How do you train for 500+ miles of technical mountain terrain? I’m using my 2014 Tour Divide training log as a guide, and using a very similar mantra.
“When there is time, get outside.”
I personally don’t prescribe to a training plan because too many other things in my daily life are scheduled. I want to have some flexibility and mostly enjoy my riding rather than suffering through a training day.
Of course, when three angry turkeys decide to chase, training involves a set of unexpected intervals.
For the Colorado Trail Race (CTR), I am focusing on hours, not miles. The goal is more time riding and running. I definitely plan to keep doing long-ish runs up to race day so I’m better prepared for all of the hike-a-bike sections.
| Week | Miles | 2014 Hours | 2019 Hours |
| 1 | 17 | 1:53 | 2:18 |
| 2 | 89 | 6:29 | 2:03 |
| 3 | 92 | 6:37 | 2:51 |
| 4 | 76 | 6:00 | 7:10 |
| 5 | 30 | 2:42 | 1:20 |
| 6 | 14 | 1:02 | 3:30 |
| 7 | 125 | 9:28 | 6:25 |
| 8 | 150 | 10:33 | 4:45 |
| 9 | 66 | 5:26 | 4:47 |
| 10 | 132 | 10:13 | 5:41 |
| 11 | 167 | 11:55 | |
| 12 | 97 | 6:54 | |
| 13 | 0 | 0 | |
| 14 | 214 | 15:52 | |
| 15 | 99 | 7:27 | |
| 16 | 83 | 6:45 | |
| 17 | 173 | 16:19 | |
| 18 | 105 | 8:14 | |
| 19 | 108 | 8:26 | |
| 20 | 184 | 16:23 | |
| 21 | 198 | 15:32 | |
| 22 | 68 | 5:18 | |
| 23 | 34 | 2:38 |
Not a great start. My weekly hours need to get above that 10 hour threshold soon. Luckily, the CTR is not until late July vs. an early June start for the Tour Divide.
On the positive side, this year, Colorado has provided plenty of chances to test my snow biking and biking pushing skills. Both of the are potentially valuable CTR skills.
When Saturdays provide my best chance for a long ride and it snows, I manage to ride and push my bike through several hours of trails. I try to follow that up with more biking or a snow run on Sunday.
