# 2 hour training sessions for long MTB race - my experience

**URL:** <https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/2-hour-training-sessions-for-long-mtb-race-my-experience/17281>\
**Category:** Racing\
**Tags:** mtb\
**Created:** [June 19, 2019, 6:14pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/2-hour-training-sessions-for-long-mtb-race-my-experience/17281 "2019-06-19T18:14:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 42

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**Author:** ![Stringwise](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/stringwise/32/8504_2.png) [@Stringwise](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Stringwise)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 3:45pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/2-hour-training-sessions-for-long-mtb-race-my-experience/17281/42 "2020-01-10T15:45:48Z")

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> [@Bikeguy0](#):
>
> When Nate says he did Leadville on 2 hour indoor training rides we need to consider two things. One is that Nate has a high FTP and from all appearances is a gifted endurance athlete. What works for Nate doesn’t necessarily work for everyone else. Two is that Leadville is darn near a gravel race. It is not a full on MTB race with technical climbing or descending.

The third point is that he didn’t do Leadville on 2 hour training rides. This is often quoted and just plain not true.

Nate came into the final 12 ish weeks prior to Leadville with a 330 watt FTP. Then does the following rides…

May 2, 2018 Sagan Fondo Pre Ride 30 miles 2.66 hours  
May 5, 2018 Sagan Fondo 68 miles 4.5 hours  
May 20, 2018 Outdoor Ride 58 miles, 3.5 hours  
May 27, 2018 Endurance Ride 73.5 miles, 4.1 hours  
+Crit Racing

June, 2 2018 Lost and Found, 100 miles 6.5 hours  
June 16, 2018 Carson City Off Road 53 miles, 5.5 hours  
+TT Racing

July 14, 2018 Tahoe Trail 100, 61 miles, 5.5 hours  
+Crit Racing

That’s over 32 training hours of longer than 2 hour sweet spot rides plus racing along the way.

The reason for me pointing this out is I don’t want people to do what I did and just go with the “Nate did Leadville on 2 hour rides so can I” attitude and fail.

Fact- Nate did NOT do Leadville on 2 hour sweet spot rides. Period. Let’s try to kill this oft quoted reference because it is frustrating to see people basing their training on something that’s simply not true.

If you are doing long races do long rides.

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