Do you actually want to do it? It takes a lot of work to be good at this stuff, I cannot be arsed with that so I do stuff that’s fun even if you’re shite.

I wouldn’t recommend basing your training objectives on someone else’s hours/miles. Work out what free time you have available for training and then make the best use of that.
Racing the Peaks in your first season after years off the bike is a big challenge, so don’t be discouraged. It can take a several years of structured training to reach your full potential.
Do some reading about training, and maybe consider joining a club where you can get some coaching. You’ll want to be working towards doing more variety and more specific training, rather than just doing long rides on the bike.
Good luck!

Haven’t you answered your own question here?

You had a six hour ride in nice sunny weather and it was a bit harder than you expected.

I don’t often tell people to MTFU, but…

Nothing even comes close to how tough the Peaks is. Even seasoned pros will base half their year around it so for a first-timer there, you’re at a disadvantage to begin with.

There’s all the stuff online about “carrying bikes” and “running” and the reality is that none of it really comes close to replicating the total body battering that the Peaks gives you.

Couple that with your past health, time constraints, not knowing what you were up against and actually that’s not a bad result.

It’s slower at the back of the pack anyway, you’ve got all the other suffering people to get around, there are limited options for overtaking once you’re all clambering up Whernside so once you’re in a slow-moving stream of people you’re stuck there. That’ll be part of your time losses.

Well done for getting round. I’ve not done it (though would like to), but surely it’s too unique of an event to be drawing any general conclusions from? It’s a crazy one-off race that you were doing for the first time – it’s not like a time trial or something where you can get a reliable read-out on your fitness, track your progression etc.

Except for a dozen or so at the front it’s “survival” and “damage limitation” for the masses. Your far better just racing within yourself and being grateful for finishing. It helps if you like a spot of self flagellation whilst on your bike.

My 2nd time this year – took a few mins off last year’s time, but I’d hoped to be sub 4hrs and ended up just outside. Loved it again, feel I’ve come away knowing the race a little better and knowing what I need to work on for next year.

I didn’t do any specific training for it, but I race a fair bit and tend to be in reasonable condition all year, without being able to dedicate much time to training.

Don’t over-analyse it – that race is a one-off and this was your first time.

I kinda had a similar outcome, binned after bike bustin’ rear mech bustin’ 🙄
Anywhoo’s, I trained, I’m a fit lad, thought I’d be fine and in all honesty I think I would have been too. That incident was a concoction of me hitting a gully between two rocks/peat bog, a short stop followed by 15 blokes on my ass collapsing into me. Just the way it goes I guess. Hated being on the front with 15 chasers, no pressure on me at all 😆 I had too much adrenaline in me when trying to fix the bent mech that I grabbed a handful and busted the hanger with my immense new found strength 🙄

Thing for me though, I trained, been training all year building fitness and stamina. Done a load of CX Sportives, done a load of riding in the North York Moors etc. and a cleat full of road riding.

I was nervous to start with though. I read all the reviews and photos of previous years, tales of grandeur and sweat inspired me no end. However I got on the line and looked around and got the jitters.. me getting nervous on the start line is unheard of.. That wasn’t a good omen. Once the riding started I was fine enough but didn’t settle, didn’t like the jostling and close quarter criss-cross riding for the first 10k. Close Qtr Cross Racing I can handle, this was too random and no one wanted to give you room… I know all the rules and riding do’s/don’ts well enough and how to get out of trouble..

It hasn’t put me off doing it again, I will practice more in the NYMoors, do more riding in peat bog and very rough ground..

When entries come around again I guess I’ll be there itching to press the Go button, we’ll see.

So, no advice from me, just you’re not alone Sonny Jim.

It was my 3rd attempt this year- trying to get into top 15- just scraped in 15th so pretty pleased- but sights go further up every time!
I had pretty bad cramp from Whernside, which was earlier than previous years and a bit of a pain, but could just about push through.
I learn something every year, but could really do with some better knowledge of the descent off Whernside which I find brutal.

For the first time I used my garmin, and also left my stages power meter on which gave some really interesting info. From reading the above it seems most people focus too much on practising pedalling for this race (me included) – here’s how my 3h 18m finishing time breaks down when I look at garmin data/strava:

Total Road riding: 53mins
Total Off road climbing (on bike): 32mins
Technical descending: 46mins
Uphill on foot: 61mins

I’ve taken from this the importance of practising descending, and climbing on foot for prolonged periods to be just as important as practising pedalling!

You need to accept you did well to enter and complete such a tough event despite severe pain – kudos.

Having taken part and seen what is involved you can now make an informed decision if you want to go on to the next step ie competing for places.

If you do then there are sacrifices (in my case no alchohol, no junk food and 15hrs training a week) but no pain no gain.

Also be aware that directly after such a tough event you enter a ‘trough of fatigue’ where you might feel pretty down. It’s taken me 4 weeks to recover from Torq in your Sleep.

Listen to your missus. She sounds exactly the kind of person to have around if you’re insisting on being so hard on yourself.

FFS you finished and should be chuffed with how you did, considering your training base and how it actually differed from the course. I’d certainly be chuffed with that.

.

I had a similar experience to the Op. Went into it thinking sub 4hr but just scraped in under 5 hrs 🙁 I’m glad I did it but I won’t be doing it again. The motivation to do the type of training you need to do well just isn’t there for me.

^^^^^^
This 1000x

very true ned, I think the 3 min advantage over the shaggy record was the lack of beard and very very VERY dayglo socks.

bloomin amazes me how anyone could do it in under 4 with or without gears. I’d be crying like a little girl in first 30 minutes 😀

That idiot samuri off of singletrack did it fixed one year. His chin was clean then but he’s bearded now, so doubt he’ll repeat the feet… http://www.63xc.com/sriley/jonwyatt.htm