Trail Running Coaching and Training Plans

We want to help you have the best trip possible, and that starts before you even get to the Alps. Training for the specific challenges of the Alps and arriving with the fitness appropriate to your tour level will help you enjoy your trip even more.  

If you’re looking for training support we’ve developed a summary of coaching opportunities ranging from personalized coaching to general trail running fitness plans.

While we don’t specifically endorse these companies, we do consider them to be reputable coaching services. We hope this overview helps you prepare for trail running in the Alps and get the most out of your Run the Alps trip. 

As always, contact us if you have questions!

*This list is not meant to be comprehensive, nor can we personally vouch for each company or coach. We have not included some coaches and programs that are fully booked and not taking on new clients. 

Comprehensive Personalized Coaching

Comprehensive Personalized Coaching offers premium services that often encompass every aspect of running, including individualized training plans, nutrition consultations, and strength programming. You’ll often work with well-known or elite-level coaches. Comprehensive plans can often be adjusted, personalized, and scaled-back as desired. 

Chaski Endurance Collective

A collective of coaches ranging in specialties from road, to trail, to mountaineering. In addition to run coaching, Chaski offers nutrition consultation, strength plans, online physical therapy, and biomechanical analysis. Coaching services vary in intensity, from monthly check-ins to weekly coaching calls. (Transparency alert! Emily Schmitz, who wrote this article, works for Chaski and has found them to be a good coaching company!)

CTS

Carmichael Training Systems has become well known in endurance circles, and today they train some of ultrarunning’s best athletes. They offer a wide range of coaching services, catering not only to elite-level athletes, but beginners as well. They have an extensive team of coaches, making it easy to find a coach that fits your style and works with your needs.

Uphill Athlete

Uphill Athlete is the coaching company that authored the popular book, Training for the Uphill Athlete. They offer a wide range of services, including one-to-one coaching, training groups, and training plans. Uphill Athlete focuses on training for trail running as well as alpinism, climbing, and other high-altitude activities. They also offer nutrition consultation, online physical therapy, and a library of training resources including videos, stories, and podcasts. Our partners at ALPSinsght work with Uphill Athlete for their own training and can offer 10% off memberships and training plans with code: alpsinsight.

Personalized Coaching

Personalized coaching offers a tailored approach to training that focuses on individual goals, abilities, and needs, providing customized guidance and support. These coaching plans vary depending on how much communication you have with your coach. This is a good place to start for those who want guidance and personalization. 

Krissy Moehl

Krissy boasts an extensive list of race accomplishments, including over 100 ultra finishes and two impressive victories at UTMB! She authored Running your First Ultra: Customizable Training Plans for your First 50K to 100-mile Race, is a race director, and coaches athletes of all abilities. Krissy is a longtime friend of Run the Alps, and has even been a special guest on our trips. She’s highly experienced, wonderfully supportive, and extremely knowledgeable!

Max King

Max coaches both youth and adults through in-person training camps and providing online services. He has had a lengthy and successful racing career, bringing a depth of experience from racing in the Alps. He understands beginners to advanced runners, and those who have worked with him praise his patience and clear, effective communication. Max is also a friend who has also been a special guest on our tours.

Mike Ehredt

Based in Northern Idaho, Mike has been coaching runners for 20 years, and currently works with our friend and Run the Alps special guest Mirna Valerio. His coaching philosophy focuses on flexibility and growth – understanding that life is messy, progress isn’t always linear, and that we grow stronger both mentally and physically when we step outside our comfort zones and explore new activities. Mike’s motto is: the more we do, the more we can do!

Trails and Tarmac

Created by Run the Alps friends Ryan Ghelfi and David Laney, Trails and Tarmac offers personalized coaching as well as training consultation calls—for those looking for training insight without the commitment of working long-term with a coach. They have a handful of coaches on their team that bring together years of coaching, running, and mountain experience.

Training Plans with Limited Coaching

We’ve seen an abundance of new training platforms in the past few years. These platforms range in price and personalization, depending on their design, but tend to be more affordable. They often work best for runners who are time-crunched or prefer minimal input from a coach, but still want some guidance along the way.  

Run Motion

Run Motion is a new app-based coaching platform that uses an algorithm to analyze your current training and designs a plan to fit you and your goals. You can even speak to a digital coach that provides you with feedback and motivation. 

Vert.run

Vert.run is a training app that offers semi-customizable plans. There are options available to work with a coach on a limited basis, or have a coach help you choose the correct plan for your needs. Vert’s workouts are designed based on time and how hard the training feels for you, an approach that makes their training plan accessible regardless of your fitness or skill level.