I have always been drawn to the European Alps because of the endless snowcapped peaks, high mountain cafes, gondolas and infinite singletrack. With endless options available, finding the best running routes can be challenging, and managing the logistics for the perfect alpine adventure can be even more daunting. Thankfully, there is a company called Run the Alps that handles all the details, so all you need to do is run and have fun. That’s why I was so excited to join the “Tim Tollefson in the Alps” tour.

Run the Alps was founded by New Hampshire native Doug Mayer. Many years ago, he went for a run at the base of the Eiger, sampled a mountain café, got hooked, and wanted to share the experience with others. Since then, he has grown Run the Alps to feature 14+ guided tours, along with self-guided and custom tours, for over 400 guests each year. Almost all guests are Americans drawn to the splendor of the Alps. These tours cover some of the most iconic trails in Italy, France, and Switzerland, including the UTMB course, the Haute Route, the Bernese Oberland, and many more. Several tours even feature celebrity guests like Courtney Dauwalter, Max King, or Tim Tollefson. Run the Alps takes the stress out of travel by handling all the details, including transportation, lodging, and meals. Most importantly, you get guides who will lead you on the most epic routes throughout your tour. It’s like an all-inclusive resort for trail runners.

I joined the “Tim Tollefson in the Alps” tour, a six-day adventure that included a few days around Chamonix, one magical night at an alpine hut, and a night in Courmayeur. Each day included a 9-15 mile route run at an inclusive pace with plenty of breaks. As the tour name suggests, Tim Tollefson, a legendary pro runner and UTMB podium finisher, joined as a guest guide. We also had a lead guide and a pro photographer with us for the entire trip. I was joined by five other runners I had never met before, but we quickly became friends over tales of trail running.

The adventure began with a group meetup the night before our first run together. This gave us a chance to meet our guides and the other runners. Giles, our lead guide, explained the plan for the week, which included a lot of beautiful singletrack, café stops, and fun! From there, we headed to the first dinner at a restaurant chosen by the experts at Run the Alps. I was ready to hit the trail.

I started the next day with a few chocolate croissants, yogurt and crepes, from the included breakfast, to be fully fueled for the imminent adventure. Before hitting the trail, our guides reviewed the day’s plan, and they also provided a plethora of trail running snacks for us to pick from.

We then walked together through downtown Chamonix on our way to a Gondola that would take us straight to some of the best singletrack on Earth. Our plan for Day 1 was to run in the Chamonix Valley, traversing high meadows on our way to lunch at a mountain refuge before a twisty descent back to Chamonix. That sounded pretty much like a dream come true!

The next few days started with hearty breakfasts, delicious snack distribution and a 9-15 mile route in alpine terrain that seemed too scenic to be real. Each day was also concluded with a group dinner at a different, but always awesome, restaurant picked by the guides. There are not enough adjectives to describe how much I was enjoying this experience!

We eventually left the comforts of the valley for the Albert Premier, a mountain hut located miles from civilization at the foot of the Le Tour Glacier. Of course, we stopped for a hearty lunch at a mountain café perched on the border of Switzerland. This made for a running day with lots of climbing. Our reward was a wondrous view, a hearty meal, and the chance to experience high alpine life.

After a rustic night at the hut, we enjoyed a downhill run straight to the nearest bakery to get some treats and caffeine before heading through the Mont Blanc tunnel to Courmayeur, Italy. Tim, a multiple-time UTMB podium finisher, took the time to explain what it’s like to run here during the UTMB race. We had one of the best dinners of my life, but it was bittersweet since the following day was going to be our last day of running.

The final route was a 9-mile section of alpine singletrack that is part of the UTMB course. I am not exaggerating when I say this may have been the best section of the trail that I have ever run, even better than Mount Toby! We trudged up a 2000+ foot climb to the day’s high point before a multi mile descent of silky smooth singletrack with mind blowing views in every direction.

As we stepped off the trail on the last day, I was in awe of what we had just experienced, and I was thankful to have been part of it. The next day, the group parted ways as we made our way back home. Run The Alps truly delivers an all fun and no stress trail running experience. I could have gone to Chamonix on my own and I would have found some nice runs. However, the Run the Alps team knows where all the best trails and restaurants are so I didn’t need to spend hours researching. They also provide a level of support that eliminates stress. Last, but not least, this trip let me hang out with Tim Tollefson, expert guides and a group of new friends which is something I could not have done on my own. Run the Alps recently published their 2025 tour dates; I might need to go check those out!