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BUILD PHASE · 8 WEEKS OUT

LEADVILLE TRAIL 100 — 8 WEEKS OUT

Structured intensity enters. Threshold + VO2 max work. 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 INTENSITY.

Eight weeks out, the build phase kicks in. One threshold session, one VO2 max session, and the long ride all in a week. Volume stays high, but now intensity layers on top. This is where your FTP should start climbing — if it doesn't, distribution is wrong, not effort.

THIS WEEK'S ANCHOR SESSION

2X20MIN THRESHOLD

Warm up 15min. 2x20min at 91-105% FTP with 5min recovery between. Cool down. Hit the target power both reps — if you fade the second, you started too hard. This is your bread-and-butter threshold session.

THE WEEK

A TYPICAL WEEK, 8 WEEKS OUT

Monday

REST

Recovery is a session — treat it like one.

Tuesday

THRESHOLD INTERVALS (2X20MIN)

Your key quality session of the week.

Wednesday

90MIN Z2 + STRENGTH

Reduced gym volume — maintenance only.

Thursday

VO2 MAX (4X4MIN @ 106-120% FTP)

Push the ceiling. Rep 4 should be the hardest.

Friday

REST OR 45MIN RECOVERY

Legs up.

Saturday

4-6H LONG RIDE WITH 3X15MIN AT EVENT PACE

Specificity starts here.

Sunday

2H Z2

Active recovery.

DON'T DO THIS

Do not stack threshold and VO2 max back-to-back. 48 hours minimum between quality sessions. Stacking kills the adaptation and makes you fragile.

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 8 WEEKS OUT

Is 8 weeks enough to train for the Leadville Trail 100?+

Yes, if you already have a reasonable aerobic base. 8 weeks out means peak and taper — we can sharpen and refine, but we can't build new aerobic fitness from scratch. If you're starting from zero now, aim for finishing rather than personal bests.

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 8 weeks out from the Leadville Trail 100?+

Reduce to 8-10 hours with rising intensity quality. This is the peak phase — fewer, sharper sessions. Long weekend ride stays but drops slightly (3-4 hours with event-specific work). Weekday sessions are shorter and more intense.

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

Earlier phase ← 12 weeks out

LATE BASE

Later phase → 4 weeks out

PEAK PHASE