Life in Chamonix is beautiful, but it’s not slow. With a toddler, a training schedule, and a mountain town to navigate in French, no two days look exactly the same. But here’s what a typical week tends to look like for me, in this season of motherhood, movement, and starting over.

Mornings: Coffee, Chaos & Nursery Runs

Most days start early. Margot needs to be at nursery by 8am, and it’s about a mile from our chalet, so there’s not much room for faff. But we always carve out time for family breakfast. It’s one of my non-negotiables. Sion and I share a pot of coffee while Margot tucks into her beloved Weetabix (brought over from the UK and now rationed like gold dust).

Once she’s dressed and ready, we head out for the nursery drop. We either walk or hop on the local train for one stop, depending on how much time (and energy) we have that day.

Mid-Mornings: Tidy, Train, Breathe

After drop-off, I head back to reset the house. Quick tidy-up, beds made, crumbs swept. Then it’s time for my first training session of the day, usually 1 to 2 hours depending on where I am in my cycle or race plan. It might be strength work, treadmill intervals, or heading out onto the trails (yes, even in the snow).

Afterwards: shower, eat, breathe. I usually make something simple but delicious for lunch; fuel is everything when you’re juggling mileage and parenting. And on days I need a little joy? Wandering to a local bakery for a slice of quiche Lorraine has become a guilty pleasure. I never knew I liked it, but wow… delicious.

Afternoons: Recovery & Real Life

Some days I’ll have a second session. Others… I won’t sugarcoat it, it’s a battle. Whether I’m dragging tired legs or a tired brain, it’s not always graceful. But it’s real.

Other afternoons are spent in therapy, with my dietician, coaching my lovely runners, or occasionally just plugged into the Normatec boots trying to feel like a human again.

Sometimes, I’ll prep something fun for Margot like a den in the living room, blankets draped across chairs, ready for her to discover when she gets home. (See photo evidence!)

Evenings: Supper, Stories & Monopoly Deal

Nursery pick-up is 6pm sharp, so I try to have supper prepped before I leave. It makes the evenings flow so much more easily, and gives us more time to be together.

Dinner is always a bit of a juggling act. Sion is vegetarian and I’m… not. So I often make something adaptable: veggie base with added protein for me, or side dishes we can mix and match. Margot eats what we eat (usually with more cheese).

After dinner, it’s bath, bedtime, and Margot’s evening prayers. Then it’s time for grown-up games, our current favourites are Monopoly Deal, gin rummy, and backgammon. Low-stakes competition is our love language.

Weekends: Real Life, Rebalanced

Saturdays are often Mum & Margot time, Sion loves a long cycle and we all love him doing this. Sundays are our family day, though they’re still wrapped around training blocks. Being an athlete is full-time, seven days a week… but weekends give us longer windows to be together.

Honestly, they’re also the hardest sometimes. Margot’s not at nursery, I’ve still got sessions to do, and there’s no “clocking off.” But they’re memory-making days, and I wouldn’t trade them.

So That’s a Week (Sort Of)

Of course, no week is really typical. There are tantrums, cancelled plans, weather curveballs, surprise admin, and nights where the only run I manage is the one to the freezer for ice cream. But at the heart of it all is this: movement, intention, and a deep love for this little mountain life we’re building.

More soon…. from race prep to recovery days, and the truth about training through tiredness.