Outdoor
Running to find yourself
WHEN TRAILS BECOME A JOURNEY OF SELF-DISCOVERYWhat if running wasn’t just about performance?
What if, behind every stride, lay another quest: that of reconnecting with nature, with others and with oneself?
From the shores of Lake Annecy to the forests of Semnoz, the mountain pastures of the Aravis and the trails of the Glières plateau, the mountains offer a source of inspiration and an exceptional setting for self-expression, but above all, they are a place of freedom and balance.
A place where one comes to breathe, slow down and rediscover what really matters.
Running and trail running are booming sports, attracting more and more enthusiasts and die-hard fans every day – from amateurs to seasoned athletes – who hit the trails with gusto.
Some of them defy the laws of performance and achieve fascinating feats. Among the leading figures in ultra-trail running, Sébastien Chaigneau has risen to the challenge.
The athlete, who lives in Thorens-Glières, has an extraordinary track record: winner of the Hardrock 100 in the United States, the Ultra-Trail du Mont Fuji in Japan and the Transgrancanaria; runner-up in the UTMB and third in the Diagonale des Fous, Sébastien was long considered one of the world’s best runners before deciding to take a break.
For the past three years, he has deliberately put competition on hold, although he does not rule out the possibility of competing again one day. In the meantime, this decision speaks volumes about his relationship with running, but above all about his deep-seated connection to the mountains.
Sébastien Chaigneau
Rediscovering the feel of your stride
In a world where performance, rankings and lap times often take centre stage, Sébastien Chaigneau reminds us that the essence of trail running lies elsewhere. Throughout his career, having competed in the biggest races alongside the likes of Kilian Jornet and François D’Haene, he has always emphasised his commitment to living in the moment.
“The starting point is neither records nor times; what comes before everything else is the experience of the moment, the feeling of the moment, all those landscapes we pass through and the encounters we have along the way,” he says. Because, before any performance, there is this love of nature, this fascination with flora and fauna, this need to immerse oneself in a whole that tells a story.
© Peignée Verticale / Trail run in the Parmelan Massif
This philosophy resonates particularly strongly today, at a time when more and more runners are turning to running as an antidote to everyday stress. Running in the great outdoors often acts as a genuine therapeutic respite, and the power of immersion in the natural environment reveals all its benefits. The steady rhythm of one’s footsteps, one’s breathing in tune with the terrain, the silence of the forests, or the panorama that unfolds after the exertion are all experiences that elevate the very notion of physical exertion.
On the trails around Annecy, it sometimes takes just an hour at daybreak to rediscover that rare feeling of being fully present – provided you venture slightly off the beaten track, choose the less popular times, and remain in harmony with yourself and the surroundings you’re exploring during your getaway.
Experiencing the mountains as a place to reconnect
Because trail running is not just an endurance sport, nor even a frantic pursuit of the best and the most. Above all, it is a way of experiencing the mountains. Unlike a purely competitive sport, a trail run can become a fully immersive sensory experience. Watching the changing light on the lake, listening to the wind rustling through the spruce trees, coming across the tracks of ibex on a ridge, or simply sharing a climb with friends are all moments that give meaning to the effort.
A sensitive and human dimension that forms an integral part of trail running culture. Sébastien Chaigneau regularly speaks of the importance of camaraderie and authenticity in his approach to the sport. Behind the sporting achievements, it is often the shared memories and the sensations experienced that remain most vividly in the mind: the friends you feel supporting you through the tough bits and whom you cheer on, the panorama that opens up and gives you a new lease of life after a gruelling climb, or even the changing weather conditions that give the run an unexpected twist.
Going for a run with a few friends after work, organising a trip to Semnoz at the weekend or discovering a new route in the Bauges becomes much more than just a training session. It’s a get-together, an opportunity to bond, to enjoy an accessible adventure and to satisfy that fundamental need for contact with nature.
This whole approach comes with one essential condition: preserving the riches of the environment we’re exploring.
© Peignée Verticale / A chance encounter in the Tournette Massif
Respecting the environment and local customs
For this reconnection with the mountains also entails a sense of responsibility. The landscapes that make the Annecy basin and the peaks of the Aravis massif so beautiful are fragile environments.
Every year, the number of people using the trails increases, attracting sports enthusiasts, walkers and lovers of the great outdoors. The variety of activities can sometimes make it difficult for everyone to coexist, and everyone must bear in mind that the mountains are, above all, a natural environment home to a diverse range of plant and animal species, but also a place where pastoral traditions – which play a key role in maintaining these spaces and landscapes – are a major activity.
To ensure that everyone can continue to enjoy these areas in the long term, there are a few simple principles to follow. The first is to stay on the marked trails and not to cross the fences erected in the mountain pastures. Straying from the official routes can accelerate soil erosion, damage the vegetation, and disturb the local wildlife and grazing herds. Caution is particularly important in alpine pastures and sensitive natural areas, where certain species find refuge and need peace and quiet to breed.
Respect for this environment, as well as for other users, is an integral part of the spirit of trail running. “The mountains belong to no one; they belong to the animals and to nature itself, and it is up to us to blend into this environment, leaving as few traces as possible. They are to be shared, with respect,” says Sébastien Chaigneau.
© Peignée Verticale / Respect for the environment and marked trails
Rediscover a taste for adventure
One of the finest lessons to be learnt from trail running and mountain running is undoubtedly this: there’s no need to travel to the other side of the world to experience a real adventure.
Our own regions offer a wealth of landscapes, atmospheres that come alive in the ever-changing light throughout the day and across the seasons, and a whole range of experiences to be savoured to the full.
Sébastien Chaigneau has run on legendary trails at the ends of the earth. But like many mountain lovers, he also knows that the most intense emotions often arise just a few kilometres from home. Around Annecy, the possibilities are endless. A loop through the forest, a climb to a high-altitude lake, a traverse across a plateau or a run through the heart of a mountain pasture already offer that sense of escape sought by all outdoor enthusiasts.
© Peignée Verticale / The mountains have everything to offer us
However, success in this activity does not mean you can do without knowledge of the terrain or an understanding of your own abilities. To enjoy the mountains in harmony with nature means choosing the right time and the right conditions, planning your route and the best time to set out, preparing yourself physically and ensuring you are properly equipped.
The mountains are not a harmless environment; they harbour their own risks and pitfalls. And physical activity cannot be improvised. It requires a minimum of acclimatisation and suitable equipment.
And to realise that, ultimately, what really matters is neither the distance covered nor the total elevation gain, but rather that moment when we leave behind the hustle and bustle of everyday life to reconnect with the elements. That moment when our breathing falls into step with the rhythm of our footsteps. That moment when you take in your surroundings, when you savour the silence and marvel at the flight of a bearded vulture, the crest of a black grouse, a daffodil in bloom or a gentian thriving in the soil where it first took root.
In a world that moves at breakneck speed, the mountains remind us of a simple truth: moving forward is not necessarily a question of pace; it is, above all, a question of presence.
© Peignée Verticale / Making the most of the mountains to rediscover yourself
To reconnect with Nature
With our free, 100% outdoor app, Lac Annecy Aravis Outdoor, discover signposted and safe routes to experience nature and the mountains and create your own memories.
Photo credit at top of page:
- © Peignée Verticale
Journalist: Gaëlle Tagliabue