The Albon Way

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!

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@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