Athletes: Spice up your workout during your mountain vacation

 

Are you part of the growing community of urban trail runners? Are you planning to line up at the starting line of a mountain race this summer? Take advantage of your trip to the mountains to fine-tune your training in real-world conditions!

 

Hill workouts, trail runs, “leg-busting” descents to test the effectiveness of your winter strength training, rolling trails, or—on the contrary—more technical ones: the playground at your disposal is vast and varied in the Tarentaise! You can even do cross-training on days when your knees need a break—on a road bike, for example.

 

No matter what distance you plan to run on race day, your trip will help you fine-tune your race strategy: Are these the right shoes? Is your hydration pack convenient? And that energy gel… does your stomach tolerate it?

 

Our advice: Don’t get too caught up in the numbers, at least at first. Give your body time to acclimate to the altitude without expecting it to perform at the same level as it does at sea level. You’ll quickly realize that a VMA interval workout or a hill session doesn’t have the same effect at 100 m as it does at 2,000 m… Fortunately, you can recover at the ChaletHôtel Turquoise wellness center ;)

 

Extra Tip: Take part in a race during your vacation! The “ la Rosière ” Trail in mid-July (4 courses), the “6000D” in La Plagne in late July (9 events), or the “ Tignes ” Trail in August (3 courses + kids’ races).

How about adding the magnificent road sign at the Col de l’Iseran to your collection of souvenir photos? At 2,770 meters—not a single meter less—this legendary pass is the highest road pass in Europe! You can tackle it, depending on how you’re feeling that day:

 

- From Val d’Isère (the easiest route: 960 m elevation gain, maximum 7% grade)

 

- From Bonneval-sur-Arc (shorter, but more challenging, with gradients of around 9%). A must-see: Bonneval, voted the French people’s favorite village in 2015

 

- A round trip starting from Tignes, with a detour through Bonneval-sur-Arc! This is no joke: 85 km and 2,550 m of elevation gain. If you’re feeling particularly strong, take a detour through Tignes les Brévières before beginning the climb to Tignes le Lac: you’ll then be following in the wake of the world’s best cyclists, who rode these roads on July 4, 2021, during the Tour de France.

 

Our tip: Plan your trip to Haute Tarentaise to coincide with the Iserane, a friendly cycling race held every year in late June, during which the Col de l’Iseran is closed to car traffic.

 

Convenient: A private bike storage space is included with your apartment reservation in La Rosière (Lodge des Glaciers) or in La Plagne (ChaletHôtel Turquoise)!

 

Indoor climbing and rock climbing can almost be considered separate disciplines, given how much the reference points change when you switch from indoor to outdoor climbing.

 

Some people love having the freedom to place their hands and feet wherever they please, without trying to reach that conspicuous (but elusive) red hold that taunts them 30 centimeters away.

 

The others wouldn't mind a little guidance, and hesitate for several long minutes before placing the edge of their climbing shoe on that hold—“It looks pretty good… but maybe there's something better, right?”

 

Adventurers at heart and eternal indecisive types agree on one thing: what a treat for the ears, that gentle jingling of quickdraws on the rock face! A little ASMR effect you never get tired of, from the base of the route all the way to the belay station.

 

Our tip: Hire a high-mountain guide and set out to tackle an 8- or 10-pitch multi-pitch route—or even a stunning, vertiginous ridge! The Franchet Ridge, for example, offers a breathtaking view of the magnificent Lac du Chevril. It’s still accessible to non-expert climbers who aren’t afraid of heights…