Hey all! I wanted to start a thread to chat about upcoming events and what MtnTough program you are using to prep for it - how you incorporate long runs and/or tempo runs into your plan.

Me - Leadville 100 in Aug. I'm using KB20 as a primer for increasing mileage in mid Feb. Until then - 75%MtnTougj with runs or weighted mountain training (walking up and jogging back down).

My plan is to be at 90% of "being ready" (defined as able to run all but the most challenging terrain) by a 50 mile run in the same Colorado terrain this June. Every workout .atters between now and then!

Hey Robert - you are on the right path for sure! Keep us posted on your progress. August will get here pretty quick!

How many hours per week are you running compared to MTNtough workouts? How will that change over the upcoming months? I'm trying to figure out my training plan for an ultra in November.

David,

I'm probably doing about 75% MtnTough training right now with lower to mid level weights, but by Mid March, I'd anticipate almost a complete switch (to 25 or 30%). Right now, only 8 or 10 miles per week and 5 days a week of MtnTough. By March - 30 miles per week (at the lowest, of course) with 2 MtnTough workouts with higher weights to continue to build strength.

I want to build in injury prevention and prevent "my legs are dead" at mile 30. Too many elite runners have that comment on Leadville, so I am focused every single day at preventing that.

Feel free to friend me on FB or just stay in contact. Accountability and lessons learned are really important in this sport

David - having trouble replying directly to comments (seems to be a bug).

Also - in mid Feb/March, I could see this program being part of the transition plan for me: https://lab.mtntough.com/spring-training-camp?_gl=1*e1xvli*_gcl_au*MTY4MDY4NDQzMS4xNzAzNzE3OTk4

Yeah I think we have a bug to fix on "replying" to comments. You should check out the book Unbreakable Runner by Brian Mackenzie. He's got great training plans for a variety of distances, but all you have to do is substitute MTNTOUGH for the crossfit workouts that he recommends. Consistency in running is key. Spend the time on your feet. Heck, use a standup desk to help give you more time on your feet!

Paul - great recommendation on the cross fit switch. That's really helpful.

I've done races like Old Dominion before. Just - Leadville is scary to me since I took so much time off because of Lymes. But it's coming back quickly and I'll definitely read unbreakable runner! The third rung on the training stool for me is going to be some weighted vest / sandbag hikes. But - that's penciled for late April timeframe.

This is great. When I was training for an ultra, I would run mon/wed/fri and do kb20 tues/thur/sat. As I got closer to the race, my mileage would increase and I would run 4 days and kb20 2 days. Got to keep the strength up for those long runs and injury prevention. Currently, I'm doing InSeason program strength days on Thursdays and Saturdays, running Mon/Wed/Fri, with a weighted ruck or sandbag hike on Tuesdays. I'm enjoying the mix and loving MtnTough. Keep up the good work!

This all very helpful. This will be my 2nd ultra. I did my first one in 2022 and followed the 80/20 - Matt Fitzgerald program. I built a tremendous amount of endurance as I was running 6x a week but I just didn't feel like once the mileage really ramped up I could do all the running and still lift consistently so my lifting fell off, which ended up hurting my race performance. This time around I'm trying to find a better balance between lifting, running, and incline treadmill or ruck walking. I really like the MTN Tough workouts but haven't yet figured out how to balance it with running once the mileage really ramps up, but this forum is giving me some good insight.

It is a difficult balance. I try to fit in at least two weighted workouts a week between the miles. Sometimes just one "maintenance day" to take a break from running and move some weight around. But don't go too heavy so I'm not all DOMS the next day and can't run. Lol!
It's tough.

Sounds like some great experience and veterans already in the room! Happy to answer any nutrition questions as they relate to MTNTOUGH training + Ultras here, too if needed!

-Kyle @ Valley to Peak

Hi all, I just started with MTNTough and I’m currently training for Spartan Ultra (50km Obstacle Course with c2,800m ascent). My event is on February 24th in Bright, Victoria, Australia. It’s a huge undertaking for me and my goal is literally to complete it and live to tell the tale! I’ve been training (alone) by various means to build climbing technique and upper body strength for obstacles and also running while trying to find as many hills as possible (where I live is flat so I’ve been taking days off work and driving to the Dandenong Ranges an hour away). Any tips and advice would be very welcome eg. Best MTNTough programs or approach to do in my next 8 weeks pre-event etc. The event is on my 55 birthday weekend and I’m telling people to help me be accountable. Also do any of you do Spartan Races as the MTNTough workouts seem perfect for it and pretty much anything else the world throws at us? Thanks, in advance. Aidan

I just started mtn tough. I m coming off basically a string of injury that resulted in an ankle surgery. So basically it was all strength training in 2022 and 2023. I am currently signed up for the UTE 100 similar time frame as your Leadville race. Background I have range several 100s, Tahoe 200, and 10 time Ironman. I wanted to follow the mtn tough for some structure and get some of that grit to do things I don’t always enjoy back.
My current plan is I am running strength and on my off days I do one ruck and one longer run. On lifting days I split walking my dog with either a 45 min run or 1 hour ruck. I take one day completely off. I plan on running the heavy pack program after strength mixed in with running. After that I plan to run 1 day of the strength program once a week, MGD once a week, run 2 days , and split my weekend with a king ruck and a long run.
I found I do more walking in the 100s so walking with a pack up a mtn will make walking without a pack up a mtn easier and suck less. I ve also always found if I let off at least one day if dedicated strength training I start to get nagging injuries. So basically my plan is build as much strength and durability until summer then fine tune my endurance over the summer.

@Aidan thanks for sharing your goal to do the Spartan Ultra in Feb. That sounds like an awesome event! I look forward to hearing how it goes. I haven't done a Spartan race, but if you're doing any of the MTNTough workouts in combination with endurance work I'm confident you'll be prepared. Have you been doing Zone 2 work while climbing, whether in the Dandenong Ranges or on a machine like a Stairmaster?
- Cyle

@Matt, glad you're getting back after it coming out of your surgery. I'm currently training for the 2024 TX Ironman (my first) and have been taking a similar approach to what you're saying above by mixing in 1 day of Post Season Strength into my weekly schedule. I do it on my easy run day in a simple Ironman program I'm following. I also mix in rucking occasionally (no more than once per week) for Zone 2 work in place of some prescribed endurance sessions of bike or run. I typically get negative reactions from the triathlete community near me when I tell them I'm training for an Ironman by incorporating rucking. Event is end of April so we'll see how it turns out. Cheers