I am not the fastest racer, and i have been training for this race by doing 3 hour long mtb rides. I worked into 3 hours, by working my way to 2 full hours, then 2.5 then 3. I try to do my rides as continuously as possible, only stopping to pee or eat. I started my rides slow and alone, then i invited some pals who i know are faster (and fitter) than i am. and tried to stay on their pace when possible, dropping back when necessary.

WALK UP the hills during a race, it will give you a chance to stretch your back. Just try your best on the single track and have a game plan for what you won't be able to ride, (ie when to dismount when to remount). And ABSOLUTELY DO NOT feel bad about dismounting. As you fatigue some technical sections are best walked anyway, that is you are faster walking than trying to ride.

It sounds like this course and race was designed for sprinting. Short races often are. I don't want to sound like a bummer, but if you can't finish the lap, then you might want to consider another race.

enduro racing is not the same as team racing or regular racing. You really just go out and ride your own race. Unless you are trying for podium or something, you really just go out and ride.


well my two cents...good luck!

Hannah



Quote Originally Posted by mtbdarby
Han-grrl - congrats! What an awesome job!

So how did you train or overcome "getting into" the race by jumping into it? I have darn slow twitch muscles and I absolutley DIE the first half a lap. I was gonna try a 3 hour solo ride tomorrow but I tried to pre ride it 2 nights ago. The course is a 7.5 mile loop on brand new single track. Half the course is single track (and I use that word loosely). There are 8 DIFFICULT hills on this thing and both up and down hill is unbelievable steep. There is very little flat terrain and i was walking up and down hill in the first two miles. It's loose, soft and steep and I have a hardtail. I didn't finish the lap - a first time for me. It was discouraging because I'm in better shape for this than I was for my 12 hour team race. I thought a 3 hour solo would be a great start for me since I"m not a sprinter, but I feel this course is simply over my head. There's no room to pass on the singletrack because if you go off of it you'll fall down the hillAnyone have anythoughts on how to approach a race like this?