Ive raced the 5psot in 6hr/12hr solo, teams seven in a all day endurance events 120km back country, we always did these for fun!
Without wanking on too much about my own skillz most of my ability comes from some natural talent and experience mental attitude, unfortunately never enough time for training due to work and work environment too much sitting on ass in office in the past in front of computer.
So mostly I was never in the best shape, but still did well and my lap times were always pretty good considering the lack of technical skill need for most of the trails especially in the 12/24hr events!
The 5spot did remarkably well, for any events XC allot comes down to tires bike setup, comfort preparation, knowing your body being able to pace yourself, Ive ridden allot of these same events over the years on different bikes from lightweight hardtails to short travel XC rigs so comparing is not hard. And Ive kept all my team Captain race books from each event and each year with lap times, I'm and info gatherer lol sue me
The best fun Ive had is definitely been when Ive been fittest, and it was a 24hr event known as the Nduro a few year back now it wasn't on the Spot but it was a 5inch rig the Spot would have been even bettr Ive no doubt knowing what I know now it was a 14km loop mostly single track steep ups and long steep dh single track downs very tech in some o our best terrain loved it day and night my times barley chaged over the whole 24hrs that's when you know you re doing a good event, it was tough though!
But he Spot was allot of fun in the events Ive done and I'd have no hesitation racing it in an event like that now or again in the future, but I'd want to build back up to it and be fit for it, and at race weight for me that's 85kg and that's a long way off haha, course I'm strong at that weight and have good endurance I may not be a sprinter though I seem to do ok at the dual slalom for my age LOL so its not for everyone, if ya light ya got to go with whats best for your power to weight ratio!
Again smart build a wheel change tires, bear in mind I did all this with thru axle rear hub and Pike air 20mm fork, I have secret weapon tires
Oh lastly must add Spotz can't forget him, hes raced more than a few of these events as well, and hes always been on a coil shock, on his 5spot so even a further handicap, hes gone from a Romic, to a DHXc to a CCDB and no Ti Springs either, and always a coil/ coil air fork, Fox Vanilla to Am1 so hes done remarkably well on his HL 5Spot too thumbs up Spotz! He put the hurt on me in the 120km adventure ride, I think I got him back on the 6hr Super D a week later though lol.