This wasn’t a lifelong plan. It was more of a “Why not?”
Margot wasn’t in full time nursery, I was craving mountains to run in, Sion wanted to chase climbs, and we knew life was about to start “lifeing” soon. It felt like the perfect window to do something bold. A pause before the next chapter kicked off.
I’d had a van before I met Sion, so I already knew the freedom and fun that came with it. This time, we upgraded: a VW Crafter that we lovingly named The Pink Panther (she’s got pink seats and a whole lot of character). We planned a route built around iconic climbs for Sion to cycle and races I had lined up and just like that, we were off.
From Silverstone to Stelvio
Our summer kicked off with a slight detour. Sion headed to the Maratona in Italy while I took Margot to Silverstone for the F1 with our housemates Matt and Sally. It was the four of us in a muddy field, surrounded by petrolheads and the constant thrum of engines and overpriced nachos. Despite being a McLaren fan, I couldn’t help but smile seeing King Lewis on the top of the podium. Yes, from the Alps to asphalt The Pink Panther handled it all.
After Silverstone, we collected Evie, our nanny and absolute hero, and Thatcher. We packed up the Pink Panther with the help of our housemates Matt and Sally and hit the road toward Italy. Three girls and their king (Thatcher the dog), we made a one pot rice dish in the van while on the Eurotunnel and rolled into a sleepy French village for the night. The next day ended with an impromptu dip in Lake Zurich. Pure joy after a long day on the road. We realised, a little too late, that we should’ve booked somewhere to stay, so we made a detour to our family ski home in Flims for the night before pushing on. One more lake stop in St. Moritz, then finally to Bormio where Sion and Margot were reunited.
Early the next day, bikes were built and a group of us headed for the base of the Stelvio to take on the infamous climb. I rode it that day and placed 13th all time. I still can’t quite believe it. Evie looked after Margot and it was so wonderful to have some time with Sion. We did miss our rascal, so the rest in the afternoon with her was especially sweet.
The following day, while we were exploring the area, I noticed a cycling event being set up for the weekend. Intrigued, I looked into it and to my utter joy, discovered there was also a running race. 21km from the bottom to the top. A mountain half marathon. It felt like the perfect challenge as I transitioned from marathon runner to mountain runner. I bagged an entry, blagged my way into the elite start, and got myself ready.
On day three, I returned to the same climb, this time on foot. I ran the mountain half marathon, placing second and taking home my first ever prize money. What I loved most was knowing that Sion, Margot and Thatcher were waiting at the top for me. It was all the fuel I needed to keep pushing.
Racing, Crewing & Milestones: Engadin & Swiss Alps
From Bormio we made our way to the Engadin Valley in Switzerland. It absolutely took our breath away. We enjoyed a few nights at some stunning campsites, and a very wet and damp day before the race turned out to be a gift. It was the perfect excuse to put our feet up and watch the Tour de France in a cosy local café.
This race was a big one for me. It was my first ever ultra, my first trail run, and Sion’s first time crewing me. He was incredible. He kept Margot entertained, Thatcher walked, and me fuelled and focused. And somehow, I won. I smashed the course record by 32 minutes, and it was the start of something that felt really exciting.
We spent a week at home, leaving Thatcher with our good friends in Geneva. Margot’s birthday loomed, and while we were in the UK we caught up with friends and family, squeezed in some training, and refilled our hunger for adventure. Her birthday was amazing, we loved hosting everyone and celebrating with those we don’t get to see enough.
From Mountains to Lakes: Swiss Alps 100km & Beyond
Then we flew back out for the next and biggest race of the trip: the Swiss Alps 100km. A recent mudslide meant a last minute course change, which included a steep, technical descent near the end that made me properly nervous. I was fortunate enough to look forward to Sion joining me for the final 8km of the 103km day, which gave me a huge mental lift. I learnt a lot in that race about pacing, pressure, and pushing through when the plan changes. But I was thrilled to finish, and we celebrated with a post race pizza while I admired my blisters (not sure anyone else enjoyed that part quite as much as I did). This time, Sion’s parents came out to help us crew, and after the race we headed to Vitznau on Lake Lucerne for the most beautiful few days exhausted, happy, and completely content.
From there we rolled on to Vitnau on Lake Lucerne, then Flims, where we were joined by Margot’s god sister Emily, her mum Jo and her boyfriend Owen. It was pure summer magic swimming, cooking, hiking (sort of), laughing late into the night.
In Annecy, Margot took her first ever steps (with a helping hand) on the edge of the lake. She was just at that magical turning point: no longer a potato, but not quite fully mobile either. She wanted to be moving constantly, which made long hikes hard. But we always prioritised her needs if she’d had enough, we adapted.
We didn’t plan to land in Chamonix. But with UTMB week approaching, we found ourselves nearby and decided to join the madness. It was full on, busy, stressful, and brilliant. And while it felt chaotic at the time, something clicked. I knew I wanted to be part of a place that could stretch and shift to hold that much energy and passion.
The Not So Insta Bits
Van life is beautiful but it’s also bananas. Van rattle is a very real logistical issue pack badly, and you’ll hear about it every kilometre. We enjoyed most locations for a minimum of three nights, and our tent setup meant we could leave things in place and still drive the van without having to repack every time a total game changer. My rice cooker became my best friend. Shoutout to the friend who introduced me to it hero status.
Limited showers. Constant tidying. Laundry roulette. Small space living with a toddler and a cockapoo isn’t always a dream. But Thatcher was a star, and thankfully we didn’t get much rain, so muddy paws weren’t too much of a problem.
Cooking in the van became something I loved. I found creative joy in making meals from limited ingredients (and that rice cooker). We lived out of boxes, washed dishes with cold water, and sometimes ate on laps perched next to a glacier. It was chaotic, but it was ours.
It surprised me how little I missed home. It was the longest I’d ever been away, and yet I didn’t crave the comfort I thought I would. I realised I didn’t need all the stuff I’d once thought was essential. (Though I did miss my Chanel jackets.)
Living in such close quarters tested our routines, but Sion and I came through it stronger than ever. With my ADHD, small space living could have been a disaster, but he navigated my trail of destruction with patience and grace. He even taught me to tidy. Shock.
What That Summer Gave Us
We set off with a loose plan and a lot of snacks. What we found was so much more
We made memories that stitched us tighter as a family. We gave Margot space to roam and rest. We raced. We rested. We watched the world from camp chairs and mountainsides and sleepy Alpine villages.
And by the end of it, we knew something had shifted. Chamonix wasn’t part of the original plan, but the idea was planted there somewhere between the UTMB madness, the lake swims, and our van parked beneath Mont Blanc.
That summer didn’t just show us what we wanted next, it showed us that we could build it, together.
