Depending on whether you live in at least a hilly region or on flat terrain, your UTMB® training cannot be done in the same conditions. For those who live in areas with no elevation, there are nonetheless solutions to fine-tune your preparation as best you can.
Staircase training sessions
When you don't have hills nearby, a good solution is to find some fairly long staircases. They are quite common in urban areas and allow for specific training that will be beneficial once you're in the mountains. Indeed, staircase training sessions offer a wide variety of exercises that will strengthen the quadriceps and calves and work on both downhill foot placement and uphill explosiveness.
Shock weekends
Another solution when you're not lucky enough to live in a hilly region is to go on fairly short mountain trips but plan for intensive training. These short trips are called shock weekends and have become essential exercises for preparing for ultra trail events like the UTMB®! They not only offer the chance to train on real rugged terrain but also to push both body and mind with long, intense sessions, close to what will be required on race day. To find out more:
