Training...Really...Do I have To

This week I realized that if I was going to hang with the boys this year, I really need to step up my training regiment.  And when I mean step up my training regiment, I actually mean start a training regiment.  Prior to this year, I haven't really done anything training wise for the last 10-15 years, but after being the tail end of the mountain bike train last year, I decided I needed to make a few changes.  The problem I have, is that I just suck at hills.  Up, down, across them, I just seem to burn energy!  To add to the problem, getting a full suspension ride this year is not going to help too much.  It will make the down hills a hell of a lot smoother, and therefore a lot less energy spent, but the "bob" is going to be a killer on the climbs.  The beauty of the hard tail was that there was straight power all the time on the hills.  

So training it is, and training has begun.  So far this week, if the gps is right, I have ridden 4 days, and put on roughly 36 miles, with another 6 on schedule for tomorrow morning.  I just need to be cautious, since we are going to ride this weekend and probably try to do 15 miles or so on the hills and mud!

If there is a secret that someone else has, please share.  Should I do longer rides on less days, or should I continue to pound a way everyday possible?  I love to ride so I am leaning towards greater frequency, but I just don't want to have any type of negative impact on endurance.   I guess one can never go wrong with a ride, no matter how long or frequent.