I did it this year and wont be returning next, only because I am getting married next year on the start weekend. ;o)
Technical? yes very, think of the most technical trail you know and multiply it by a factor of five and then add in about 20 times longer. to be fair there are quite a few less technical timed sections, nice flow-ride (ash’s word) but the majority of the timed stuff has some technicality.
I also totally agree, once you’ve done it once you’ll know in your head that you can do it again. It will give you more confidence you can complete a day.
If I do it again I’d take a different bike and chill a bit more on the link stages, take more pics. I’d drink more fluids and take salt tablets, wear bike shoes I can walk in without giving blisters, try not to fall off and break ribs and do a lot more climbing training. Thats quite a lot really, lol. ;o)
I wrongly expected there to be less climbing than there actually was, updulations they called them, personally i’d just call them ‘barsteward climbs’. :o)
Highlight for me was believing I was truly nailing Donkey Darko only to have Nico float past me like it was a walk in the park.