Alpine Start, Coastal Finish: Speed Project Adventure from Chamonix to Marseille

Event date: 23^rd to 25^th August 2024

Journey: Chamonix to Marseille (450km)

Team logo designed by Anna Luisa (runner)

Team: The Sisterhood – A mixed team of runners and crew from London, Paris and Berlin.

All women running team (8 runners), 4 Support Crew and 1 emotional support dog (Moon)

What a week…

Before I even got to the race, I was already in deep with climbing Mt Fortin – Italian Alps shooting an adventure for Run the Alps with Scotia Film. Hoping to share more about this soon and some behind the scenes shots.

Up on Mt Fortin in the Italian Alps. 3 days before running TSP

If you follow my run journey, firstly thank you. You will know that I took part in The Speed Project LA to LV earlier this year in March. What an experience, what a journey. I learned so much from that experience. Here is the blog for that race if you haven’t read it yet.

As we already know every run is different and every team is different. So I went into this experience with some knowledge, gratitude for the opportunity to be asked to be part of another team and was ready to throw myself into everything that was needed from me.

In this blog I share my experience of TSP Take #2. The inaugural Europe edition. 🇫🇷 

I mean I wasn’t expecting to run TSP again this year or so soon although I had already decided I would take on the challenge in 2025. Who knew there would be an inaugural Europe version of TSP.

If we take on the full motto of TSP, No RULES, I said why not. Though I did hesitate a little thinking that I may not have the distance in my legs since the last one was only a few months ago. I initially did consider being a crew member alongside Gloria…. But I guess that thought didn’t last long and we decided to be runners again on a new team. One thing about us is that we would give the run everything we had, no shortcuts!

The race

The race kicked off on Friday 23^rd August at 2am at Saint Bernard Du Mont-Blanc Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France. What a morning! OK so the start line was outside of a church so we had to be super quiet (I mean as much as possible, right!). Beautiful scenes as any TSP start line goes. A real community, support feel. The excitement is next level and the anticipation of the unknown scares you and also excites you. The team was pumped, ready to go! 8 runners split in 2 teams and everyone knew when it was their turn to run, perfect, right!

Jarick Walker, the man of the hour with the speech, the vibes, lifting every spirit and just bringing joy to every start line of TSP. If you don’t know Jarick, is a runner and Speed Project host. His energy and enthusiasm for the event always make it a memorable one. Jarick is known for his passion of running and adventure and he truly embodies the spirit of TSP.

The whole TSP team are all about pushing boundaries,  fostering community and celebrating the power of human endurance.

The start line

Let’s dive into it…

The Speed Project: Take 2 is an unofficial, unsanctioned relay race that expands on the original Los Angeles to Las Vegas route. This time, the challenge spanned across Europe, starting in Chamonix, France, and ending in Marseille.

Key Features: Route: The race began in Chamonix, a town at the foot of Mont Blanc known for its challenging trails and beautiful alpine scenery. From Chamonix, we made our way through various terrains, including mountain passes, rolling hills, and picturesque villages, ultimately finishing in Marseille, a historic port city on the Mediterranean coast.

Sandrine and Eden putting the bike together 

Distance: Similar to the original Speed Project, this route covers several hundred miles. This time 400km. We navigated diverse landscapes and elevations, testing our endurance, strategy, and adaptability. In all honesty, before I got to the start line I did not know how I would perform but I believed in my ability and strength that I always give my all in all challenges. This was not just about me, this was about the team.

Freedom of Route: True to the spirit of The Speed Project, there are no set paths or rules on how to get from Chamonix to Marseille. Teams choose their routes, whether they prefer taking longer, safer roads or more direct, challenging trails. The route from Chamonix to Marseille included significant elevation changes, requiring us to ascend and descend multiple mountain passes. The initial part of the race, especially, involved navigating alpine trails, which can be rocky, steep, and covered in snow or ice depending on the season. We were blessed with sunny skies throughout! You all know I love me some trails. This makes for a physically demanding start that required careful pacing and stamina.

Challenge and Adventure: The race is not about winning but about the adventure and the personal challenge. The team Sisterhood was exactly that. A group of 8 women running supporting and encouraging one another through the highs and the lows of the race. 4 amazing support crew and 1 emotional support dog, named Moon!  The unpredictable weather conditions of the Alps, the rugged terrain, and the long distance added to the difficulty and allure of the event. With all this in mind our vision never altered. We all knew why we were doing this and we could not have asked for a better support crew. A million thank yous  ❤️because running was the easiest part of all of this.

Running from Chamonix to Marseille was a test of endurance, strategy, and resilience, challenging us to push beyond our limits while enjoying the beauty and diversity of the French landscape. Absolutely stunning views. The toughest part of the race had to be towards the last hours of the segments when we broke it down into 1km repeats between 3 of us. The changeovers were swift, energy was high and the sweat was full on. I have never felt so excited and tired at the same time and I have to say we were all just on auto-pilot. It felt like my legs and upper body were no longer connected but yet the legs just kept turning over.

Some recovery time in between 

Views For miles

Weather Conditions: The weather in the Alps can be unpredictable and can change rapidly. The weather ranged from 25 degrees Celsius to 32 degrees Celsius. I mean this is not normal running conditions especially coming from London. However, we were all prepared for all conditions, from clear skies and sunshine to rain, wind, and even snow. We stayed ready. We luckily were graced with beautiful sunshine throughout. 

Transition to Provence: As we descended from the Alps, we entered the region of Provence, known for its rolling hills, vineyards, olive groves, and charming villages. This section offered a mix of road running and trail running, with gentler terrain than the high mountains but still presenting its own set of challenges. The warmer climate and beautiful landscapes provide a contrasting experience to the rugged Alpine start. Passing through Provence allowed us to experience the rich culture and history of the region, from ancient Roman ruins to medieval castles and charming small towns. This cultural immersion was an added bonus for us, making the race not just a physical challenge but also a journey through some of France's most historic and scenic areas. Plenty of opportunity to use the navigation via my Garmin Fenix. Absolutely love using the navigation as its so much easier and safer than constantly looking at the map on your phone. 

Gloria and Leonie (photographer) cracking jokes!

The Final Stretch: The race finished in Marseille, a historic port city on the Mediterranean coast. This part of Marseille is known for its vibrant atmosphere, diverse culture, and beautiful coastal views, Marseille offers a dramatic and rewarding finish for runners who have endured the journey from the mountains to the sea. The views were absolutely stunning and the photographs I took do not do it justice. You really have to visit Marseille, if you have never been. This was my very first time there and I already know I am looking forward to going back. More sight-seeing this time maybe and less running.

Celebration of Achievement: Reaching that finish line monument was incredible. Gloria and I ran the last 10km with the rest of the team meeting us about 500m from the finish so we all ran to the end together. Thank you Eden (team captain) for putting this in the plan! Wow! Just Wow! One of the most incredible finishes of all time. That 10km leg was out of this world. Started off all downhill and then gradually started to go up, and up and up and up. DAMN. We then started the decent back to the coast. I had all the emotions you can ever imagine. Tired, excited, exhausted, happy, sad (it was all about to finish!)… but most of all I was also THIRSTY! The emotions and dehydration got to me and I burst out into tears. I just wanted water. The Sisterhood team celebrated not just completing the race but the shared adventure. We then waited for likeagirl and Asra team to also finish as we had shared some miles together along the way. What a beautiful moment women and girls coming together in a true community and sisterhood spirit. Moments like this will stay with me forever! The finish line at the Mediterranean Sea symbolised the culmination of our journeys and the crossing of yet another personal and geographical boundary.

Team Sisterhood (runners) at the finish line

View from the finish line

Meters from the finish line! 📸 Cami

Together as one ❤️  Runners, Crew and Moon 📸 Cami

After the race comes the After Party – There is no TSP without an After Party. A great place to meet all the other runners and crews to celebrate this incredible journey, share stories and unwind! Beautiful vibes always and what made this party really special was celebrating Team Asra. Jarick and Tilly did a presentation for the Asra team and celebrated their achievement with the women saying what this means to them. A very special moment celebrating these amazing women. So proud!!!!!

Spirit of The Speed Project No Rules, Just Right: I can hand on heart say that as a team (runners and crew) formed a tight-knit connection, sharing stories, encouraging each other, and creating memories that will last long after the race is over. The bonds formed through shared hardship and triumph are a defining feature of The Speed Project experience.

Highs: Sisterhood team energy was TOP TIER! There was never a moment when I thought we couldn’t do this. We even finished much earlier than we predicted.

The beautiful Emelina in the driving seat.

Lows: This is a high and a low. Although we had set meals (lunch and dinner on the first day), we had to keep eating and fuelling on the go so this messes with your bowels and as you know this situ can become tricky. I would still do this over and over as this was nothing to complain about! I have never eaten so much bread and quiche in all my life. Great quality though.. I mean we are in France!

The mighty low was being bitten by a huge number of mosquitoes all over my legs which swelled up really badly and super itchy. That nearly brought me to tears. There was a segment that Gloria and I did which was a very bushy trail path and that is where it all started. I definitely attract these naughty bugs as I get bitten ALL the time to the point I often need antibiotics. Fortunately Anna had some sudocream which helped to calm down the itching. 

Alternating between running and cycling (support) with Gloria. Definitely the section that started the mosquito bites!

Fuelling ready for another segment

Personal Challenge and Growth - Beyond the Physical: While the physical challenge of running hundreds of miles is immense, the Speed Project also demands mental strength, strategic thinking, and emotional resilience. Over the years and having run a few ultras now, I am getting better and developed a strong mind-set. I am definitely always pushing beyond my perceived limits, discovering new levels of endurance, grit, and determination. The people you surround yourself by also enable you to push beyond those limits. I mean… what limit???

The Speed Project was more than a race; it was a reminder that when you push past your limits, you discover just how far you can go. As we celebrate this achievement, we also know that this is not the end. For us all, it has ignited a flame within us to keep exploring, keep pushing and running towards whatever lies beyond the horizon. TSP spirit will live on in every run we do, in every challenge we embrace and in every adventure we embark on.

The medal! 🌟 🤩 ⭐️ 

I hope our journey inspires you to find your own path, chase your own dreams and never stop exploring what lies beyond the next hill.

Every mile we ran taught us something new. We learned that strengths isn’t just physical; it’s mental and emotional, too. It’s waking up in the dark, lacing up your shoes when your legs are sore, and finding your willpower to keep going even when every part of you wants to quit. It’s encouraging each other, sharing a laugh despite the fatigue and finding joy in the simplest of moments – sunrise over the Alps, a wipe down with baby-wipes, drinking some cold water or a word of support from another runner.

Until the next adventure, keep running, keep dreaming and keep believing in the impossible. Remember, every finish line is just the start of a new beginning.

Thank you for following our journey.

PS: Of course I had to get a tattoo! 👀