What sort of rider are you?
In order for you to get the most out of the MTB planner, make sure you follow the programme appropriate to your level of fitness and experience.

The ‘New to MTB rider’
You may have just started this new and exciting sport and like any new activity, want to do everything in a day but probably have found out very quickly that it requires strength, stamina and technique. Or maybe it is one of the many things you do but this year you would like to dedicate more time to it.
So far, long distance rides are not on your agenda but by looking at the MTB marathons you have chosen the right event as you will be one of the many competitors who enter purely as a personal challenge – and trust me the feeling you get after completing the course is worth it. To have a regular pattern to your exercise is probably something very new to you and might be difficult to stick to but in any case you can benefit from the tips given in this planner.

The ‘Regular MTB rider’
As a regular mountain biker heading out into the hills, you are used to riding your bike for a few hours at a time and may have done some longer weekend trips. Some of you may not have undertaken a 100km non-stop ride before or perhaps you completed one of the MTB-Marathons last year and are looking to improve your time!
Are you someone who manages to get fit by the end of the summer but at this time of year feels pretty sluggish with all the Christmas and New Year indulgences!? Having a realistic training plan for the next few months will help you to prepare in advance for the summer season of endurance rides, sharpen your speed and stun your mates!

The ‘Experienced MTB rider’
As a relatively experienced cyclist used to endurance riding and with a few long rides under your belt, you may already have some knowledge of different ways of training.
You may have experimented with cycling at different intensities and used interval-training sessions before. You probably make an effort to keep fit year round and are looking for a season of events where your results reflect the effort you’ve put in to your training. This training planner will help you to structure your cycling over the next few months so that you progressively introduce harder sessions that will ensure that you are fully fit and well prepared for the MTB-Marathon season.