Jabulani Challenge 22km Training Plan
Get Trail-Ready for the Jabulani Challenge 22km
The Jabulani 22km is a stunning but deceptively tough course that packs a lot into its distance — technical creekside trails, stair-filled climbs, and fast fire trail sections that keep your legs honest. Starting and finishing at Bobbin Head, the route takes you along the scenic Warrimoo Track beside Cowan Creek before climbing through the Sphinx and Landings area, offering a mix of runnable terrain and classic Ku-ring-gai bushland.
It’s the perfect event for trail runners wanting a challenge that bridges the gap between shorter trail races and longer ultras. To help you train smart, stay consistent, and arrive on the start line feeling strong and confident, we’ve designed a Jabulani 22km-specific training plan.
This plan builds the endurance, hill strength, and technical skills you’ll need to handle every climb, descent, and creek crossing with confidence — without overtraining or burning out.
Your Jabulani 22 Fitness Formula
Intensity
3 / 5
Strength
3 / 5
Endurance
3 / 5
Training Load
2 / 5
What our members say
Frequently asked questions
Is this program suitable for a beginner?
This plan is perfect if you’re stepping up to your first trail half marathon or returning to running after a break. You should be able to run or run/walk 20 – 25km per week across 4 sessions, and be comfortable with a 7km long run on undulating terrain. As the weeks progress, you’ll gradually increase your long runs, improve your climbing strength, and build confidence on varied terrain with targeted technique and mobility sessions.rnrnBeginner runners are aiming to complete the 21km course feeling strong, proud, and ready for more.
Can you help me train when I'm injured?
Probably, depending on your injury. We are very sorry to hear you are injured. We know how difficult that can be. If you have an injury that requires some rest from running, there are almost always some cross-training options available to help you maintain your fitness, strength, and sanity. By cross-training while you are injured, and including some simple strength, stretching and foam rolling routines, you will speed up your recovery time and ultimately make your return to running easier and more successful. You can start our free 4 week cross training plan now for FREE. It will help you to identify appropriate exercises based on your injury type and recommend what cross training methods will work best for your injury. When you are ready you can start our 10-week return to running program – https://app.streek.run/training-plan/return-to-running-plan/ – or one of our run-specific rehab plans.
Can I start this program late?
You get immediate access to your training plan when you join. You can view the current week plus any previous weeks if you are training for a specific event. We recommend that you start with a weekly volume that your body is currently able to cope with, which might mean starting on the beginner level before moving to intermediate a few weeks later.
About the founder
Mark Green
Physiotherapist and Elite Runner
Mark, has helped over 20,000 athletes improve their running and achieve their race goals. His holistic approach to training ensures noticeable improvements in your movement from the outset