"Soft" UTMB (Tour du Mont Blanc Trail) DAY 3: Courmayeur to Champex Lac! Sage Canaday Running VLOG! - Vo2maxProductions

Intro

This is a quick summary of “Soft” UTMB (Tour du Mont Blanc Trail) DAY 3: Courmayeur to Champex Lac! from Vo2maxProductions. It’s a great watch — we’re breaking it down so you can try the training approach today. Be sure to check out the full video for all the details.

Key Points

• Long‑distance mountain day: ~29 mi (≈47 km) with roughly 8,000 ft (≈2,400 m) of climbing.
• Pacing strategy: Start early (≈9:30 am), keep a steady, effort‑based pace on climbs and use trekking poles to conserve leg muscles.
• Nutrition & hydration: Refill fluids at every aid station, carry extra calories for the long day, and practice fueling on the trail (energy gels, solid snacks).
• Injury awareness: Sage recounts past knee swelling and nausea; he recommends listening to your body, using proper gear (e.g., rain pants, layers) and taking short walk breaks if swelling starts.
• Mental tricks: Break the day into sections (courtyard climb, Grand Col, descent to Champex) and focus on the view to stay motivated.

Workout Example (Trail‑Day Simulation)

Goal: Replicate a “soft UTMB” day in training.

1. Distance: 27‑30 mi (≈43‑48 km) on technical trail.
2. Elevation: Aim for 7,500‑8,500 ft (≈2,300‑2,600 m) total climb.
3. Start Time: 9:00‑9:30 am to mimic race start.
4. Gear: Trekking poles for steep sections, layered clothing for changing weather.
5. Pacing: Run at a conversational effort on flats, use poles and a slightly slower cadence on climbs; keep heart‑rate in the 70‑80 % of max.
6. Nutrition: Consume 200‑250 kcal per hour (gels, nuts, fruit) and sip 500‑750 ml water per hour; refill at any aid stations or water sources.
7. Recovery breaks: 2‑minute walk or easy jog every 5 mi to check knees and stretch.

Closing Note

Give this mountain‑day simulation a try and tweak the distances or paces to match your own fitness level – the Pacing app makes it easy to set custom targets. Have fun on the trails, stay hydrated, and enjoy those Alpine views! 🚀

References

• “Soft” UTMB (Tour du Mont Blanc Trail) DAY 3: Courmayeur to Champex Lac! Sage Canaday Running VLOG! - YouTube (YouTube Video)

Workout - UTMB Long Run Simulation

• 12min @ 12'00''/km
• 5 lots of:
  • 8.0km @ 9'00''/km
  • 2min rest
• 8.0km @ 9'00''/km
• 7min 30s @ 13'00''/km

Ready to start training?

If you already having the Pacing app, click try to import this workout:

Try in App Now

workout/utmb-long-run-simulation-b462dace

Don’t have the app? Copy the reference above,
to import the workout after you install it.