Dear Diary,
It’s the final week of December 2025. Wrapping up Week 4 with my new coaches, Brett and Brad. They’ve been great so far and I’m really excited to be working with them. We have an interesting 4 week block cycle going right now where Week 1 is just general easy base volume, Week 2 is focused on downhill and beating up the quads, Week 3 targets uphill specificity and strength, and Week 4 is packed with 5 higher intensity workouts in a row.
During yesterday’s 30x20s on/40s off my left hamstring got really tight, to the point where I was worried I’d pushed it too far and pulled or strained something. Brett recommended playing safe today, so for my 6x5min on/3min off I hopped on the treadmill with a 3% incline. The hamstring loosened up after a 25min warmup and I was able to do all the reps without any pain, just a slightly noticeable tightness by the end of the last rep. Something cool happened starting on the third rep that I’ve noticed happening frequently during runs and workouts lately.
I keep imagining myself on parts of the UTMB course that match the profile of whatever I’m doing, and picturing myself running away from the field feeling like I do at that point during the workout. For example, today I transported to the long gradual green stretch of trail from the Vallorcine aid station over to Col des Montets and the final climb. If there was anyone anywhere near me in that section and I felt like I did during this workout, they wouldn’t stand a chance. In fact, I’ll make a prediction right now that if I’m within five minutes of first at Vallorcine, I’m winning UTMB.
I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anything so badly. Certainly not within running. I never pictured winning TGC or Western States because I didn’t realistically think I could. Now I’ve learned that anything could happen and if I could win those, why couldn’t I win UTMB? Letting myself believe that it’s possible is causing me to dream big and set expectations high. I’m nervous for what that could do to me, especially putting that much pressure on myself already and we’re still nine months out. But it’s also fun and gets my heart pounding to care so deeply and have such a singular focus for this next year.
I just wanted to capture a bit of what I’m feeling now, way ahead of the race, and maybe I’ll schedule this one to drop at the start of UTMB. Hopefully this ages well and I don’t get injured or sick or something, but even if I do I’m committing to myself that I’ll let this one get published anyway. I need all the little reasons I can get to keep myself smart, controlled, healthy, etc to get to that start line ready to rip.
This is amazing! Such a privilege to see inside the mind of a champion. Thanks for sharing so vulnerably, Caleb! And putting yourself out there! You lift all of us up.
Your performance was spot on - you picked up steam at Vallorcine just like you had predicted a year back!