IN the interests of transparency, we should probably state something from the outset. I hate running.

This may not come as a massive shock to those unfortunates in the Scottish fitba’ writers team who have seen first-hand the sight of me wheeze my way around a park. Indeed, the last time I convincingly went for a dash of any great note was when I chased the ice cream van along the street clutching a solitary pound coin, safe in the knowledge it would cover the full cost of a celebratory and well-deserved 99.

Thoughts of such halcyon days legging it around the streets of Lanarkshire came thundering back as the sun was setting across this picturesque French town of Annecy. No, really.

Behind me the cobbled streets meandered around pastel coloured buildings stooping over the canals entangled between the narrow streets. In front the crystal blue water of the local lake – Europe’s cleanest – glistened with blue so pure one would have thought the world’s Sapphire reserve was hidden underneath. Yet, it was the colossal figures of the mountains erupting from the ground to the left and right, flashes of grey and green topped with a dusting of brilliant white as they reached for the heavens, that took hold of all of us glancing up in their shadows.

This is the grandest of settings for the most colossal of events for the thousands taking part, many of whom at the point of reading this will already be traversing its peaks as the darkness turns into light. Trail runners from across the globe have flocked here to take part in the Salomon Gore-Tex Maxi Race, a series of nine events over the weekend ranging from a mammoth 110km Ultra showpiece which began at 1.30am this morning with the winner expected less than 12hours later, all the way to a 4km vertical race 830m up a mountain. As one does.

At the heart of it, two Scots will be flying the flag as part of Team Salomon, a group of 16 athletes hand-picked to blaze across this picture-perfect scene in the name of sporting greatness. And, if they are lucky, maybe a 99.

“The furthest I’ve gone is 50 miles and this is 68. This is probably my biggest challenge, but you also have the heat to factor in and the intense week we’ve had running up to it. It’s not like we have had time to relax,” Georgia Tindley told HeraldSport. “I started running cross country when I was at the University of Edinburgh. I then got bored of running around football fields!

“People then asked me to go out running in the hills and it progressed from there.”

The 24-year-old not only represents her club of Hunters Bog Trotters in Edinburgh, but also her country. Still, there is much to be gained from being brought into the Salomon fold.

Over the last week she has rubbed shoulders with the likes of ultra-runner Mira Rai, the 26-year-old who emerged from the humble background of a remote village in Nepal to become this year’s National Geographic Adventurer of the Year.

“Mira is an inspiration but not just her, all the female athletes. They are all inspiring. You don’t see much coverage of the sport but when you do it’s mostly the men.”

It was a sentiment echoed by Rob Sinclair, a 27-year-old ROV technician from Aberdeen.

A renowned footwear and clothing manufacturer in trail running, Solomon have sponsored five races – one of which will take place in Glencoe later this year – to try and pit elite competitors against one another.

The showpiece event here in this alpine setting will see the two Scots and their fellow competitors cover not just 110km but 7000m of ascent, beginning in complete darkness with only a torch for light, a dancing trail of glowing ants scampering their way over the mountainous peaks above, before dawn breaks with still over half of their daunting task left to conquer.

“It’s hectic doing all the stuff I’m not used to,” said Sinclair. “Some of the workshops have been interesting. We’ve been out on the trail, doing uphill and downhill stuff, we’ve also done some yoga in the morning which I’m not used to! It’s nice getting the chance to come to Europe and try this.

“I really love training. It’s a good way to hang out with pal. We go down to Ben Nevis, the Lake District. I think this is a good opportunity for me to part of the Solomon Academy. I’ve obvious got my West Highland Way and Devil of the Highlands to focus on, so this was a big bonus for me. I wasn’t going to turn down the opportunity.”

Sadly, three became two yesterday afternoon. Our Scottish contingent in the race also featured former Commonwealth Games marathon runner Joasia Zakrzewski, but failure to recover fully from a chest problem forced her to pull out with only a few hours to go.

“Coming out in the first day and doing the uphill workshop that covered about nine miles, and in the heat, I think it was quite a bit for me. I went out this morning but it’s not worth risking your health.

“Coming out here it would have been a really nice race. It’s beautiful surroundings and great people to run with. But thinking about everything that has gone on in the UK since we have been out here this week, it’s just a race.”