Trail maintenance programme — 8 weeks
Here is the 8-week programme Endu generates for a intermediate athlete. It then adapts to your feedback after every session and can lead into a race objective.
- weeks
- 8
- sessions
- 32
- sessions / week
- 4
- peak week
- 4.8 h
Plan structure
Periodised in phases: build the base, move to race-specific work, then taper before the race.
- MaintenanceWeeks 1–8 · 8 wk
Volume progression
Week by week: lighter recovery weeks are built in to absorb the load.
| Wk | Phase | Hours | km | Elev. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maintenance | 4.6 h | 35 | 104 m |
| 2 | Maintenance | 4.7 h | 35 | 104 m |
| 3 | Maintenance | 4.8 h | 36 | 104 m |
| 4 | Maintenancerecovery | 4.5 h | 34 | 63 m |
| 5 | Maintenance | 4.7 h | 35 | 104 m |
| 6 | Maintenance | 4.7 h | 36 | 104 m |
| 7 | Maintenance | 4.8 h | 36 | 104 m |
| 8 | Maintenance | 4.8 h | 36 | 104 m |
Sample week — week 5 (Maintenance)
Real sessions from the plan with their targets. Each session is detailed step by step, and can be sent to a Garmin or COROS watch.
- MondayEasy31 min easy31 min · 4.1 km
- TuesdayHard6 × 8 min uphillrecover on the way down, 8 min2 h 01 · 16.1 km
- FridayModerate52 min progression run31 min easy → 13 min comfortably hard → 8 min hard52 min · 6.9 km
- SundayEasyLong run 1 h 151 h 15 · 8 km
Example generated for a intermediate-level profile (MAS 15 km/h, 4 days available per week). Your plan will depend on your level, availability and feedback.
This plan’s check-up
Pass
75% of the time at easy effort.
2 worth knowing · 8 checks passed
Remarks
Strength training — No strength session.
Fueling — Long sessions (up to 121 min in this plan) are where race fueling is rehearsed.
The 8 checks passed, in detail
Volume progression — Running volume rises smoothly from week to week.
Long run increase — No run is longer than the longest of the previous month.
Lighter weeks — A lighter week comes back regularly (weeks 4).
Weight of the long run — The long run keeps a reasonable share of the week.
Intensity distribution — About 75% of the time at easy effort: the most common distribution among trained endurance athletes.
Demanding sessions — No more than 2 demanding session(s) a week: suited to the level.
Hard days back to back — Demanding sessions are separated by easy days.
Rest days — At least one rest day a week.
Endu runs its own plans through the plan check open to everyone: same public rules, same thresholds, same sources. The rules and their sources, and a check of your own plan.
Why this plan works
Science-based periodisation
Base → build → specific → taper, with a recovery week every 3 to 4 weeks. Load goes up, but never two hard weeks in a row without a breather.
Paces, not vague feelings
Every session has target zones (pace, HR) computed from your MAS or a reference performance. A MAS test is built into the plan if you don't know yours.
Elevation as the central variable
Weekly climbing volume, long hilly runs, downhill technique and power-hiking for ultras: a trail plan is not a road plan with bumps.
A plan that listens
After each session you rate how it felt (RPE). Too hard? The plan eases what follows. Skipped a session? It reschedules or absorbs it.
On your watch
On Garmin with the Endu app, on COROS by direct sync: the guided workout shows up on your wrist, step by step.
Your plan, not a template athlete's
This plan is generated for an athlete at intermediate level with 4 days available per week. Yours will be calibrated on your MAS, your available days and your feedback after every session. 3 minutes. 14-day trial, cancel anytime.
Create my plan for MaintenanceFrequently asked questions
- How many weeks does the “Maintenance” programme last?
- The programme lasts 8 weeks for a intermediate athlete. There is no race to prepare: sessions build from your current volume and the plan follows your feedback after every session.
- Is this plan well built?
- Pass at Endu’s plan check, the same as for any plan: 8 of 8 checks passed. 75% of the time at easy effort. The rules and their sources are public on endu.fr/en/controle-technique.
- How many sessions per week?
- This example has 4 sessions per week. You choose 2 to 7 training days and the exact days (e.g. Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun): the plan sticks to them.
- I'm a beginner, is this plan for me?
- The plan adapts to your declared level (beginner to semi-pro): starting volume, progression and intensity change. Endu also offers a "Discovery" mode without a race to build a base first.
- Can I follow sessions on my watch?
- Yes, on Garmin and COROS. On Garmin, the Endu app (Connect IQ Store) shows today’s session and starts it as a guided workout. On COROS, link your account from your profile: your running, trail and cycling sessions land in the watch calendar. Other brands are not supported yet.
- How much does it cost?
- 14-day free trial, then €7.99/month with no commitment or €59.88/year (€4.99/month). Unlimited objectives and sports.