Trail du Saint-Jacques by UTMB 2027: training plan
Trail du Saint-Jacques by UTMB — 139 km · 5,800 m D+ · Le Puy-en-Velay. 25 weeks, 5 sessions a week, up to 14 h and 3,550 m of climbing a week at the peak, long run up to 7h. Here is the preparation structure Endu generates for an athlete at intermediate level, for a race in June 2027 (the exact day is not announced yet). Your plan will be calibrated on the date you enter, your MAS, your available days and your feedback after every session.
A demanding distance: it is wiser to have finished a shorter race of the same kind first.
Your plan for Trail du Saint-Jacques by UTMB
A plan set to your level and free days, which adapts to your feedback after each session.
Your level?
14-day trial, cancel anytime.
- weeks
- 25
- sessions
- 112
- sessions / week
- 5
- peak week
- 14 h
Plan structure
Periodised in phases: build the base, move to race-specific work, then taper before the race.
- General preparationWeeks 1–2 · 2 wk
- BaseWeeks 3–10 · 8 wk
- BuildWeeks 11–16 · 6 wk
- SpecificWeeks 17–22 · 6 wk
- TaperWeeks 23–24 · 2 wk
- Race weekWeeks 25–25 · 1 wk
Volume progression
Week by week: lighter recovery weeks are built in to absorb the load.
| Wk | Phase | Hours | km | Elev. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General preparation | 7 h | 48 | 1,257 m |
| 2 | General preparation | 7.3 h | 49 | 1,466 m |
| 3 | Baserecovery | 6.1 h | 43 | 966 m |
| 4 | Base | 7.5 h | 49 | 1,591 m |
| 5 | Base | 8 h | 52 | 1,725 m |
| 6 | Base | 8.3 h | 54 | 1,811 m |
| 7 | Baserecovery | 6.7 h | 46 | 1,180 m |
| 8 | Base | 8.3 h | 54 | 1,883 m |
| 9 | Base | 9.1 h | 59 | 2,081 m |
| 10 | Base | 9.5 h | 61 | 2,188 m |
| 11 | Buildrecovery | 7.4 h | 50 | 1,397 m |
| 12 | Build | 9.5 h | 61 | 2,246 m |
| 13 | Build | 10.3 h | 66 | 2,445 m |
| 14 | Build | 10.8 h | 67 | 2,597 m |
| 15 | Buildrecovery | 8.4 h | 57 | 1,818 m |
| 16 | Build | 10.8 h | 66 | 2,630 m |
| 17 | Specific | 11.8 h | 72 | 2,959 m |
| 18 | Specific | 12.3 h | 76 | 2,953 m |
| 19 | Specificrecovery | 9.6 h | 62 | 1,965 m |
| 20 | Specific | 12.3 h | 74 | 3,134 m |
| 21 | Specific | 13.4 h | 84 | 3,185 m |
| 22 | Specific | 14 h | 86 | 3,544 m |
| 23 | Taper | 9.2 h | 60 | 2,100 m |
| 24 | Taper | 7.1 h | 52 | 809 m |
| 25 | Race week | 3.7 h | 31 | 103 m |
Sample week — week 14 (Build)
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.
- TuesdayModerate3 × (8 min climb + 4 min descent)51 min · 6 km
- WednesdayEasy49 min easy49 min · 5.7 km
- FridayEasy49 min easy49 min · 5.7 km
- SaturdayEasyBack-to-back long run2 h 39 · 16 km
- SundayEasyLong run 5 h 415 h 41 · 34 km
Example generated for a intermediate-level profile (MAS 15 km/h, 5 days available per week). Your plan will depend on your level, availability and feedback.
This plan’s check-up
Pass
A 25-week build (recommended minimum: 20); a longest run never more than 10% above the previous month’s; volume rising at most 9% from one week to the next; 94% of the time at easy effort; the longest session 3 weeks before the race; a taper cutting volume by 73% in race week.
2 worth knowing · 16 checks passed
Remarks
Strength training — No strength session.
Fueling — Long sessions (up to 420 min in this plan) are where race fueling is rehearsed.
The 16 checks passed, in detail
Length of the build — 25 weeks: enough for this race (recommended minimum: 20).
Sessions per week — 5 sessions a week: the minimum for this race is met.
Volume progression — Running volume rises at most 9% from one week to the next (a signal appears beyond 20%).
Long run increase — Each week, the longest run is at most 10% longer than the longest of the previous month (benchmark: 10%).
Lighter weeks — A lighter week comes back regularly (weeks 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, 23).
Intensity distribution — About 94% 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.
Climbing in training — The plan prepares the climbs and descents (36 sessions with elevation).
Timing of the longest session — The longest session falls 3 weeks before the race: the right time.
Taper — Volume drops 73% in race week.
Intensity during the taper — Short race-pace efforts remain in the last two weeks.
Frequency during the taper — The number of sessions stays close to usual (95%).
Climbing in the busiest week — The busiest week climbs 3544 m, for 5800 m on race day.
Back-to-back long runs — The plan has back-to-back long runs (9 weekends).
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.
Reviews
What our users say.
4.8/5
Your plan, not a template athlete's
This plan is generated for an athlete at intermediate level with 5 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 Trail du Saint-Jacques by UTMB14-day trial, cancel anytime.
Frequently asked questions
- Trail du Saint-Jacques by UTMB: how many weeks of preparation?
- For an athlete at intermediate level, Endu builds a 25-week preparation. If your race is closer, the plan compresses phases while keeping the taper; if it's further away, it lengthens the preparation, and when the gap is large the preparation starts right away, gently and at your current volume, before building up.
- Is this plan well built?
- Pass at Endu’s plan check, the same as for any plan: 16 of 16 checks passed. A 25-week build (recommended minimum: 20); a longest run never more than 10% above the previous month’s; volume rising at most 9% from one week to the next; 94% of the time at easy effort; the longest session 3 weeks before the race; a taper cutting volume by 73% in race week. The rules and their sources are public on endu.fr/en/controle-technique.
- How many sessions per week?
- This example has 5 sessions per week. You choose 5 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?
- Not as a first long race: if you declare a beginner level, Endu flags it. Aim for a shorter race of the same kind first; Endu builds that preparation too.
- 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.