CCC Training Plan 2027 – 16 Weeks to Chamonix
Mark Green
CCC is 101km and 6,050m of climbing from Courmayeur to Chamonix, through Italy, Switzerland and France. It is one of the most sought-after trail races in the world, and one of the hardest 100km races you can enter.
This 16-week plan is built specifically for it. I have written it for runners who want to reach Chamonix in one piece, whether your goal is to finish or to race.
Written by a physio who works with runners
I am Mark Green. I have been a physiotherapist for 30 years, and I have spent most of that time treating runners and helping them run without injury.
I have not run CCC myself, but I have coached a lot of runners who have. This plan is built on what they told me afterwards: what went well, what went wrong, and what they wish they had trained for. Almost all of them said the same thing about the downhills.
Most training plans focus on getting you fit enough. This one focuses just as much on getting you to the start line uninjured, and on preparing your body for what CCC actually does to it.
Why CCC is different
CCC has 6,050m of descent as well as 6,050m of climbing, and the big descents come late in the race, on tired legs. Most runners who struggle at CCC do not run out of fitness. Their quads give out.
That is why the downhill training in this plan builds from Week 1 to race day: specific downhill sessions, technique, strength, and a pacing plan that protects your quads for the second half.
What is included
- 16 weeks of training at three levels: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. You have access to all three and can move between them at any time.
- Every run set out for you, with distance, vert targets, effort level and time caps.
- Strength, stability, stretching and rolling routines, with videos, that progress through the plan.
- Weekly technique coaching: uphill, downhill, hiking, poles, cadence and night running.
- A weekly nutrition guide, building up to your race day fuelling plan.
- Gear advice, including the CCC mandatory kit, shoes, poles and headtorches.
- CCC-specific race preparation: the course, altitude, heat, crew points, pacing and race week.
Choose your level
Your level depends on your running history and the time you have to train. It is not a goal time. Some runners finish CCC in under 16 hours on the Intermediate plan, and others take more than 20 hours on the Advanced plan.
Beginner
For runners who have been training consistently for at least 2 years and regularly run 20km on hilly trails. Aiming to finish.
Week 1: 43km | Biggest week: 72km | Longest run: 40km | 4 runs per week
About 7.5-10 hours of running a week at the peak, plus 1-2 hours of body maintenance.
Intermediate
For runners who have been training consistently for at least 3 years and regularly run 25km on hilly trails. Aiming to run a steady race.
Week 1: 58km | Biggest week: 88km | Longest run: 45km | 5 runs per week
About 9-12 hours of running a week at the peak, plus 1-2 hours of body maintenance.
Advanced
For runners who have been training consistently for 3-4 years, regularly run 30km on hilly trails, and have completed at least two or three 50km trail races. Aiming to race the whole way.
Week 1: 70km | Biggest week: 100km | Longest run: 45km | 5 runs per week
About 10-13.5 hours of running a week at the peak, plus 1-2 hours of body maintenance.
Running times are based on 6-8 minutes per km. All levels include an optional cross training session each week.
How the training works
Vert targets by level
Every run has a vert target. The plan builds to about 400m of climbing per 10km for Beginner, 500m for Intermediate and 600m for Advanced. Every metre you climb in training, you also descend, so the vert trains your quads for the descents as much as your legs for the climbs.
Long runs capped at 6 hours
No long run in the plan goes beyond 6 hours. That can feel short for a race that takes most people 15-25 hours, but beyond 6 hours the recovery cost outweighs the benefit. Most runners do too much training rather than too little, and start the race already tired. Read why the long runs are capped.
Hiking and poles
Most runners hike the big climbs at CCC, including many at the front. The plan trains you to hike efficiently and to use poles on both the climbs and the descents.
Night running
CCC starts at 9am, so most runners finish in the dark or run through the night. The plan prepares you to run on technical trails with a headtorch.
No big mountains nearby?
You do not need to live near mountains to follow this plan. It includes stair sessions, treadmill sessions and strength work to build your climbing and descending strength wherever you live.
From runners who have done it
Read about CCC and UTMB from Streek runners who have been there:
Frequently asked questions
When should I start the plan?
The plan is 16 weeks long, so start 16 weeks before race day. For a late August race, that is early May.
How do I know which level to choose?
Choose based on your running history first, then the time you have available. If you have been running 30-35km a week for the past few months, start with Beginner. You can change levels at any stage.
Do I need to have run 100km before?
No, but you do need a solid base. If you have not been running a regular 20km long run on hilly trails, 16 weeks is not enough to prepare safely for CCC. The OCC (60km) would be a better target.
I live somewhere flat. Can I still follow it?
Yes. The plan includes stair repeats, treadmill sessions and strength work for runners without access to big hills.
Should I use poles?
Most runners at CCC do, and the plan teaches you how to use them. If you start the race with poles, you must carry them the whole way, so you need to train with them.
Does the plan cover the mandatory kit?
Yes. The plan explains the CCC mandatory kit and gets you training with a full pack well before race day.
Ready to start?
CCC is a race most people only get one shot at. Give yourself the best chance of reaching Chamonix strong.