Coach Michele provides a free phone consultation to answer your questions.

Prepare for the unique demands of trail racing with this 24-week plan designed to build endurance, strength, and efficiency for the 50K distance.

This plan is ideal for athletes with a base of at least 30 miles per week who run a minimum of four days per week. In addition to long runs, aerobic runs, and recovery runs, the program includes hill workouts, steady-state runs, and tempo sessions to develop endurance and neuromuscular strength.

The first four weeks focus on deepening your aerobic base before adding structured hill repeats (beginning Week 5) and steady-state efforts (beginning Week 6). Tempo workouts are introduced in Week 10 as long-run mileage builds, alternating with hilly midweek runs and scheduled drop weeks for recovery and adaptation.

A 25K tune-up race is suggested in Week 19 to test fitness, nutrition, and gear before race day.

The plan also includes Core and Hip Stability and Strength workouts with video instruction to help athletes care for their foundation.

Coach Michele is an RRCA Level II Certified Running Coach and Certified Specialist in Fitness Nutrition (ISSA). She currently trains for and competes in ultramarathons of up to 100 miles and has coached athletes to successful finishes at distances ranging from 5K to 200 miles.