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Jim Walmsley is one of the most iconic endurance athletes of modern times. Known for his historic victories at the JFK 50 and Western States 100, and now celebrated as the first American man to win the UTMB, Walmsley has cemented his legacy in running and ultra running history. In recent years, he has continued to improve — mixing high mileage with smart recovery and cross-training to stay at the top of his game. So what does it take to train like one of the best in the world? In this article, we’ll delve into Jim Walmsley’s brutal but measured training regime – and explore the one percent he adds to stay ahead in the world of ultras.
Jim follows the Lydiard approach to training, which involves high amounts of running at a slower to moderate pace. He has been known to run up to 175 miles a week, but with high mileage comes the risk of injuries and fatigue. In recent years, Jim has begun incorporating other forms of exercise that build strength and cardio endurance, while minimizing the impact on his body.
Walmsley posts all of his workouts on Strava. It’s open with that mileage, splits and recovery. He carries very little.
One of the most startlingly obvious things is how amazing his stamina is. It should be noted that most of his long rides are done on trails that are somewhat slower than roads. However, it is not slow. In the long run below, Walmsley covered 50km on runs averaging 3:27 per kilometre. amazing…
Walmsley is classic Lydiard. It covers about 175 miles per week (just over 280 km). This is a serious distance for any marathon runner, both historical and present.
A common session for an elite marathon runner is often 8 x 1 km, 10 x 1 km, or 12 x 1 km. But 20 x 1 km, that’s legit hardcore. Walmsley’s splits are impressive, without being earth-shattering.
Walmsley clocked 3:48 for 1,500 metres, which is good, but not world class. Brett Robinson, one of Australia’s best marathon runners, has a 1500m PB of 3:38 (and a marathon PB of 2:07:31). While Bekele recorded a time of 3:32 for 1,500 metres. Speed will be Walmsley’s weakness, and he will need to find a lot of it, and fast. Below is an example of a mini 200m session I completed recently.
Just…check…this…out, the last 23 splits of a long 48m (on the tracks).
Some of the other fitness techniques that Jim has begun incorporating into his workouts include:
- Long Bike Rides: Jim increased the number of long bike rides in his recovery days. These rides can be up to 30-60 miles long, allowing him to improve his cardiovascular fitness without stress on his legs and joints.
- Cross Country Skiing: Jim also began incorporating Nordic cross country skiing into his training. It is a very challenging sport that improves leg strength and cardio, and is low impact, making it a great way to improve overall mountain running fitness while taking pressure off one’s legs.
By training smarter and adapting as he ages, Jim is setting himself up to maintain his level of performance for many years to come. He doesn’t keep his training secret, and the formula is simple. His base is to run several miles a week, adding a mix of speed and intensity work, and using other activities that help him recover and maintain his performance.
Examples of some key Walmsley sessions:
3 mile warm up
8 x 200 m repetitions
Recovering from running 400 metres
2 cooling miles
3 mile warm up
12 x 400 meter repeat
100 meter recovery
2 cooling miles
4 mile warm up
5 x 1600 meter repeats
Rest for two minutes between each round
2 cooling miles
3 mile warm up
12 x 400 meter repeat
He ran the 600 meter recovery
2 cooling miles
3 mile warm up
10 x 800 meter repeats
My recovery run was 260 meters between rounds
1 cooling mile
3 mile warm up
4 x 2 mile repeats
Rest for two minutes between each round
1 cooling mile
3 mile warm up
10 x 1 mile repeats
2 minutes rest between each mile
3 mile cool down
Hybrid mode is activated
In 2025, Jim fully embraces the hybrid sports identity. His training now regularly features structured doubles that combine 20-25 km runs in the morning with tempo riding or cross-country skiing in the evening. Road days of 280km per week are more selective, with smarter cycles that build up intensity, then ease back into recovery. He’s reportedly working with a sports scientist in Europe to monitor biomarkers like heart rate, lactate threshold, and cortisol levels — all to delay burnout and maintain performance well into his 30s.
Judgment
At the age of 35, Walmsley has evolved, combining knowledge with maturity, with plenty of miles covered. He’s not slowing down. If anything, it’s that he’s gotten smarter — and maybe better.
