Training this week

Have been working quite hard this week, started off with the most insane MTB race on Sunday.
The Mid Illovo Eston 75km Marathon was supposed to be the best MTB ride on the calendar, I have another opinion! We had been invited to ride the route a couple of weeks ago, even then we complained bitterly about the route and the amount of climbing and soft sand, the event organisers said they would consult other riders and then make a call, clearly they weren't interested in what we had to say!
So the team (Simon, Nick, Pete, Mark, Rich, Andy, Brett B, Ivor, Brett H and Clayton) headed off there early Sunday morning, the ride as I mentioned consisted of a LOT of climbing and lots of soft sand, even in the forest single track! We had a ridiculous number of mechanical issues from broken derailers to punctures, loose seats, twisted chain's and broken bearings, at the end of the race everyone except for Pete finished but our times were slow and all of us felt the pain of a long ride.
Monday was rest day.
Tuesday was a 55km hill climb come sprint across the Northway Bridge, and then today was a small spin session which turned into a very hard climbing and strength building class.
Tomorrow is a rest day for me as Friday the team leave to conquer the Sani Pass Road a small 130km on Friday from Notties and then 90km up and over the pass into Lesotho on Sat. I may have a few interesting stories on Monday.