Anyone out there training for the Overland? Excited to have gotten a spot and interested to hear how others are approaching their training. Looking forward to a great race!
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I am looking at doing it next year 2024. what plan did you end up using ?
I haven’t done the race, but I’ve done a lot of riding in that area – my wife and a bunch of friends have raced it, though!
There is a lot of elevation gain, but all from short, steep climbs. Nothing will be much longer than 5ish minutes, so expect a lot of VO2 efforts.
Given the punchy nature of the hard efforts you’ll have to do, I think choosing Rolling Road Race as your Specialty focus would be a solid plan. 
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One where you practice running with your bike and tightening your sphincter as people careen by you descending on class IV roads way outside their ability or fitness.
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Sign me up 
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Is this the race where that pro died?
It’s an amazing event!! I did a general build and RRR specialty phase. To be fair to TR I burned myself out on additional outdoor rides about 2 months prior to the race and lost a bunch of fitness not sticking to the plan. That said, unless you’re at the pointy end of the race, I would probably go with a plan with slightly more sustained power.
Personally I would consider climbing road race - though @ZackeryWeimer might be able to speak to whether that would make sense
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Yes - that was my year
Climbing RR could work as well! It would depend on how you want to approach the race – longer, steadier effort under more “control” vs. punching it up the climbs.
There is no incorrect approach between these two plans, in my opinion!
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As @The_Conductor says above, be prepared to do some hike-a-bike, especially if you’re not on the pointy end of things. A lot of the climbs are short and punchy, but also very technical, and if you’re in a mass of people you’re either grinding or walking.
I had to bail on the race a few days out this year because of a family emergency, but in general, the Class IV in VT is in extra rough shape post-flood with new, exciting drop-offs and precipices in random spots. Very bummed I missed it, and I’m really looking forward to my 2024 run at it.
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I’d disagree that the climbs don’t get much longer. There’s at least 1 20 minute climb and I think at least one more 10 minute climb.
You will spend a lot of time in all the high zones though. Below is power zone distribution from 2021, which is the only time I raced it with a power meter.
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