An Outsider’s Guide | Trail Running Mont Cima. Forever Outsiders.
The world is smaller than it used to be.
For those privileged enough to travel around it for work & pleasure, commercial aviation, smart-phones and location services allow you to zoom into anywhere almost instantly. Convenience isn’t just on the street corner, it’s in the palm of our hand, strapped to our wrists, counting every step, click, beep and tap. And now if you venture out into the wild, did it really happen if you don’t post it to your feed? Don’t worry someone else will take the pictures. God loves a hiker, not a liker.
To really explore this rock they call Planet Earth, you need to use your own organic matter. Log-off, lace-up and stride out to see what nature can offer you. If it’s out into the wide-open air, to places you’ve never been before, or simply a local, well-known route to feel your heart beat, there’s nothing much more rewarding than Trail Running. Simplicity.
Outside you expand your lungs, your mind, and your horizons. Push just that little bit further, beyond the average path, and reconnect with real world movement and sensory fulfilment.
Anyway, put bluntly, more and more riders appear to be running. And we are they. We ride, we run, we swim, we have fun. We are Forever Outsiders, forever out riding, sliding, grinding and exploring. We cannot be categorised beyond our passion for adventure. Trail Running is perhaps the combination of our love for the off-road, the beauty of the wild and the suffering that makes a day out that little bit more interesting.
Our latest trail route, taken on by colleagues Maïlys, Thibault and Lucie struck out from the small village of Aspremont (25-minute drive or 70 min bike ride from Nice), running a voluptuous loop ‘peaking’ at Mont Cima. Our trio are linked by a taste for the mountains and the desire to explore ever further. Thibault, former high-level cyclist, Lucie the gravel adventurer and Maïlys the dedicated runner.
Aspremont lies on the eastern slopes of the lower section of the Var, the valley that links the Alpes Maritimes and Nice. This ancient village was formerly protected by a castle, which you can still see the remains of. Straight out of the village towards Mont Cima is a serious warm up for the thighs and lungs. Like most trail routes around here, it is easy to quickly accumulate elevation, rising fast due to a strong gradient.
The topography is a mixture of rock and a little greenery. Then once at the top, a change of landscape, and a descent into the forest, perfectly timed for some recovery under the canopy. The diversity of the landscape in this area is incredible.
CAP D'AIL TÊTE DE CHIEN
Here you are, in Cap d'Ail for a trail that will take you straight to one of the most beautiful views of the Principality of Monaco.
SAINT JEAN CAP FERRAT
This is one of the easier trail courses that you can find on the Côte d'Azur, its 120 metres of vertical drop provide a playground for novice runners and the experienced athlete alike.
