Ultra Viking 60 km, Hofstade 2027

The story

The next chapter: Hofstade.

My target is the 60 km Ultra Viking in Hofstade on Saturday 29 May 2027, with the aim of finishing within the official cutoffs. Registration is not yet confirmed. This is a goal, not a guaranteed finish or medal.

Tactical Barbell Activation with ultra-specific endurance training

The planned sequence is Base, Armor, Operator Blue, Operator Black and Vertex, including recovery and testing weeks. Strength and explosive work follow the structure of those blocks; cardio and endurance are adapted for the Ultra. This combination is not an unchanged Tactical Barbell programme.

Provisional preparation calendar

PLANNED / PROVISIONAL. These are training windows, not booked races or completed sessions. The 9 November Activation start is provisional. Dates may shift with the actual start and progress; blocks will not be compressed to fit the calendar. Planning updated 18 October 2026.

1. 19 Oct to 8 Nov 2026

   Lead-in

   Planned / provisional

   Build a consistent easy endurance routine before Activation.

2. 9 Nov to 6 Dec 2026

   Base

   Planned / provisional

   Build the foundation alongside gradually developing easy endurance.

3. 7 to 13 Dec 2026

   Rest and testing

   Planned / provisional

   Keep endurance short and easy during the planned testing window.

4. 14 Dec 2026 to 3 Jan 2027

   Armor

   Planned / provisional

   Maintain and gradually develop endurance alongside the strength block.

5. 4 Jan to 14 Feb 2027

   Operator Blue

   Planned / provisional

   Develop regular easy running, longer outings and practised fuelling.

6. 15 to 21 Feb 2027

   Deload

   Planned / provisional

   Reduce training load. This is not a catch-up week.

7. 22 Feb to 4 Apr 2027

   Operator Black

   Planned / provisional

   Progress towards race-specific terrain and endurance.

8. 5 to 11 Apr 2027

   Rest and testing

   Planned / provisional

   Allow recovery and avoid stacking long endurance tests with strength testing.

9. 12 Apr to 2 May 2027

   Vertex

   Planned / provisional

   Retain explosive work and balance endurance with the demands of this block.

10. 3 to 16 May 2027

    Transition and maintenance

    Planned / provisional

    Maintain strength and established endurance after Activation. No new full Fighter/Green block here.

11. 17 to 29 May 2027

    Race taper

    Planned / provisional

    Reduce accumulated fatigue and keep familiar, short training stimuli.

Race target: 29 May 2027

Ultra Viking Hofstade, 60 km. Participation remains planned, with registration still to be confirmed. The organiser’s race briefing will determine the official rules and cutoffs.

After Activation and race recovery

A full Fighter/Green block comes later, when recovery and the event calendar allow. No start date is confirmed.

View the official Strong Viking calendar