Buffalo Stampede 20km: Train for technical, joyful mountain running
Steep pinches. Sharp switchbacks. Over 1,000m of elevation gain compressed into just 20km. This is Buffalo: short on distance, huge on demand.
The course starts with a steep ascent out of Bright, rolls across exposed ridgelines, then drops fast into technical descents that can empty the legs if you’re not prepared. Climbs are punchy, descents unforgiving, and the terrain constantly asks you to stay present and nimble.
Our 16-week program builds your climbing strength, downhill control and aerobic base so you can arrive steady, confident and ready to take on every part of this course: from the first vertical grind to the final descent into town.
- Whole-runner coaching: Training that respects female physiology and the realities of life: cycle-aware guidance, nervous system care and recovery that keeps you progressing.
- Real-time support: Weekly live coaching and community calls to troubleshoot, personalise and keep you steady when life gets full.
- Context, not just a plan: Every session comes with clear intention, effort cues and terrain notes so you know why it matters and how to adapt.
- Built by and for women: A coaching team grounded in evidence and lived experience across trail performance, nutrition and physiotherapy.
What you will gain
- Technical footwork and downhill control: Train to move with confidence on Buffalo’s rocky stair sections, loose descents and off-camber turns.
- Climbing strength that lasts: Build the aerobic power for repeated steep ascents, so you can crest climbs without fading late.
- Smart fuelling and hydration: Practise simple, female-centred strategies to keep energy steady over 2.5 to 4 hours of mountain effort.
- Resilience and calm: Tools to regulate effort, recover quickly on runnable flats and stay composed when the terrain gets sharp.
What is inside your 16-week programme
- 4 to 6 structured runs each week: Purpose-built for Buffalo’s vertical gain, including hill repeats, technical descending practice and longer sustained climbs.
- 1 to 2 strength sessions: Mountain-specific work for quads, hips and trunk to handle relentless climbing and protect knees on steep downhills.
- 1 to 2 mobility or yoga sessions: Restore range and keep tissues happy under load.
- Weekly live coaching and community calls: Practical guidance, accountability and honest support.
- Nutrition guidance: Everyday and on-trail fuelling so training fits your life and race demands.
- Injury prevention and recovery tools: Simple protocols to keep you consistent and resilient on technical terrain.
Is this for you
You can comfortably run 30 to 40 minutes and are ready to build towards hilly, technical 20km. Perfect for first-time mountain runners and road-to-trail athletes who want structured coaching, not guesswork.
Time commitment
4 to 7 hours per week on average, including running, strength and mobility. Peak weeks are clearly signposted with options to scale up or down depending on life load.
Terrain and kit
Expect stairs, rocky single track and fast descents. We guide you early on to start trying different kit, so you can lock down your race gear earlier.
By race day you will know Buffalo’s demands and your personal strategy: how to pace the opening climb, when to fuel, and how to keep control on steep, technical descents. You’ll arrive ready and proud of the preparation behind you.
Start strong: train with structure, care and community.
Weeks 1–4 : Base
Lay aerobic foundations, practise efficient form and build strength conditioning to prepare muscles and joints for climbing and descending load.
Weeks 5–9 : Build
Introduce longer runs, structured hill sessions and descending skills. Focus on climbing economy, downhill confidence and sustained aerobic strength.
Weeks 10–13 : Peak
Race-specific sharpening: back-to-back long runs, steeper sustained efforts and fuelling strategies tested under fatigue. This is your heaviest but most targeted block.
Week 14 : Transition
Volume eases back to absorb peak training. Efforts stay purposeful, but with more recovery between. This week bridges heavy load into taper.
Weeks 15–16 : Taper
Volume reduces further while keeping intensity sharp. You’ll arrive rested, primed and mentally ready: legs fresh, lungs open, mind calm.
Alpine Summer Run Mission
6–8 February 2026 · Bright, VIC
The Buffalo SkyMarathon isn’t just a race: it’s a vertical, technical, and mentally demanding alpine challenge unlike anything else on the trail calendar.
Getting time on the course before race day is a game-changer: you'll move through exposed ridgelines, steep climbs, and wild descents with expert guidance. This mission helps you feel the terrain, practise fuelling and pacing in real conditions, and build the confidence to race with presence and purpose.
Whether you're preparing for Buffalo or simply drawn to adventure, mountains, and shared experience: this weekend offers the perfect blend of movement, coaching, and connection.
- ✔ 3 guided runs over key Buffalo Stampede course sections
- ✔ Accommodation and nourishing meals included
- ✔ Access to a variety of race fuels to test and learn
- ✔ Practical coaching: pacing, mindset, recovery and terrain tactics
- ✔ Carpooling support for local and interstate participants
- ✔ Family-friendly options available: email [email protected]
- ✔ All In Members: receive 15% off the mission
A chance to ground your Buffalo prep, elevate your confidence, and connect with like-minded women on trail.
Trying to work out what the best value approach is for you?
Standalone
- ✔ Buffalo 20km Program
- ✔ Access via app or desktop, as well as coaching & community platform
- Optional: Alpine Summer Run Mission
- $400 one-time or $149.50 × 3 = $448.50
- + $575 for Run Mission
- Total: $975 – $1,023.50
All In Membership
- ✔ Access to Buffalo 20km Program
- ✔ Access to any Her Trails program
- ✔ Alpine Summer Run Mission at $488.75
- ✔ 15% off HT merch + partner discounts
- $220/quarter over 12 months
- Total: $880 + $488.75 = $1,368.75
Included: Base Camp
- Monthly meditations and journal prompts
- Guest speaker sessions and unfiltered conversations
- Community Hub to connect and stay grounded
- Early retreat access + merch discounts
- Program previews, field notes, and reflection prompts
Flexible ways to access more ~ whether you’re starting with one program or going all in.
