My fastest ride ever on the Utrechtse Heuvelrug: when training pays off
Sunday’s ride through the Utrechtse Heuvelrug was one of those sessions that reminded me why I love mountain biking. Not just because of the amazing trails that weave through one of the Netherlands' most beautiful nature areas, but also because a lot of things came together, and I ended up riding faster and further than ever before on these trails.
With just one week to go before the MTB Marathon Amerongen, this ride was meant to be a reality check. Can I handle something close to the 58km distance I'll face next weekend? How do I pace the race? How do I feed? That’s what I wanted to test. While I didn't quite hit the 58k target (dinner plans with the family called me home....priorities, right?), the quality of the ride left me feeling confident about race day.
The Secret Sauce: structured training and carbohydrates
Two key factors made this ride different from my usual trail rides. Let’s zoom in for anyone looking to unlock their next level of performance.
1. The power of structured training
For the past few months, I've been highly disciplined about my training. Instead of just heading out for "junk miles" whenever I felt like it, I've been following targeted workouts: intervals, tempo rides, endurance sessions, each with a specific purpose. The beauty of structured training (through JOIN) isn't just in the individual sessions; it's in how they compound over time.
Yesterday, I could feel that compound interest paying dividends. My legs had the snap for punchy climbs, and I could repeat them, much more often than normal. My breathing stayed controlled even when the trail ramped up. Most importantly, my power felt sustainable—not the fleeting burst of form that comes from a good day, but the steady confidence that comes from consistent work.
2. Fueling on the fly
The second thing is something I've just started experimenting with: nutrition during the ride. Armed with a few energy gels and a bottle with a balanced sports drink, I treated this training session like race day from a fueling perspective.
The difference was remarkable. Instead of that familiar energy dip around the 90-minute mark, I maintained power and focus all the way. The gels provided quick-hit energy, while consistent hydration kept everything running smoothly. It's a lesson (although a bit of a no-brainer) I should have learned years ago: your body can only perform as well as you fuel it.
The Utrechtse Heuvelrug trails
Training on the Utrechtse Heuvelrug comes with its own set of advantages. The varied terrain, from flowing single track to punchy climbs, from technical root sections to fast, sweeping descents, are awesome to ride, but also build skill and I can’t wait for the MTB Marathon on Saturday to bring those skills into practice.
Racing toward race day
With one week left before the MTB Marathon, Sunday’s ride (i.e. result) was exactly what I was hoping for. While I didn't hit the full 58km target, the quality of the effort showed me that the fitness is there. More importantly, I now have a proven fueling strategy and the knowledge that my structured training approach is paying off.
The final week is mostly about tapering. JOIN offered a Monday and Tuesday session and from there on only rest till Saturday Race Day 😊
Putting your goals out there
Jeroen's post from yesterday inspired me in terms of speaking out loud of my goal for Saturday. One of the guys here in the village (I'm talking about you Thierry, I know you read this too ;-)) did the 2024 edition of the MTB Marathon in 2:25:21, which is 24,8 km/h on average. That is a heck of a ride!
So although I think that is still a bit out of my league, that would be awesome to achieve. However, the goal is to stay below 2:30:00 for the 58km ride. Whether it's day dreaming, or indeed realistic, I'll know Saturday afternoon ;-)
Until then, Keep Chasing!
