NDU

Long-term goal: your roadmap to UTMB, an Ironman or a marathon

Pick your dream race and the year: Endu works out the steps to get there, one category at a time, suggests races for each and counts the Running Stones for UTMB.

Updated 7 October 2026

“UTMB in two years”, “my first Ironman in 2028”: a big goal takes several seasons, with stepping-stone races that build fitness, teach you to manage a long effort and, for UTMB, earn the right to enter the draw.

Enter the target race, the year and the longest race you have finished. The tool gives you the steps, the right period for each, races from our catalogue that fall at the right time, and when to start each preparation.

Your longest finished trail race

Ideally a race from the last two years.

steps before UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc)

3

It is tight. Moving up one category at a time, with time to recover and to prepare each race, needs more time. Aim for the following edition instead.

  1. Step 1

    Mid trail (50K, 50 to 100 km-effort)

    ≈ 90 km-effort, for instance 60 km and 3,000 m of climbing

    Around March 2027 · About 14 weeks of preparation, from December 6, 2026

  2. Step 2

    Ultra (100K, 100 to 170 km-effort)

    ≈ 130 km-effort, for instance 87 km and 4,300 m of climbing

    Around August 2027 · About 13 weeks of preparation, from May 9, 2027

  3. Step 3

    Long ultra (100M, over 170 km-effort)

    ≈ 187 km-effort, for instance 125 km and 6,200 m of climbing

    Around February 2028 · About 20 weeks of preparation, from October 3, 2027

    Our catalogue has no race of this format at that time. A race near you will do just fine: the category is what matters.

  4. Goal

    UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc)

    August 27, 2028

    Specific preparation from April 19, 2028

    Prepare this race

Endu’s rules: in trail, never more than 1.5 times the previous race’s effort (the plan engine flags a jump beyond 2 times); in triathlon, two races of the format just below before a half or a full; between two races, time to recover and then the next race’s minimum preparation, as in the plans.

Running Stones and UTMB Index

  • At least one Running Stone earned in the last 24 months
  • A valid UTMB Index in the 100K, 100M category

Up to 9 Running Stones if every step is a UTMB World Series event (Majors count double).

In the draw, your name is entered once per stone you hold. Stones add up until you are drawn. Endu computes no probability: it depends on how many runners apply that year.

Cautious landmark: run these steps before November 30, 2027, as the draw takes place months before the race.

The UTMB Index (your 5 best results of the last 36 months) cannot be predicted: each race’s coefficient is not public. So Endu gives no figure.

The UTMB World Series events calendar

Rules read on utmb.world on October 7, 2026. They change every season: the official page prevails.

Free, no sign-up. Everything is computed in your browser: nothing you type here is sent anywhere.

How it is computed

The steps move up one category at a time: in trail, the UTMB categories (20K, 50K, 100K, 100M) in km-effort, i.e. the distance plus 1 km per 100 m of climbing; on the road, 10K, half, marathon then ultra; in triathlon, sprint, olympic, half then full. The trail limits we use (50, 100 and 170 km-effort) follow the landmarks on UTMB’s official page: the category shown on each race’s page prevails.

Between two races, the tool leaves time to recover and then the next race’s minimum preparation, with the same rules as the plan engine (for instance at least 20 weeks before a race over 60 km). The remaining time is spread across the steps. If the timeline is too short, the tool says so rather than squeezing the steps.

For the UTMB Mont-Blanc finals (UTMB, CCC, OCC, TDS), the tool checks the entry conditions published by the organiser: at least one Running Stone earned in the last 24 months and a valid UTMB Index in the right category. It counts the stones the steps bring when run on a UTMB World Series event: 1 for a 20K, 2 for a 50K, 3 for a 100K, 4 for a 100M, double at a Major.

What the tool does not do: it computes no probability of being drawn, which depends on how many runners apply that year, and it does not predict your UTMB Index, as each race’s coefficient is not public. The rules were read on utmb.world on 7 October 2026; they change every season.

The plans built from this number

Trail & ultraRunningTriathlonAll plans

Now the plan that goes with it

These numbers are exactly the ones Endu uses to build a full preparation: phases, volume, detailed sessions, exported to your watch. 14-day trial, cancel any time.

Create my plan

Frequently asked questions

How many Running Stones do you need for UTMB?
Just one, earned in the last 24 months, gets you into the draw, together with a valid UTMB Index in the 100K or 100M category. After that, each stone adds your name to the draw once more: with 6 stones it is in 6 times. Stones add up until you are drawn.
How long from a 50 km trail to UTMB?
With one step per category, a 100K in between, two seasons is a reasonable minimum: the 100K in the year before UTMB (it also brings the stones and the index required), then a proper preparation of at least 20 weeks for UTMB.
Can you predict your UTMB Index?
Not reliably. A race’s score depends on a coefficient specific to each race (gradient, altitude, field strength) that UTMB does not publish, and the model was recalculated in April 2026. The index uses your 5 best results of the last 36 months.
Does the tool work for an Ironman?
Yes for the progression: sprint, olympic, half (70.3) then the full distance, with catalogue triathlons for each step. Qualifying for the World Championship is about performance by age group: the tool prepares you to finish, not to qualify.

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