I started out at once per week. About 4 weeks before the race I started doing about 3 rides per week. Mixing it up with a lot of climbing and general cross country riding. I'm lucky because I live right next to Aliso Woods in Laguna Niguel, CA and we have multiple trails with 150, 300, 600 and 800 foot climbs to chose from. I just keep going out and pushing it a little harder and a little farther. I like to time myself on the climbs and I've been dropping minutes off my times all over the place so it feels good.
I can't tell you how many of these trails I used to stop and rest on 2 or 3 times up the trail and now I just ride right through it and keep on going.
I'm trying to put a team together for the 12 Hours of Temecula on June 16th. Can't wait.
Jon