60K for 60 Years
Training for July 2026
My 60th birthday is July 7, 2026. In an effort to tempt fate and prove out my stupidity levels, I'm publicly committing to a 60k run on the weekend before. Nothing says "responsible adult decision-making" quite like running an ultramarathon distance on questionable trails in the middle of a Canberra winter. But here we are.
Here's a link to my current training log.
This page documents the entire training journey—the plan, the progress, the wins, and the inevitable moments where I question every life choice that led me here. Real-time updates after every run. No filtered highlights, no motivational platitudes, just the honest accounting of what it takes to prepare for something this ridiculous when you're pushing 60 and still trying to maintain some semblance of sanity.
I invite you to follow my progress. Below you'll find my complete 15-week training plan—the structured progression from base building through peak volume and into taper. I'm updating the notes section after every run, usually with a mix of stats, complaints, and the occasional victory. If you're training for something similar, feel free to steal the plan. If you want to join me for a slow run around Canberra, reach out. Misery loves company.
Training Plan
15-Week Trail Running Program
This is a custom plan combining trail running with F45 resistance training. The goal: build enough endurance to complete 60 kilometers without completely falling apart. The structure follows a classic periodization approach—base building, volume accumulation, peak loading, and taper—with strength work integrated throughout to maintain muscle mass and reduce injury risk.
Weeks 1-3: Base Building
- F45 Sessions: 5 per week
- Easy Runs: 5-7km at conversational pace
- Long Runs: 10km → 14km progression
- Focus: Establishing aerobic base, maintaining strength
Starting conservative. The temptation is always to do too much too soon. I'm not 30 anymore, and pretending otherwise leads to injuries that take weeks to heal instead of days.
Week 4: Recovery
- F45 Sessions: 5 per week (maintained)
- Running Volume: Reduced across all sessions
- Focus: Active recovery, adaptation consolidation
Scheduled recovery week. Let the adaptations from the first block settle in before ramping volume again.
Weeks 5-7: Endurance Development
- F45 Sessions: 5 per week
- Long Runs: 16km → 21km, transitioning to trail terrain
- Tempo Runs: 8-10km at sustained effort
- Focus: Trail-specific adaptations, hill work, power-hiking technique
This is where it gets real. Moving from roads to trails means dealing with uneven footing, elevation changes, and the mental grind of slower paces on technical terrain. Power-hiking becomes a skill, not a fallback.
Week 8: Recovery Week
- F45 Sessions: 3 per week (reduction begins)
- Long Run: 14km
- Focus: Volume reduction, recovery emphasis
Cutting F45 frequency to prioritize running recovery. Strength work stays, but total training load drops to allow adaptation.
Weeks 9-11: Peak Building
- F45 Sessions: 3 per week
- Long Runs: 24km → 28km on trail terrain
- Focus: Nutrition practice, varied footing, night running preparation
Peak volume phase. This is where you learn what breaks—gear, nutrition strategy, mental resilience. Long runs become dress rehearsals for race day conditions.
Weeks 12-14: Taper Phase
- F45 Sessions: Continued at 3 per week
- Long Run Peak: 40km in Week 14
- Focus: Night running practice, power-hiking refinement, race simulation
The final long run is the confidence builder—40k to prove the body can handle extreme distance. After that, it's about maintaining fitness while shedding fatigue.
Week 15: Final Prep
- Running: Easy 10km sessions only
- Focus: Rest, recovery, mental preparation
Final week before race weekend. Easy miles, good sleep, carb loading, and trying not to psyche myself out completely.
Key Training Principles
- Progressive Overload: Long runs increase approximately 2km weekly during build phases
- Terrain Specificity: Road work transitions to trail by Week 5 to match race conditions
- Strength Integration: F45 sessions maintain throughout to preserve muscle mass and structural integrity
- Nutrition Practice: Weeks 10-14 focus on dialing in race-day fueling strategy
- Recovery Emphasis: Scheduled low-volume weeks prevent overtraining and allow adaptation
Running Log Archives
Follow my progress through the 15-week training plan. Each month's running log includes detailed entries with stats, photos, and honest assessments of what's working (and what isn't).
Reach out to me if you'd like to join in on a run (very slow) or have any other comments. Training partners welcome, commiseration encouraged.