Skip to content
COHORT 2 IS OPEN8 hours left
APPLY

BASE PHASE · 16 WEEKS OUT

LEADVILLE TRAIL 100 — 16 WEEKS OUT

Aerobic foundation. High volume, low intensity. Don't skip this. Built around the 160km / 3,800m profile of the Leadville 100 in USA.

160 km·3,800 m climbing·8-12 hours·August

THE FOCUS RIGHT NOW

BUILD THE ENGINE.

Sixteen weeks out, your job is volume. Forget intervals. Forget Strava. Build the aerobic engine that every later phase sits on top of. 80% of your time should be in Zone 2 — conversational pace, nose-breathing territory. If your base phase feels easy, you're doing it right.

THIS WEEK'S ANCHOR SESSION

THE LONG Z2 RIDE

One 3-4 hour steady Zone 2 ride per week. Flat to rolling route. Cadence 85-95rpm. Heart rate below first ventilatory threshold the whole way. This is where your mitochondrial density grows.

THE WEEK

A TYPICAL WEEK, 16 WEEKS OUT

Monday

REST OR 45MIN Z1

Recovery day — coffee spin only if you want to.

Tuesday

90MIN Z2 ENDURANCE

Steady, controlled, aerobic.

Wednesday

1H STRENGTH + 30MIN EASY SPIN

Squats, deadlifts, core. Builds what the bike can't.

Thursday

90MIN Z2 WITH 3X5MIN TEMPO

Intro to structured effort — don't race it.

Friday

REST

Genuine rest. The adaptations happen now.

Saturday

3-4H LONG Z2 RIDE

Anchor session. Fueled from minute 30.

Sunday

90MIN GROUP RIDE OR SOLO Z2

Social pace. No heroes allowed.

DON'T DO THIS

The #1 base-phase mistake: riding too hard on easy days. If you arrive at Saturday already tired, you'll never build the aerobic depth you need. Discipline the volume, discipline the intensity.

EVENT INTEL

WHAT THE LEADVILLE 100 ACTUALLY DEMANDS

Leadville 100 is the definitive high-altitude MTB race — 160km through the Colorado Rockies starting at 3,100m (10,200ft) with 3,800m of climbing and a topout above 3,800m on Columbine Mine. Lottery entry, hard cut-offs, finisher buckle is a career milestone.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS

  • ✓Altitude 3,100-3,840m — altitude-naive riders lose 20-30% power
  • ✓Columbine Mine climb — 9km straight up to 3,840m above sea level
  • ✓Cut-off at the Columbine turnaround (6:00) is the race
  • ✓Powerline descent — fast, rocky, tyre-popping territory
  • ✓Weather varies from freezing dawn to 30°C + thunderstorms

COMMON MISTAKES

  • ✕Arriving less than 2 weeks before for altitude acclimatisation
  • ✕Racing the first 40km on paved road sections and blowing up at altitude
  • ✕Running tyres too light — Leadville's rocks destroy XC casings

PACING

Altitude changes everything. Target a power ceiling 15-20% below what you'd hold at sea level. Heart rate runs 5-10 bpm higher than your lowland rate at the same effort — don't panic. Columbine Mine is a controlled climb at aerobic threshold. The flats + the Powerline descent are where the front group makes time; the back half is where you win your sub-9 buckle.

FUELLING

Altitude suppresses appetite — force-fuel on a timer. 70-90g carbs/hour. Feed zones are excellent (crew + on-course). Hydration is critical: 750ml+/hour with electrolytes. The dry Colorado air dehydrates faster than you feel.

KIT

Hardtail or 120mm trail bike. 2.3-2.4" tyres with Enduro or MaxxTerra casings — not XC race tyres. CO2 + pump + plug kit + spare tube. Arm warmers + gilet for the 06:30 start (cold). Altitude requires sunglasses with good UV + clear lens backup for the Columbine descent (often cloud + rain).

WANT THIS BUILT AROUND YOUR FTP?

COACHED FOR YOUR EVENT.

Not Done Yet is the coached five-pillar system built around your actual event date. Personalised TrainingPeaks plan, weekly calls, expert masterclasses. 7-day free trial.

Apply for Not Done YetHow Coaching Works

$195/month · 7-day free trial · Cancel anytime

FAQ

COMMON QUESTIONS AT 16 WEEKS OUT

Is 16 weeks enough to train for the Leadville Trail 100?+

Yes, 16 weeks is a strong window. That's enough time for a full base phase, build, peak, and taper — the classical periodisation structure. 3,800m of climbing over 160km is built with sustained Z2 volume (base) + threshold work (build) in that order.

What's the hardest part of the Leadville Trail 100?+

Altitude 3,100-3,840m — altitude-naive riders lose 20-30% power. arriving less than 2 weeks before for altitude acclimatisation — so pacing discipline is the single biggest lever most amateurs miss. Altitude changes everything.

How many hours a week should I train at 16 weeks out from the Leadville Trail 100?+

Aim for 8-12 hours/week if you're targeting a strong finish. The long weekend ride is the anchor (3-4 hours at late base intensities) plus 3-4 structured weekday sessions. Volume matters more than intensity at this phase.

Do I need a coach to train for the Leadville Trail 100?+

You don't need a coach to finish. You do need structure. If you're new to sportives, have a target finish time, have a plateau you can't break, or have a history of peaking wrong, a coached plan pays for itself. Inside Not Done Yet the plan is built backwards from your event date — base, build, peak, taper timed to the week the Leadville Trail 100 runs. 7-day free trial, $195/mo.

What gearing should I run for the Leadville Trail 100?+

Hardtail or 120mm trail bike. 2.3-2.4" tyres with Enduro or MaxxTerra casings — not XC race tyres. CO2 + pump + plug kit + spare tube. Arm warmers + gilet for the 06:30 start (cold). Altitude requires sunglasses with good UV + clear lens backup for the Columbine descent (often cloud + rain).

OTHER PHASES FOR THE LEADVILLE 100

Later phase → 12 weeks out

LATE BASE