I want to run my first mountain race. Where do I start?

2026-10-16

It probably started like this: seeing photos of someone with a bib, halfway up a mountain, mud up to the knees and a huge smile. And you thought: “I want that too.”

And right after came the other voice: “You? With work, family and the life you're living?”

You don't need to be a professional. You need a bib that excites you and a path to get there that you can sustain.

Choose a race that fits you

To start, better a short race. If you already run with some regularity, 8 to 12 kilometres with little elevation can be a good first goal. And remember: ten kilometres in the mountains are not ten kilometres on the road.

Check the profile, the cut-off times and the mandatory kit.

Train for the mountain waiting for you

You don't need to replay the race every Sunday, but you do want to get body and legs used to tracks, trails, climbs and descents.

Two or three sessions a week can be a solid starting point. Mix easy outings with some mountain sessions and, if you can, add two days of strength and mobility. The point is to arrive prepared, not exhausted.

Race day is not the moment for trying new things. Test your shoes, pack and what you'll eat beforehand.

On the steep climbs, walk: don't spend your bullets too early.

On race day, enjoy it

Your first race will be much more than the time on the clock. Look up. See where you are.

Say hello to people you pass. Share a few metres with someone who's suffering just like you. And at the aid stations, thank the volunteers. They've been there for hours so you can live this. A “thank you” changes their day, and yours too.

And when you find yourself on the start line, stomach in knots and surrounded by people who also doubted, you'll get it:

*The prize doesn't begin at the finish. It began the day you decided to try.*

That's why ENDURAQ exists: train with judgment, prepare your goals and find a way to do it that fits your life.