Endurance Training, Is It Enough?

In order to balance being a good husband and father, I ride my mtb. only twice a week.  I get one weekday ride and one weekend ride.  The key has been making the most out of both rides.  I try to make the weekday ride 20-30 miles max with a mix of 6 hr pace and XC pace.  There are always faster riders to try and keep up with, and something about night riding makes you want to go fast anyway, so that is never a problem.
On the weekend I try to get a long 'endurance' type ride in.  40-50 miles that will hopefully increase to 6 to 8 hours of riding.  These rides are usually done at somewhat sustainable pacing.  At Umstead, a 21 mile loop, hitting all the hills can be done twice at a 11.5-12.5 average.  Throw in some single-track and the average drops.  My favorite trail off Old Reedy Creek Rd. is ~a 12 mile loop and a good endurance pace would be ~8.5mph.  Unfortunately, the poor weather, Umstead is all that I have ridden (on the weekends) for the past two or three weeks.  Hopefully this week will lead to some sweet single-track. :)
So, hopefully riding my mtb. twice a week will be enough to train for PMBAR and the Burn24.  As far as Warrior Creek is concerned, I will treat that like a 6 hour training ride and just try to enjoy myself.

Oh, I should mention that I do get to commute to work a few days a week on my SS road bike (gear ratio of 48:17).  It does give me a decent work out, and my average commute is ~17 miles (6 to work and 11 home) sometimes more, sometimes less.

Darn Burn24!

So I have commuted to work every day this week thus far (single-speed road bike) .  Monday I really did not want to ride after only five hours sleep thanks to staying up for the Super Bowl (yeah Packers!), Tuesday was fine, but Wednesday was cold (and I am getting tired of the cold).  Still, whenever I don't feel like riding, I think about the Burn24 and how I will feel at 1 or 2 a.m....guessing I probably won't feel like riding.  So, will I just stop and pack it in or will I continue to ride?  Well, if I cannot get up and ride an easy 6 miles to work after 5 hours sleep, or if I don't ride because it is too cold, I am more likely to pack it in during the Burn, or at least that is what I have convinced myself.  So, here I am, riding when I don't feel like it because it is darn good practice physically and mentally.  Hope it pays off.

Race Schedule as of February 2011

4/2/2011         6 Hours of Warrior Creek

5/7/2011         Pisgah Mountain Bike Adventure Race (PMBAR)

5/28 & 5/29    24hr Burn, Dark Mtn. NC 

I have registered for the above three.

Hoping to do Shenandoah 100 also.