Hi there, I am a mom to an 18-month old and just completed my first XTERRA here in CO. Totally hooked. I have to do most of my training on bike paths so that I can bring my daughter along, and I have about 2 workouts a week where I can get off-road thanks to hubby.

My question is - how can I throw some efforts in on the bike path rides and runs to simulate off-road racing? Or should I save hard efforts for some few but focused off-road workouts? I've done some hill repeats while pulling the trailer and although hard, I don't know how much it's helping. Any insights would be awesome! Thanks!

I think your instinct is right... maybe keep it steady and endurance while you are on the bike path towing the trailer (for safety mostly!) and then use your "ME" time to do focused workouts like hills and intervals. You want to feel good during those workouts and I bet just unhooking the trailer makes you feel like a superstar!

So maybe do one bike and one run workout with some intervals when you have time alone and then use your time with the baby to do longer runs and rides for endurance. Endurance rides are meant to build strength so I am sure pushing a baby or pulling a baby is building huge strength!

Congrats on getting hooked! I am sure you are creating a little athlete baby by bringing her along...