Racing trains

I’ve just come back from a week long family holiday in Leukerbad and Gruyeres. Plenty of hiking in the mountains and evening runs to keep me in training.  No flying though – for once the paraglider stayed at home.  On one of the days my wife and I walked with our two children from Gruyere village to the village of Moleson. Not that far in the grand scheme of things but still a 2 hr hike with 400m height gain, which my youngest daughter, Lucy who is only 5yrs old, took in her stride! Afterwards the plan was to go up to Moleson summit.  Ali and the girls went to get tickets for the funicular mountain railway, whilst I set off at speed on foot.  Fortunately for them there was a train just about to depart.  Fortunately for me, they missed it!  The run up was easier than I expected and soon the top was in site.  The train was in the station and just about to depart but the family were nowhere to be seen! I was there with a comfortable 10mins to spare waiting for the next train to arrive!  Most of my running experience (Course de Duc, Geneva half marathon) has all been on the flat but I think I have been bitten by the ‘running up mountains’ bug.  The more I think about it the more excited I am about the X-Alps.  I just hope they let me in!