A staple of UTMB® prep, the training camp weekend is even more useful if you have to train for the UTMB® on the flats. Find out what this type of training block involves and how it benefits your preparation.
What is a training camp weekend?
The concept of a training camp weekend is to accumulate a high volume of mileage and elevation gain over two or three consecutive days. The goal is to get close to the race conditions and train on similar terrain, working on pre-fatigued legs from day two.
That is the core principle of the workout: back-to-back runs work better than a single ultra-long run, because they replicate the physical state you will face in the second half of the UTMB®.
What a training camp weekend looks like
A benchmark schedule for a runner already seasoned with long runs:
- Saturday: around 4 hours of running, moderate-pace climbs and focused descents.
- Sunday: around 6 hours, alternating 20-minute easy blocks with more sustained paces.
- Friday evening, optional if you have time: a hill training session.
These durations are an end goal, not a starting point. If your long runs currently max out at 3 hours, start with a weekend of 2 hours then 3 hours, and build up over several months. A first training camp weekend planned around 10 hours of running is the fastest way to get injured or ruin three weeks of training.
On descents, the same caution applies as on hill reps: eccentric loading is crucial to endure the long downhills of the UTMB®, but it is also the most taxing on the body. Gradually increase your pace from one weekend to the next rather than bombing down right away.
When to do it and what are the benefits?
Schedule your training camp weekends within the four months prior to your target race, typically one per month from May to July for a late August race, and never in the final three weeks, which must be dedicated to tapering.
A training camp weekend heavily conditions your muscles for the eccentric contractions of downhills and gets you used to long efforts on rugged terrain. It is also the perfect opportunity to field-test your kit, gear, and nutrition strategy, including at night.
Recovering properly after a training camp weekend
The intensity of a training camp weekend demands a genuine recovery phase: allow 72 to 96 hours without running, easing back in with walking, gentle cycling, or swimming. Strict bed rest is unnecessary; very light activity actually aids recovery.
If you plan multiple training camp weekends, space them at least 3 to 4 weeks apart to give your body time to absorb the load and supercompensate. Without this gap, you risk sliding into overtraining rather than building fitness.
Key warning signs to ease off: fatigue lasting more than four to five days, an abnormally elevated resting heart rate, disrupted sleep, or a lack of motivation to run. These are early signs of overtraining, and they need to be listened to.
Frequently asked questions
When should you schedule a training camp weekend for the UTMB®?
During the four months leading up to the race, typically one per month from May to July, and never in the final three weeks before the event.
How many training camp weekends should you do?
Two to three are enough in a training block, spaced 3 to 4 weeks apart. Beyond that, the risk-to-benefit ratio deteriorates.
How to recover after a training camp weekend?
Allow 72 to 96 hours without running, with a gradual return via walking, easy cycling, or swimming.
To find out more
- Long runs to prepare for the UTMB®
- Stair training for the UTMB®
- Preparing for the UTMB® on the flats
- The complete training plan
Photo credits: Clément Dumas, Delphine Daniélou.
