Two weeks into my Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) 2030 journey, I’m grinding through Dubai’s heat and a messy travel schedule. After a 52km Week 1, Week 2 was a reality check—missed runs, low HRV, and fatigue tested my resolve. Still, I hit 37km, stayed smoke-free for two weeks, and learned some hard lessons. Here’s the raw breakdown of my week, warts and all.
Training Breakdown: 37km, Scrappy and Short
I aimed for 57km across 4-5 runs, targeting Zone 2 (118-138 bpm) to rebuild my aerobic base. Travel to South Africa (1520m elevation) and back to Dubai, plus low HRV, derailed my plan. I only managed three runs, missing two entirely. Here’s what I actually did:
- Wednesday (April 23): 5km easy (target 8km), 8:41 min/km, 130 bpm, 111m gain. Johannesburg’s elevation and low HRV (31ms) slowed me down. Felt sluggish, stretched before to try ease in.
- Saturday (April 26): 20km long run (target 16km), 8:35 min/km, 131 bpm, 5m gain. Back in Dubai, I overshot the target distance but paid for it—last 5km were brutal as HR crept up. Sleep was short (6:53hr). Time on feet was solid, though.
- Sunday (April 27): 12km easy (on target), 8:04 min/km, 130 bpm, 3m gain. Recovery run felt okay for 3km, then HR spiked, forcing run/walk for most of the final stretch. Skipped dinner and had two beers the night before, surprisingly large impact.
Missed Runs:
- Thursday (April 24): Planned 6km easy. Skipped due to a late night in South Africa and recovery vibes.
- Friday (April 25): Planned 9km easy. Red-eye flight from South Africa killed it—zero time or energy.
No HIIT session (planned 1x) due to HRV crashing to 25-31ms. VO2 Max crept to ~43 mL/kg/min, a small win. Elevation gain was 119m—Dubai’s flatness is my nemesis. Falling 20km short of 57km stings, but this is where we are at.
Challenges and Wins
Challenges: Travel was against me—two red-eyes tanked sleep (<4hrs sleep) and HRV (25-31ms), forcing rest days. Missing Thursday and Friday runs hurt momentum. Johannesburg’s elevation and Dubai’s flat roads aren’t UTMB prep. Quitting smoking (two weeks!) brought manageable cravings, but early fatigue lingers.
Wins: That 20km long run, even if sloppy, was a mental victory—pushing past tired legs is ultra training 101. Two weeks smoke-free is huge; Chest Journal 2024 says lung function’s already improving. Tweaked my hydration vest (pic on Instagram) for better long-run comfort. VO2 Max ticking up shows my body’s responding.
Health and Lifestyle: Holding the Line
Quitting smoking on April 14 is working—cravings are low, except when a beer is involved. Sleep was inconsistent (4-8hr), and HRV’s rough (25-31ms), so I’m prioritizing rest. Nutrition needs work—skipping dinner before Sunday’s run was a rookie error. Routine (early runs, 400 kcal on long runs) is my anchor.
Looking Ahead: Week 3 and UK Trails
Week 3 aims for 60-65km, with 4-5 runs and a 21-22km long run. I’ll test fueling (200-300 kcal/hr) to nail ultra nutrition. By May 11, I’m in London, hitting Hampstead Heath or Richmond Park for 500m weekly elevation—finally, some real trails. No more excuses for missed runs.
Join the Journey
Week 2 was messy, but it’s teaching me to adapt—UTMB won’t be perfect either. How do you bounce back from disrupted weeks? Drop your tips below! Track my runs on Strava or gear tweaks on Instagram. Read my intro post for the full UTMB 2030 vision.
Happy trails,
Kyle
