TRACER is the official training partner of Elevation Everest.

Training for Elevation Everest: 4 Pillars of Success

The following pillars of training will help you meet your potential on race day at Elevation Everest, provided by world-champ trail runner Max King!

Aerobic Training

The foundation of a successful vertical race over many hours isn't built on sprints or speedwork; it’s built on the size of your aerobic engine. Most of your training should be done at a conversational pace—an intensity where you could comfortably chat with a friend. These low-intensity, high-duration efforts trigger vital aerobic adaptations, increasing mitochondrial density and your body's ability to utilize oxygen efficiently. Train easy, but maintain a high level of consistency and duration.

Uphill Specificity

As you get closer to race day, specificity becomes more important, so prioritize vertical gain over flat mileage. If you don't have local mountain access, the uphill treadmill and Stairmaster are your most effective tools. Setting the treadmill to a steep grade (12-15%) or grinding out sessions on the stairs builds the specific lower-body strength and calf resilience required for repetitive climbing. The goal is to make a 1,600-foot gain feel very manageable, as you'll need to do multiple laps during the race.

Water, Sugar, Salt

Water, sugar, and salt are the trinity of endurance fueling that keeps your systems from seizing up. You must treat your gut like a muscle; practice your fueling strategy during training to ensure you can stomach 60–90 grams of carbohydrates per hour.

Without adequate salt to regulate fluid balance and sugar to keep your glycogen stores topped off, even the fittest athlete will eventually "bonk." Execute your plan early and often on race day.

Smart Pacing

In a race measured by total laps over several hours, the person who slows down the least is usually the one who wins. It is incredibly tempting to "bury yourself" on the first few laps when the adrenaline is high, but over-pursuing an early lap is a debt you’ll pay back with interest later. Maintain a consistent, sustainable effort—aim for a pace that feels "boringly easy" at the start. By staying disciplined and avoiding the red zone, youʼll have the energy to keep grinding while others are crumbling.

Get Early Access to TRACER Coaching for Your Race

TRACER's innovative AI brings you recommendations from world-class pros for a fraction of the cost of one-on-one coaching. Early access is only $25/month with coach Max King.

• Dynamic training program that adapts to your schedule, feelings, data

• Specifically dialed for Elevation Everest participants

• Monthly group calls to answer questions and review your training

• Answers to questions about nutrition and access to TRACER's extensive library of content

Learn More

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