It always sounds scarier in feet. And it's not all in one go, you do get some very nice flat and downhill places to rest up before the next bit of climbing.

That being said, I am nowhere near ready yet. Didn't make it up the hill to work this morning. My lungs refused. That chest cold I had at Christmas is back with a vengeance. But I'll get over it again and get stronger again. At least out here I'll get lots of hill training without having to go up and down the same hill all the time.