There’s a difference between signing up for races and actually preparing for them.
This season?
It’s not casual. It’s not “we’ll see how it goes.”
It’s structured. Intentional. Built around a reality most training plans ignore:
12-hour shifts. Blood sugar swings. Real life.
The Goal: Build a Body That Doesn’t Break
This isn’t about peak fitness for one race.
It’s about durability across:
- High altitude
- Desert ultras
- Technical terrain
- Winter conditions
Because this lineup doesn’t give you time to rebuild — it forces you to hold the line for months.
The Race Stack (And What It Demands)
- Leadville Trail Marathon → Altitude + climbing = controlled suffering
- Canyonlands Ultra → Long miles, sand, mental fatigue
- Dead Horse Ultra → Technical grit + late-season fatigue
- Arches Ultra → Cold, exposed, early-season reality check
Each one exposes something different.
So the training has to cover all of it.
Phase 1: Winter Base (Right Now)
This is where most people get it wrong.
They chase speed.
They chase mileage.
They skip the boring stuff.
I don’t.
What I’m focusing on:
- Easy miles (Zone 2) — building an aerobic engine that actually lasts
- Time on feet > pace
- Strength work 2–3x/week
- Cold exposure training (because Arches Ultra won’t be kind)
The reality:
Some runs happen after 12-hour shifts.
Some happen tired.
Some feel like trash.
They still count.
Strength Training: Non-Negotiable
Trail runners love to skip this.
Then wonder why they fall apart at mile 20.
My focus:
- Single-leg strength (lunges, step-ups, split squats)
- Posterior chain (deadlifts, glutes, hamstrings)
- Core stability (because technical trails punish weakness)
- Explosive work (box jumps, power movements)
This is what keeps me:
- Upright on technical terrain
- Efficient on climbs
- Less broken the next day
Phase 2: Build Toward Altitude (Leadville Focus)
Leading into Leadville Trail Marathon, everything shifts.
You can’t fake altitude.
Key adjustments:
- Long climbs every week
- Back-to-back long run days
- Power hiking practice (because you will hike)
- Breath control + pacing discipline
This phase is less about speed…
and more about not blowing up at 13,000 feet.
Phase 3: Desert Durability (Moab Block)
After Leadville, the focus flips.
Welcome to sand, slickrock, and fatigue that builds.
Training shifts to:
- Technical trail running
- Heat exposure (late-day runs, overdressing when needed)
- Long efforts on tired legs
- Nutrition dialing (because fueling failures show up fast in ultras)
This is where:
- Canyonlands Ultra
- Dead Horse Ultra
…stop being races and start being consequences of your training.
Fueling: The Diabetic Athlete Layer
This is where things get real.
I don’t get to guess on fueling.
What I’m dialing in:
- Real food options (not just gels)
- Blood sugar stability on long runs
- Fuel timing vs insulin balance
- Practicing race-day nutrition every week
Because if fueling fails, the race is already over.
Training Around 12-Hour Nursing Shifts
This is the part most plans ignore.
But it’s the part that matters most.
What it actually looks like:
- Running tired
- Adjusting workouts instead of skipping them
- Prioritizing sleep when possible
- Letting go of “perfect weeks”
Some weeks are messy.
But consistency beats perfection every time.
What I’m Not Doing
Let’s be clear:
I’m not:
- Chasing mileage for ego
- Comparing my training to Instagram
- Forcing workouts when recovery is needed
Because burnout doesn’t win races.
The Truth About This Season
This training isn’t glamorous.
It’s repetitive.
It’s inconvenient.
It’s built in the margins of real life.
But it’s also what makes race day matter.
What’s Coming Next
➡️ Post 3: Fueling Strategy for This Race Season
- Real food vs gels
- What I actually eat during long runs
- Blood sugar management mid-race
- Cheap, effective fueling that works
Closing — Fed Diabetic Runner Style
No shortcuts.
No perfect conditions.
No waiting until life gets easier.
Just stacking the work.
Because by the time I hit the start line…
I don’t want to hope I’m ready.
I want to know.
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