12 Weeks to Stage race. Tips, Training and Prepping

[Willys]

Hi Guys.

 

As the title says:

A friend of mine won an entry to a stage race and asked me to join so I agreed. Entered and no turning back now.

 

I am a social MTBer and do around 20km a day 3 days a week and around 40km ride over weekends. I have not seen the other side of a 50km ride in a couple of years now.

 

The stage race is 68km, 58km and 51km over 3 days. The Namaqua Quest. And i need some advice on how to prep for this.

 

I have max 1 hour a day during the week to train due to work and winter but have a bit more time over weekends.

Currently my fitness is mid to low and I did just below 3 hours on Satdays Van Gaalens half marathon. Felt decent afterwards and probably could have shaved of another 10mns if I did not get delayed in the single track que.

 

Other than that I probably need to drop around 10kg again to get below the 100kg point again.

 

I bought a Merida 99 dually with some ZTR Arch wheels on it a short while back to use for training and the race after my Hardtail was voted as a stage race killer by my cycling buddies.

 

Please advise if there is something good to read up in prepping for this. I am just in it for fun but really dont want to hate the world for 3 days for not being fit/prepared enough for this.

 

Current rides my Max HR sits around the 175mark and average 148.