Last four weeks training

Andrew Mitchell
Andrew Mitchell Posts: 6
edited June 2011 in Training, fitness and health
I've entered La Marmotte on July 2 so with just under a month to go I'd be very grateful for some tips on how far my last three 'long weekend rides' should be. Should I be looking to clock up a couple of hundred milers and then one last 100 km ? Or would this risk leaving my best form in the UK ? Or is it not far enough ? For context, this is my first Alpine sportive - I have done a couple of hundred milers in the UK but clearly La Marmotte will be a major step up in terms of climbing.

Many thanks

Comments

  • George Byron
    George Byron Posts: 1
    I'd say you should be fine with that schedule - obviously it'll depend how much climbing you're doing and how fast you're taking each ride for how much it will affect you. It's probably the last week you'd need to be most careful but even then if you're in shape you should recover within 2/3 days - and I hope you're in shape if you're doing La Marmotte. Good luck
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    On your longer rides for the first 3 weeks I'd ensure I was doing 2-3 good intervals 30 mins to 45 mins at a hard pace, doesn't matter if on a hill or flat. It'll help simulate the long, hard effort of the climbs...
  • twotyred
    twotyred Posts: 822
    I'm counting down to the Marmotte as well. I'm being professionally coached and my longest ride from now will be 3 hrs duration but I have been training constantly since Jan 2nd and have 4 century sportives under my belt including the Dragon. Like George says if you are fit then you should be able to recover from what you are proposing to do however if you haven't got a good endurance base you may risk leaving a bit of form behind in Blighty.

    My gut feel would be to stick to 100km rides and do like Nap D says but maybe not for every ride.
  • airbusboy
    airbusboy Posts: 231
    I'm also attempting the Marmotte in a few weeks. My training plan (which is very much make it up as you go). Is going to be a mixture of 3-4hr rides (upto 80mi), 1hr high intensity sessions in the middle of a 2hr ride and when time is limited hill intervals.

    What eases the mental pain of the forthcoming event is that about half the marmotte is down hill :D
    'Ride hard for those who can't.....'
  • Andrew Mitchell
    Andrew Mitchell Posts: 6
    Many thanks for these - very helpful advice

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