170K ultra on 5 sessions a week: 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.

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.

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.

170K ultra plan, 5 sessions a week

170 km · 10,000 m D+

You have 5 slots a week. 25 weeks, 5 sessions a week, up to 14 h and 3,750 m of climbing a week at the peak, long run up to 7h. Here is how Endu spreads a 170K ultra preparation over 5 sessions: the long run is protected, the quality session comes next, easy runs fill what is left.

Create my plan for 170K ultra

weeks: 25
sessions: 111
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 preparation
Weeks 1–2 · 2 wk
Base
Weeks 3–10 · 8 wk
Build
Weeks 11–16 · 6 wk
Specific
Weeks 17–22 · 6 wk
Taper
Weeks 23–24 · 2 wk
Race week
Weeks 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	47	1,359 m
2	General preparation	7.3 h	49	1,550 m
3	Baserecovery	6.2 h	44	1,063 m
4	Base	7.7 h	51	1,767 m
5	Base	8 h	52	1,853 m
6	Base	8.3 h	54	1,943 m
7	Baserecovery	6.9 h	46	1,301 m
8	Base	8.4 h	55	2,052 m
9	Base	9.1 h	59	2,237 m
10	Base	9.5 h	61	2,350 m
11	Buildrecovery	7.4 h	50	1,483 m
12	Build	9.5 h	60	2,400 m
13	Build	10.3 h	63	2,563 m
14	Build	10.8 h	67	2,786 m
15	Buildrecovery	8.4 h	55	1,936 m
16	Build	10.8 h	66	2,768 m
17	Specific	11.8 h	72	3,112 m
18	Specific	12.3 h	76	3,057 m
19	Specificrecovery	9.6 h	62	2,142 m
20	Specific	12.3 h	74	3,303 m
21	Specific	13.4 h	84	3,240 m
22	Specific	14 h	86	3,726 m
23	Taper	9.2 h	60	2,213 m
24	Taper	7.1 h	49	902 m
25	Race week	3.7 h	31	115 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.

TuesdayModerate
3 × (8 min climb + 4 min descent)
51 min · 6 km
WednesdayEasy
49 min easy
49 min · 5.7 km
FridayEasy
49 min easy
49 min · 5.7 km
SaturdayEasy
Back-to-back long run
2 h 39 · 16 km
SundayEasy
Long run 5 h 41
5 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 (37 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 3726 m, for 10000 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.

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 170K ultra

Frequently asked questions

170K ultra on 5 sessions a week: 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.
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.