Training for a 50 km Ultra: Why You Need a Trail‑Specific, Personalised Plan

Training for a 50 km ultra is no small feat. Whether you’re stepping up to the distance for the first time or looking to train with more structure and improve on past performances, there are a few key things worth considering.

One of the biggest challenges is avoiding the trap of doing too much too soon. Your body needs time to adapt, and pushing too hard early on can lead to injury—a setback that’s best avoided at all costs. This is where load management comes into play. It’s about finding the right balance between effort and recovery, allowing steady progress without overloading your body.

Moreover, on the trails, no two kilometres are the same, so you need a system that accounts for those climbs—and how fast you ran down them. AlbonApp was built for trail runners, and our load management metrics—like Running Impact—account for those fast downhills and the stress they place on your body. Running Impact helps you build fitness without overdoing it, so you can stay strong and injury-free.

Your training plan should also be designed around your current abilities—not how fast you were a year ago, but where your fitness is right now. As your fitness evolves, your plan should evolve with it. To achieve this, we create a fitness profile based on your last 6–12 months of Strava data. From there, every workout and progression is tailored specifically to you, ensuring that your training remains both effective and sustainable. No templates or guesswork—just the right training load for you, at the right time.

Finally, it’s incredibly valuable to have a supportive community around you—like-minded people on a similar journey. Ultra running isn’t just about the miles; it’s also about everything else that comes with it. Having others to share advice, experiences, and lessons learned can help steady your nerves and prevent you from making the same mistakes they once did. You can ask questions directly to the AlbonApp community—from world-class athletes to back-of-the-pack runners. Questions always crop up, and someone’s always there to help. The trail running community is one of the best parts of the sport, and we’ve made sure it’s baked into your training experience.

If you're preparing for a trail ultra, you’ll need more than a generic plan. You need a system that understands how trail running actually works. If you want to try AlbonApp, the first two weeks are completely free for new users. Learn more about what AlbonApp offers here.

Still looking for an ultra? Runaway Racing offers a supportive community and a 50km experience designed for both first-timers and competitive racers.