a total immersion in the mountains, a quest for freedom, and a lesson in patience.
This summer, Astrid chose to take on this unique project: to complete the Tour du Mont Blanc in 4 days, by running .
A symbolic and personal challenge
It was both a personal challenge and a quest for freedom. I needed to confront something symbolic, but something outside of the races and training I'd been used to doing these past few months. I wanted to see what I was capable of over several days, in nature and without a stopwatch.
The Tour du Mont Blanc is a mythical and emotionally charged route that immediately seemed obvious to me for this project because I have lived in Passy next to this big mountain since I was little , and in September I will start a new life in Annecy so I wanted to mark my summer a little in the valley.
As for the duration, I chose 4 days because I wanted to experience it intensely, running at my own pace. This allowed me to run and push my limits while still taking the time to enjoy myself.
A preparation without a fixed plan
To be perfectly honest, I didn't do any specific preparation. This summer, I just wanted to enjoy myself and have a good time in the mountains. So whenever I felt like it, I went trail running and also did a few road runs.
I also prepared for the 42km Mont Blanc marathon in June, so I was able to do some trail runs which helped me prepare my body for the effort at altitude and on slightly more technical terrain.
On the mental side, there wasn't really any preparation either, other than trying to organize the trip properly and anticipate any unforeseen circumstances so I wouldn't lack anything and could fully enjoy these four days. Deep down, I was a little apprehensive because I'd never covered so many kilometers in four days, but above all, I was incredibly excited.
Unforgettable landscapes and encounters
There were many memorable moments, but meeting Elodie the day before, who was joining me on this project, was definitely one of them. The surprise of finding my dad at the refuge on the second night, and then my friends who had come up to join us for dinner. There was also my mom and JP, whom I bumped into on the trail on the last day, who had come up to cheer us on. And then there were my friends Raph, Max, Joana, and Jeremy, who were there on the last day, popping up along the roadside or trails to encourage us before the finish. When we arrived in Chamonix, they were all there waiting for us; that made me incredibly happy.
There were also the conversations with other runners or hikers on the trails and at the mountain huts. Each of these moments reminded me that emotion often arises from the unexpected, from the little things, and that running is not a solitary sport, but rather a sport to be shared.
In terms of scenery, I saw landscapes that truly made me realize how lucky I was to be there. I'm thinking in particular of the summit after the Col du Bonhomme. The descent towards Courmayeur after the Col de la Seigne. The little path and the blueberries before reaching La Fouly, and also the beautiful scenery before arriving at the Col de la Forclaz. I loved the beauty and immensity of the mountains, but also how easy it was to run on those very smooth paths, which was fantastic!
Nutrition: between pleasure and effectiveness
I knew that food was going to be key. I prioritized everyday foods (Babybel, Haribo, Pomme-Pote) rather than sports nutrition, since we weren't bringing a picnic and I still wanted to eat little things I enjoyed. I did, however, bring some energy bars (especially the chocolate mint ones that I love) and dried fruit.
For the evening, I had brought hummus and tomato spreads to enjoy with drinks at the refuge. Unfortunately, we always arrived too late and had to go straight to dinner (meals are at 7 pm sharp in the refuges!). But I made sure to eat some as an appetizer with my friends the following week to celebrate the end of this wonderful project, and it was delicious!
A project for two and little memories
We didn't really have any unexpected problems; everything went smoothly, except for the sections through the cow pastures, which were quite daunting. So we were looking for hikers to cross with to avoid a long detour.
The most striking words came from Élodie, when she explained how happy she was that there were two of us to motivate her to push herself further each day on this TMB. It warmed my heart to be able to share this project with someone else.
Patience, resilience, and letting go
This adventure has taught me above all patience, resilience, and the beauty of letting go, a form of overcoming and performance different from what I can experience in races.
What's next? I'm thinking about a longer trek, or something a bit more challenging. Maybe a long-distance trail. I'd really like to do Chamonix to Annecy in two days, to connect my two homes.
One emotion to remember: gratitude
Gratitude. For my body, for the mountains, for the encounters, for the support of my loved ones, and for the privilege of having a body that allows me to do this. When you're running up there, with your heart pounding and your breath coming in short gasps, you feel alive. It's a privilege. And I hope it will inspire others to get out there, to try, to embark on projects that are close to their hearts.
