Advertise on podcast: The Albon Way

A debrief of Jon’s win at UTS 57K by UTMB, where he approached the race as a training effort rather than an all-out performance. The Albons also discuss the role of training races within a wider training programme, when poles are worth carrying in trail races, and whether simple sugar has finally replaced gels as their go-to fueling strategy. They also share updates on recovery, heat training, and preparations for MontBlanc 90K around the corner.   🧭 ASCEND DISCOUNT CODE Check out ⁠Ascend⁠ trailrunning app for personalised trail running plans and data insights. Use code thealbonway30 for 30% off your first month! 💬 SHARE & RATE THE PODCAST If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your runningbuddies and leave a quick review, it really helps more trail runners find theshow. 📲 FOLLOW US @henriettealbon @jonalbon @ascendtrail.app

This episode covers two key race-prep topics: how we’re approaching vert and downhill specificity for Mont Blanc 90K, and our updated go-to guide for fueling and hydration in racing. We break down vert ratio, gradient-specific training, gut training, why we separate carbs from fluids, and how to think about sodium intake on race day. 🧭 ASCEND DISCOUNT CODE Check out ⁠Ascend⁠ trailrunning app for personalised trail running plans and data insights. Use code thealbonway30 for 30% off your first month! 💬 SHARE & RATE THE PODCAST If 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 @henriettealbon @jonalbon @ascendtrail.app

How should you pace an ultra marathon, and what does “sustainable effort” really mean over longer races? We break down how to manage effort across different terrains and conditions, why pacing by feel matters more than numbers, and the common mistakes that lead to late-race slowdown. We also explain how training intensities translate to race day, and how finding the right effort is key to minimising fade and performing at your best. LINK TO INTENSITY ZONES here 🧭 TRAIL TRAINING & ANALYTICS Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ascend⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for personalised trail running plans and data insights. Your first 2 weeks are completely FREE. 💬 SHARE & RATE THE PODCAST If 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 ⁠⁠@ascendtrail.app

How long should you really take to recover after an ultra, and how soon is too soon to race again? After TGC, we share our own recovery process and why jumping back into racing too quickly can hold you back. We talk through what’s happening in the body post-race, why “training races” aren’t really a thing at longer distances, and how recovery ultimately shapes your entire season. Because at the end of the day, you only benefit from the training you recover from. 🧭 TRAIL TRAINING & ANALYTICS Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ascend⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for personalised trail running plans and data insights. Your first 2 weeks are completely FREE. Use code thealbonway20 for 20% off your first month! 💬 SHARE & RATE THE PODCAST If 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 ⁠@ascendtrail.app

A raw post-race debrief from Transgrancanaria Classic,recorded from the couch while still wrecked. Henriette and Jon unpack what it took to win: midnight start, river running, freezing wind, desert heat, tactical racing, shoe changes, fueling plans, and the small decisions that shaped both races. They also reflect on tapering, training with Ascend, and the key lessons they’re taking into the rest of the season.   🧭 TRAIL TRAINING & ANALYTICS Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ascend⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (formerly AlbonApp) for personalised trail running plans and data insights based on Running Impact. Your first 2 weeks are completely FREE! 💬 SHARE & RATE THE PODCAST If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your runningbuddies and leave a quick review, it really helps more trail runners find theshow. 📲 FOLLOW US ON IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@henriettealbon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jonalbon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @ascendtrail.app

Tune in for a training update as Transgrancanaria Classic approaches in less than three weeks. We reflect on our separate training camp experiences, before diving into the key habits that help us get more out of our training. From sleep consistency and fueling properly to managing recovery and life stress, we explore the small, repeatable habits that support real training adaptations. If you’re trying to balance life, training, and recovery, this episode will help you think beyond the workout and focus on what actually drives long-term consistency and progress. 🧭 TRAIL TRAINING & ANALYTICS Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlbonApp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for personalised trail running plans and data insights based on Running Impact. Your first 2 weeks are completely FREE! 💬 SHARE & RATE THE PODCAST If 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

Henriette and Jon check in from sunny Gran Canaria, where they’ve swapped icy winter training for warm, mountainous trails five weeks out from race day. They talk honestly about how training is going, the challenge of never quite feeling “ready”, and their approach to long runs this time around. They also compare this year’s training to last year’s, including a shift toward more intervals and “spicy” long runs, and discuss how to balance specificity with staying healthy. The episode then dives into recent community questionsfrom AlbonApp, covering what it really means when fitness numbers drop after time off, how to think about flat versus hilly running during base training, and what to do if race day is approaching but running impact fitness still looks low. They also discuss practical advice on training data; why accurate elevation, treadmill recording, and correctly set threshold pace matter. 🔗 Link to threshold pace test HERE (scroll to bottom) 🧭 TRAIL TRAINING & ANALYTICS Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlbonApp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for personalised trail running plans and data insights based on Running Impact. Your first 2 weeks are completely FREE! 💬 SHARE & RATE THE PODCAST If 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

Henriette and Jon unpack how (not) to plan a trail running season, and why you can’t just string together random races and hope for the best. With big ultras like TGC and UTMB in mind, they explain how a season needs space for base building, sharpening, tapering, and real recovery. Because long races don’t just take it out of you physically, they can hit emotionally too. They also share a training update from their current training bubble, including how Jon has built back after a tough UTMB period, why he’s bringing intervals back, and how AlbonAppguides their structure. You’ll hear how they think about anchor races, why fewer key races can lead to better season management, and what recovery actually looks like after a hard ultra. Plus: the UTMB “death spiral,” changing plans when injuries happen, racing vs training races, what they’re excited (andnervous) about this season, and a quick end-of-episode joy check-in: ft Northern Lights, pizza, and a Strava troll. 🧭 TRAIL TRAINING & ANALYTICS Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlbonApp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for personalised trail running plans and data insights based on Running Impact. Your first 2 weeks are completely FREE! 💬 SHARE & RATE THE PODCAST If 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

Join the Albons as they dive into the challenges and triumphs of starting a new year with fresh goals and renewed energy. In this episode, Jon and Henriette share insights on maintaining motivation, avoiding common training pitfalls, and the importance of gradual progress. Whether you're a seasoned trail runner or just beginning your fitness journey, this episode offers valuable tips to help you navigate the most dangerous training month of the year. Tune in for a blend of personal anecdotes, “expert” advice, and a touch of humor to kickstart your 2026 with intention and purpose. 🧭 TRAIL TRAINING & ANALYTICS Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlbonApp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for personalised trail running plans and data insights based on Running Impact. Your first 2 weeks are completely FREE! 💬 SHARE & RATE THE PODCAST If 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

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 & ANALYTICS Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlbonApp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for personalised trail running plans and data insights based on Running Impact. Your first 2 weeks are completely FREE! 💬 SHARE & RATE THE PODCAST If 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 & ANALYTICS Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AlbonApp⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for personalised trail running plans and data insights based on Running Impact. Your first 2 weeks are completely FREE! 💬 SHARE & RATE THE PODCAST If 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 & ANALYTICS Check 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 PODCAST If 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 & ANALYTICS Check 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 & ANALYTICS Check 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 & ANALYTICS Check 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