Our Approach to Winter Running: Staying Motivated When It’s Dark & Cold

From load-management issues and toenail fungus to downhill DOMS, dodgy ankles and under-fuelled training sessions...this episode breaks down the trail running lessons we wish we’d learned years ago. We share the honest stories, practical tips and hard-earned insights that can help you avoid common mistakes, train smarter, stay injury-free and enjoy the long game in the mountains.🧭 TRAIL TRAINING & ANALYTICSCheck out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlbonApp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for personalised trail running plans and data insights based on Running Impact. Your first 2 weeks are completely FREE!💬 SHARE & RATE THE PODCASTIf you enjoyed this episode, share it with your running buddies and leave a quick review, it really helps more trail runners find the show.📲 FOLLOW US ON IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@henriettealbon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jonalbon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@albonapp

It’s November...and yes, winter running has hit us hard. In this episode, Henriette and Jon Albon casually chat how to stay motivated and consistent through the dark season. They break down the mindset shifts that make their winter training do-able and explain how embracing reality can nudge your running experience in the direction you want and need. You’ll get practical advice on choosing winter gear (includingJon’s clothing setups), how to make treadmill sessions feel purposeful, staying accountable through goal-setting, and why being smart about winter-specific injury risks can make all the difference. 👊 If you want Jon’s personalised treadmill speed sheet, request yours here: https://forms.gle/AEYU6kqQ7fX6J9jv9🧭 TRAIL TRAINING & ANALYTICSCheck out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlbonApp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for personalised trail running plans and data insights based on Running Impact. Your first 2 weeks are completely FREE!💬 SHARE & RATE THE PODCASTIf you enjoyed this episode, share it with your running buddies and leave a quick review, it really helps more trail runners find the show.📲 FOLLOW US ON IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@henriettealbon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jonalbon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@albonapp

In this episode of The Albon Way, Henriette and Jon share how to follow a trail running training plan without losing the joy and freedom that make the sport so addictive. From recovery and basebuilding weeks to group runs and spontaneous sunrise sessions, they unpack how a flexible approach keeps motivation high, prevents burnout, and makes training more sustainable. The duo also dive into the science of awe, those powerful moments that remind you why you run, and how reconnecting with them can transform your mindset and performance. Plus, they introduce a new segment, Moment of Joy, celebrating the small wins that keep every trail season fresh and fun.🧭 TRAIL TRAINING & ANALYTICSCheck out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Albon App⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for personalised trail running plans, adaptive training zones, and data insights based on Running Impact. Your first 2 weeks are completely FREE!💬 SHARE & RATE THE PODCASTIf you enjoyed this episode, share it with your running buddies and leave a quick review, it really helps more trail runners find the show.📲 FOLLOW US ON IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@henriettealbon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jonalbon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@albonapp

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