iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 17h

11 days until #eltresmils & trying to strike the balance between keeping sharp & not overdoing it. Haven’t done much vert in the last couple of weeks so something a bit steeper today. Keep on keeping on. #trailrunning

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 18/10/2026

A damp & dreamy 20km on the petits balcons. Feeling good again after getting sick after a very hectic 🇬🇧 trip. Must get my Covid & ‘flu jabs 💉 next week. Less than a week until holiday 🇪🇸 & 2 weeks until #eltresmils race! #trailrunning

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 18/10/2026

Saving best til last, the Kjerag 2s. Amazing shoe; very light but with 2mm extra foam vs the 1s. Good for 50km+ on any terrain. I use these for races & longer runs. No inner sole = 👌🏽 ground contact & no blisters. Will buy another pair when the time comes but still loads of life after 500km+

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 18/10/2026

I got a 2nd pair of original Kjerag’s on sale after they bought the new model out. Just as good as the first pair, they’ve done nearly 700km and have loads of life in them. My go to training shoe for any runs <2 hours

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 18/10/2026

The La Sportiva Prodigio Pros are 18 months old & have done nearly 1,000kms. Uppers & sole still in good shape. Not my favourite running shoe - the stack is a bit high for me - but great for recovery runs or if feet are sore. Very impressed with how they are wearing, should be good for 1,500km+

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 18/10/2026

First the original pair of Nnormal Kjerag. It says 1,240km but these are now my dog walking shoes as they’re a bit worn for running. They have done 1,500km+ including walks & are still comfortable & good for casual hikes. Amazing shoe for <30km runs, light & fast, good ground feel. Really impressed.

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 18/10/2026

Running shoe longevity post! I’ve been searching for the best shoes for a mix of performance on different trail conditions & distances plus longevity. Here’s my current rotation (I retired some La Sportiva Akasha’s which only managed about 900kms) @thegreenrunners.bsky.social #trailrunning

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 15/10/2026

There’s a murmuration at the Gare Routière in Geneva 🐦

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 13/10/2026

Garmin’s VO2 max algorithm is a joke. I spent the last 6 months busting my chops doing hard workouts on steep mountain trails with it bouncing around from 53-55. 5 days in 🇬🇧 with a couple of quicker flat runs and it’s immediately up to 57. #trailrunning #garmin

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 13/10/2026

Spotted on my run earlier. I thought tomorrow was meant to be hump day? 🤣

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 11/10/2026

It’s a small village at the southern end of the Peak District that just happens to have a train station that links to the village where my parents live

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 11/10/2026

And ⚽️ yesterday; great to see old friends but so disappointing for the 🐏 to concede an equaliser in the 88th minute 😩 The curry house we went to at 8pm still hadn’t served food my 10pm so we staged a walkout & got a McTurks kebab instead which was absolutely lush 😋 #dcfc #derbycounty

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 11/10/2026

Peak District; Bakewell - Whatstandwell run this morning. Got very lucky with the weather. No big navigational hiccups. Chippy stop in Cromford then had enough time to do 5km on the canal to Whatstandwell before the train came. #trailrunning

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 09/10/2026

Visiting the parents for the weekend, after cups of tea & hellos had a run around some old haunts. Now off to ‘the best fish & chips in 🇬🇧’ for dinner (will report back) then pub. Off with friends to see Derby 🐏 play tomorrow, followed by a curry 🤤 Sunday = Peak District for long run

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 07/10/2026

Session today sounded benign: 3 x 20’ uphill weighted hike (90s rest between sets) & run down. But, it was a beast. Probably cos I decided to hike up a 22% incline ⛰️. The hour up with 5kg pack was hard, but the run down was even harder. Cooked by the end and 15 mins late to ⚽️ pickup #trailrunning

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 06/10/2026

On the myrtille bushes for sure. And some trees too, although most are in the ‘light green / yellow’ phase rather than browns or oranges

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 05/10/2026

Really happy with this photo from yesterday. Lovely soft autumn colours, and Freddie looks poised for action.

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 04/10/2026

Last section was descending from Loriaz and a mini-extension to take in Cascade de la Berard & Refuge de la Berard

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 04/10/2026

Levels out towards Loriaz refuge. Nice views of the Cheval Blanc & down valley 😍

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 04/10/2026

At the dam, cut left towards Loriaz. Only done the path one before (5 years ago) and in the opposite direction. It’s very technical - lots of chains and some climbing. Fun but slow going. Pics looking back to the dam & some of the rocky stuff

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 04/10/2026

The approach to Emosson climb & the climb itself. Took some photos as this is on the route of the 90km marathon & im normally throwing up at this point 🤮. Still my least favourite climb in the valley; 630m D+ in 2.5kms

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 04/10/2026

Goats. Freddie was uncertain what to do with them.

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 04/10/2026

For today’s long run, I decided to drive to Le Buet & do a loop of Barrage d’Emosson & Refuge de Loriaz. Freddie hates the car, but trying to get him used to it. I also haven’t been up there this year & not sure when the snow will make it impassable. First pic view to Vallorcine & 🇨🇭

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 02/10/2026

Hoping for treats at dinner - he already had two mozzarellas that were past their best

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 02/10/2026

Rehabilitation continues with a slightly faster run on flatter / non-technical terrain. Went pretty well, knee was creaking a bit by the end so time to rest up. Beautiful autumn day with the colours starting to pop. Saw a parapenter who’d had a bad landing 😬 #trailrunning

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 30/09/2026

The final Big Mountain Trail Club run of the year! Nice chance to catch up with some familiar faces over a run & a free beer. I even won a hat in the raffle! Love talking to Chamonix trail friends - always doing the craziest & most inspiring adventures. And the knee felt good 🤞🏼 #trailrunning

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 29/09/2026

Ok that was weird, felt like my right leg was learning to run again from scratch. Had a couple of moments when it folded a bit & had some numbness in right toes. Uphills were v slow with short strides. BUT no major pain & feels like progress. And it was a “physio approved” activity #trailrunning

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 26/09/2026

Had to DNS my race - no way the knee was in a position to take it on. Walking is ok, but cannot bend the right leg enough to run, so instead i caddied for my son at his first golf tournament. Not a bad consolation (although I’m obviously gutted)

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 25/09/2026

Did some taping which does help a bit. It’s still painful even walking up steps though despite the icing & massage gun. Have to see how it feels in the morning but not super hopeful.

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 23/09/2026

10km taper run taking in Buvette Cerro & Cascade du Dard with a decent bit of vert whilst son is at football training. The pitch side view couldn’t be better. #trailrunning

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 20/09/2026

Long run: forgot phone so no photos. Disaster! Luckily it was Strava’ed so have proof it did happen. Another run similar in distance & elevation to Saturday’s race. Felt really good, hope can keep the good feels until then. #trailrunning

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 17/09/2026

Ended up having a double day; uphill tempo session this morning as planned. Had a look at the Ascend app later and saw what I thought was a non-running activity and it turned out to be leg strength - hiking uphill & running down 😫 I did an hour rather than 90 mins so not too bad #trailrunning

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 13/09/2026

Absolutely stunning, but happy to accept there are some places which someone with my risk appetite will never see!

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 13/09/2026

For an idea, if you zoom in, the blue dot shows where the “path” is 😬 Apparently the worst but was a 20m shuffle along a 50cm wide path across a cliff. Nothing below for 500m. SO happy I was working that day & I will never be going to this ridge, despite the incredible views

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 13/09/2026

Some friends did an insane ridge route on Friday from Mont Buet to Moede Anterne refuge. Luckily, I was working. My very unfazeable friend described it as “terrifying”. Marked as a normal path, it was more via ferrata with 500m+ sheer drops. They had no mountaineering equipment 😬

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 13/09/2026

Yes, will share some more. They had quite an adventure but it sounded absolutely terrifying. Not a route I will ever be taking!

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 13/09/2026

On Friday some friends did the ridge trail from Mont Buet to Moede Anterne refuge. Apparently it was terrifying; 500m sheer drops, insane scrambling with danger everywhere. This was on the trail - no sign of path until they saw the blue dot (zoom in). Yes, you had to scale the slate stack 😬

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 13/09/2026

Did a loop that is similar profile to my race in a couple of weeks although slightly shorter. Tired on the first climb but legs came back in the second half. Lovely run & good prep: 22km / 1,075m D+ / 2hr 40m #trailrunning

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 09/09/2026

Proof we do still get crappy, rainy days. Must say I kind of enjoyed it! 50 minute weighted uphill hike (750 D+) and run down. 7.5km total. #trailrunning

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 07/09/2026

Sense of overwhelm is creeping back. Too many things going on; work, new school year admin, kids sports clubs, client trips to London, family visits, home refurbishments, rental property issues, pets, orthodontists, no free time, falling behind with training….. 😩 Need a week / month on my lonesome

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 06/09/2026

Beautiful long run, just under 3 hours. 20km / 1,220m vertical up to Flegere, Grand Balcon Sud to Planpraz then down. Took this shot on the hoof below Planpraz - he’s just taken off above my head #trailrunning

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Ben 🏔️🏃‍♂️🇫🇷 @beninchamonix.eurosky.social · 04/09/2026

Tommy’s nose looking way better, and he’s also looking young & handsome for a nearly-17-year-old

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