Diagonale des Fous training plan
Train for the Diagonale des Fous: a block built on 180 km and 10,200 m of vert
The crossing of Réunion Island, from Saint-Pierre to Saint-Denis, through the island's cirques.
- Distance
- ≈ 180 km
- Elevation gain
- ≈ 10,200 m
- Density
- ≈ 57 m/km
- When
- October
Organiser figures for the 2026 edition, rounded. Courses change: enter your edition's numbers, the plan is built on them.
What this course asks of you
Over 10,000 m of climbing on terrain known for being technical: roots, rocks, steps. On the Diagonale pace matters little; what matters is how well the legs hold up to hours of irregular footing, uphill and down.
What the plan does for this profile
Climbing builds up to the race's
Your weekly vert rises from base to peak, capped at your race. On the last loading week your trail runs aim for the Diagonale des Fous's density, about 57 m per km, within the climbing available where you train.
Back-to-back weekends
The engine treats races of 80 km and more as ultras: the long run is followed by a supporting run on tired legs, and advanced athletes get a second long run every other week.
Descending, if your course calls for it
Enter your edition's elevation loss: eccentric work is only scheduled when the descent really matters, always away from the key session, and never during an injury.
Questions about training for the Diagonale des Fous
What runners ask before they commit.
Count in months rather than weeks, on top of an existing aerobic base. Uptrail sizes the block from your race date and your current training, and tells you honestly what remains achievable in the time available rather than compressing the preparation.
Train for another race
Uptrail is not affiliated with the organisers of the Diagonale des Fous. The race name belongs to its organisers.
The Diagonale des Fous is prepared week by week.
Enter your race, its elevation and the days you can run. The block is built, then rebuilt after every run.
