Lynda, 

I have been obsessing over and watching this race blow by me over the past two years. The first year I did not have the fitness and the second year my fitness was better, but my setup wasn't developed enough. Finally, I think my fitness, setup, knowledge of the trail, and passion for the race heighten my chances of finishing. I am finally pulling the trigger on the race and received your AZT300 training plan for Christmas. 

I live in Tucson and have quite a bit of experience with the trail. I will have ridden all sections by the time the race comes in April. I still have to tackle Oracle Ridge to Tiger Mine TH and anything north of Freeman Road.

I am planning on singlespeeding the AZT300 and have tackled some of the sections that are "hard" in my mind. I have had good performance on them. I am a fairly strong technical rider and a fairly new singlespeeder (less than 6months), although I was a bit of a masher before I started the SS. My AZT300 bike is a rigid mariachi and I feel very comfortable on it. My kit is becoming a bit more dialed (I am already riding sections loaded) as I have gone on about 5 bikepacking trips so far. I just have to add a handlebar bag so I can have easier access to food. I also need to make a few minor adjustments to my frame pack. I have my setup to where I am carrying nothing on my back (very important for the SS), but can optionally carry water and stuff in my backpack for some of the longer hauls. I think my bike loaded with all my gear, some food, and a gallon of water weighs in at about 33lbs.

Insofar as pacing, I want to be at colossal cave 24 hours in, Prison Camp 48 hours in, be in Oracle 72 hours in and then make my way to the finish after that with fairly sparse stopping.

Some of my times:

Parker to patagonia    7.5 hours    Total Time, ended up being a very bad day on the bike

Box Canyon Road to Pistol Hill dirt road   5hrs Moving Time

Base of Redington to Top of Prison     8 hours total time

I have been trying to get in as much HAB training as possible and taking my singlespeed on rides where I know I have to walk them. I am also trying to train myself to walk hills that I know I can ride.

I typically partake of the Arizona endurance series races and have a full line up of 6-8 hour races in addition to a SS Solo at 24HOP.  Here is my "race", i.e. big ride lineup. I tend to ride these and not really race. Is this too much? Some are 4-5hours hard intensity (SSAZ), some are 8-10 hours easier intensity, and of course the 24HOP is 24hours easy intensity.

1/7 – AZT Jamboree 1/2 Out n' Back       -Finish, SS, loaded
1/29 – Antelope Peak Challenge    -Finish, SS
2/4 – SSAZ           -Finish, SS
2/11 – Tor50Lita    -Finish, geared
2/17-2/19 – 24HOP SS Solo  -Place in upper 50%, SS
3/10 – Sedona Big Friggin Loop -Finish, geared
4/13 – AZT300    -MAIN GOAL, #1 Priority: FINISH, Secondary goal, finish sub-4days, SS

http://www.rocksnclocks.com/blog/

Hopefully this is enough to get you started.

Jonathan

I'm sure you hate people telling you their plan for deviating from well, the plan. What do they know? Here goes…

I will be riding solo SS in the 24HOP. My plan is to stay in HZ2 as long as possible and maybe even get some scattered HAB training in on the course (maybe on the bitches/last climb). I want to pull 12 laps which will have me riding for 9 hours, rest for 6 hours, and ride for 9 hours.  

Any advice on how to minimize the impact of this event? I am planning to ride for 9 hours, sleep for 5, and then ride for another 9 hours rolling in 12 laps. I noticed that next week is an easier week and was thinking about backing off some of the early week 4 (this week) stuff. On the plan I have to ride for quite a bit this week/weekend anyways. In the end I will have a slightly higher volume (about 2 more hours worth) and a much lower intensity for this week.  I will basically be skipping week 4:days 2-5 in lieu of easier rides to prep for the 24HOP. 

I could stick with what is in the plan, but I do not feel the plan gives me opportunity to dive into the state of mind that I will experience during the AZT300. I want to feel a great desire to quit, but keep pushing through it for many hours. It feels very odd, I feel like I am training for some XC race and not a bikepacking adventure race where the mind games will be at their max. I'm sure the plan is a complete portrait of fitness training, but it seems to leave out the mental aspect with all the short rides. I guess it is a "personal record" plan not a plan for "finding out what works for you" kinda thing.

Perhaps an AZT300 finisher plan is needed with few places for the rider to experience some of the non-fitness aspects of the race (eating gas station food, suffering, fueling for LONG 12+ hour days). 

Just my personal experience with the plan so far. Other than that, I have noticed some gains in fitness and such from all the hill repeats and whatnot. 

Of course, time reveals all things and everything here is just talk, we will see where I am come April 16th. 

Lynda,

Not sure if we can call it enthusiasm. Maybe more like zeal/obsession/thing that occupies 90% of my thoughts. I catch myself drawing mini-AZT300 routes and putting waypoints/schedules/nap spots/milestones/etc there.

I do like the training plan and am seeing results. Fitness-wise everything is going along super! I am especially trying to focus on the core work as my back is giving out long before my legs this season. My HAB is off the charts and I kinda even enjoy it now, so that is a big deal for me. The whole SS thing still kinda freaks me out, but I get a little bit more confidence every time I go tackle one of the more climby AZT sections.  Via some mean SS-ing and HAB I can stay ahead of the geared boys on my loaded, rigid, SS and be fully recovered at the top of big climbs ready to rip.

Good words regarding keeping the restless mind under control. I will ride smart in 24HOP and save my matches for when I will really need them. Plenty of folks have rolled 12 supported laps around the old hampster wheel, but how many have slayed a monstrous desert race? Deep in my heart, I'd rather sneak off my 24HOP lap and ride down willow springs road to ride the Ripsey section of AZT.

Jonathan