Jon’s UTMB: From Lead Pack to DNF

What exactly is the Norwegian method? In this episode of The Albon Way, Henriette and Jon unpack the training philosophy behind Norway’s rise in endurance sports. From traditional periodisation and high-volume aerobic work to intensity control, double-threshold days, and environmental adaptations like heat and altitude training...they explore what makes this approach so effective, and how its principles can be adapted for long-distance trail and ultra running.Olympiatoppen's intensity scale: https://olt-skala.nif.no/en // TRAIL TRAINING & ANALYTICSCheck out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlbonApp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for trail specific data insights and bespoke trail running plans based on RUNNING IMPACT. First 2 weeks are completely FREE!// SHARE AND RATE THE PODCAST// FOLLOW US ON IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@henriettealbon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jonalbon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@albonapp⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, Henriette catches up with Jon for a full debrief of his recent Ultra Pirineu adventure. From chaotic drop bags to picture-perfect pacing, they break down the race’s highs, lows, and lessons learned along the way. Jon shares how he managed heart rate, fueling, and hydration across long hours on the trails and what he’d tweak next time. Expect honest reflections, a few laughs, and plenty of insight into what it really takes to go the distance in the mountains.// TRAIL TRAINING & ANALYTICSCheck out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlbonApp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for trail specific data insights and bespoke trail running plans. First 2 weeks are completely FREE!// SHARE AND RATE THE PODCAST// FOLLOW US ON IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@henriettealbon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jonalbon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@albonapp⁠⁠⁠

The sun is out, the season’s winding down, and Jon is heading into Ultra Pirineu 100k with more questions than answers. Can built-up fitness from UTMB carry him through? Meanwhile, Henriette debates what an “off-season” really means and whether to share her training again on Strava. Expect honesty, a few laughs, and plenty of trail-running truths about motivation, recovery, and racing at the tail end of the year.// TRAIL TRAINING & ANALYTICSCheck out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlbonApp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for trail specific data insights and bespoke trail running plans. First 2 weeks are completely FREE!// SHARE AND RATE THE PODCAST// FOLLOW US ON IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@henriettealbon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jonalbon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@albonapp⁠⁠⁠

In this episode, we dive into the myths that shape how we think about trail running. Do carbon shoes really make you faster? Do you always need to train on trails to be ready for races? Can you race yourself into shape, or is that a recipe for burnout? Is walking a sign of weakness, or actually one of the smartest tools in an ultrarunner’s kit? We also unpack whether intervals are truly necessary, whether trail races are still wilderness experiences or have become big festivals, and finally - whether ultras are ultimately about suffering.We share our own experiences from years of training and racing, and talk about where the truth usually lies in the grey area between. Expect honest reflections, practical insights, and a few friendly disagreements along the way.// TRAIL TRAINING & ANALYTICSCheck out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlbonApp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for trail specific data insights and bespoke trail running plans. First 2 weeks are completely FREE!// SHARE AND RATE THE PODCAST// FOLLOW US ON IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@henriettealbon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jonalbon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@albonapp⁠⁠⁠

Jon breaks down his stormy UTMB: from an solid start and early lead to brutal rain/snow, frozen hands, fueling woes, and sharp knee pain that forced a DNF at Champex-Lac. We talk kit mistakes (layers, gloves, insoles), getting sucked into racing, the emotional call to stop, and what he’d change next time. Plus a quick recovery update and thoughts on what’s next.

Henriette and Jon Albon catch up on their final weeks of training ahead of UTMB before diving into the bigger question: what does it actually mean to be “race ready” as a trail runner Beyond VO₂ max or interval splits, they break down the key dimensions of trail race fitness. They also share practical tools, including the AlbonApp’s Fitness Profile, to help runners gauge readiness and train smarter. Whether your goal is simply to survive or to truly excel, this episode offers honest insights into preparing for the unique demands of trail racing. // TRAIL TRAINING & ANALYTICSCheck out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlbonApp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for trail specific data insights and bespoke trail running plans. First 2 weeks are completely FREE!// SHARE AND RATE THE PODCAST// FOLLOW US ON IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@henriettealbon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jonalbon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@albonapp⁠⁠⁠

On this episode of The Albon Way, Jon and Henriette answer trail running questions from the community. They talk about balancing road and trail training, managing vert in training plans, preventing foot issues, and handling heart rate drift in hot weather. Packed with insights and real-world tips for trail and ultra runners.// TRAIL TRAINING & ANALYTICSCheck out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlbonApp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for trail specific data insights and bespoke trail running plans. First 2 weeks are completely FREE!// SHARE AND RATE THE PODCAST// FOLLOW US ON IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@henriettealbon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jonalbon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@albonapp⁠⁠⁠

After a month-long pause, Henriette and Jon are back to share where they’ve been, how training has gone lately, and what’s ahead as they shift into UTMB prep mode with seven weeks to go. They talk through their “low mileage, high intentionality” training philosophy, why you don’t need ultra-long runs to race really far, and how they’re using smart planning to build fitness while staying healthy.// TRAIL TRAINING & ANALYTICSCheck out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlbonApp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for trail specific data insights and bespoke trail running plans. First 2 weeks are completely FREE! // SHARE AND RATE THE PODCAST // FOLLOW US ON IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@henriettealbon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jonalbon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@albonapp⁠⁠⁠

Henriette recaps her race at Trail du Saint Jacques by UTMB – breaking down heat prep, fueling, and pacing – then dives into the weird world of tapering. From hormonal curveballs to taper panic, she and Jon explore why rest before a race can feel so wrong, and how to manage it. // TRAIL ANALYTICS & PLANNINGCheck out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlbonApp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for trail specific data insights and bespoke trail running plans. First 2 weeks are completely FREE! // SHARE AND RATE THE PODCAST // FOLLOW US ON IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@henriettealbon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jonalbon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@albonapp⁠⁠⁠

In this episode of The Albon Way, Henriette and Jon dive into the sweaty side of race prep, namely heat training. From DIY heat caves and sauna sessions to layering up for treadmill hikes, they break down the difference between active and passive heat exposure, when and how to use each, and why it’s not just for hot races. They share real-world insights from their own training (and missteps), plus essential tips on hydration, nutrition, recovery, and monitoring your body's response. Whether you're prepping for heat, altitude, or just want a fitness boost from sweating your arse off, this one's for you. //DISCOUNT CODES25% off ⁠226ers Norway⁠: ALBON25$40 annual credit + bottle: ⁠THE FEED⁠ (click on link) 15% off ⁠Moonvalley⁠: ALBON15 // TRAIL ANALYTICS & PLANNINGCheck out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlbonApp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for trail specific data insights and bespoke trail running plans. First 2 weeks are completely FREE! // SHARE AND RATE THE PODCAST // FOLLOW US ON IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@henriettealbon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jonalbon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@albonapp⁠⁠⁠