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Hey Folks
I'm doing an XC marathon this Sat (Cooley thriller in Co. Louth Ireland). I'm a complete novice to these things, I've never entered an MTB or cycling event before.
Its 30 miles long with maybe 1500m climbing. I know I'll be able to complete it but was just wondering if anyone has any tips for a noob?
Do these events usually have water refill stations? Food stations? Should I just carry all the water and food I need and plough on?
I'm doing it on a Trance with a magic mary up front 😀
Ride within your own limits on the ups and downs, its easy to get carried away especially at the start and either blow up or crash ( ive done both in the past)
Make sure you take enough
water too, for marathon events i normally take a hydration pack as its easier to live with than bottles in a race situation where its easy to forget to drink enough, same goes for food. I would take at least 4 gels to be on the safe side.
Enjoy
Have a read on the event info regarding feed stations. Most of these types of events usually have them though.
I've got the Hope Pre Peaks next week as I love these type of events. I was supposed to be doing Dirty Reiver earlier this year, but ended up being struck down with illness 🙁
Entering the 200 though next year and we've even hired a camper van to stay over 🙂
Just ride within your limits and take whatever you would normally on a long ride and you'll really enjoy it!
during the week run up, i start drinking 3-4 pints of water a day on top of what i usually drink, being fully hydrated in the week before really helps..
try and find a pace, which i find it difficult, I'm not as fast as the xc whippets but faster than midpack, so i tend to push a little too hard, but aim to keep enough energy reserves for the latter stages and climbs
Sounds like a good way to need to piss loads.
Thanks for the replies and advice everyone. I'm really excited for it. Which is the complete opposite of how I feel for running events.