Race report: Asics Off-Road Winter Series, MudMan – Saturday December 3, 2011

Jim McConnel reports from the second race of the Asics Off-Road Series, the MudMan

Yikes. What a shock to the system the ASICS Mudman offroad duathlon was this weekend. A shortish set of leg distances were on the menu - 8km run, 16km 3 lap MTB and a further 8km run to finish. Easy huh?

Photo: Typical start with a flour line in the woods

With some course tweaks explained by designer Jeremy on the start line, I wasn't alone as it dawned on me that this course was going to be more extreme than ever before.The first 8km run included the usual repeated ascents of Heartbreak Ridge which is a test of every competitor to keep driving up and down. But whilst the all new 50 metre long water splash pit may have made for good photo options, it certainly meant freezing stiff feet for all competitors just 5 minutes into the race! And then toward the end of the 8km run, athletes are somewhat teased by a glimpse of transition before the course delves away again down steep sandy slopes on a final km loop before heading back into transition.

A 12km trail run race kicked off at 0930am and the first athletes from that were seen streaming back thru the trees muddy and fighting hard as the Duathlon lined up for the 1015am start. Richard Lazell led over 150 runners home in an impressive 47.49 with Pauline Dalton in the 45-49 age group bringing the women's first place in 58.39. In the CaniCross race - dog and handler attached! Mark Dunbar finished 5th overall and headed up that category in a great time of 53.19.

1015am. Cue hooter. Serpentine running gazelle Hugh Torry belted off into the distance as the rest of the front pack picked their way gingerly through the water obstacle (there was a dry footed long route as an alternative!). Once into the relentless hills the gaps widened quickly with a flu ridden Richard Stannard managing to push hard, with Mark Chapman and Philip Westoby of ARMY hot on his heels.

I measured my effort through run 1 along with Dafydd Hollis and we entered T1 together already a minute down on the leaders. The bike leg is short in this race. Not very technical at all, the majority is fireroad and the 3 laps seemed to fly by in no time. I was chewing on the bars hard and after Dafydd punctured behind me I was happy to overhaul Hugh, then TORQ rider Chris Panayiotou, and finally split the fastest riding pair of Chapman and Westoby on Lap3. 

That meant that as I climbed off my bright orange Genesis Fortitude 29er I was pumped to have made it back to 2nd place. Just 90 seconds behind Stannard I headed out to do battle with the testing run course knowing I was in a for a tough time, having given a lot on the short but fast bike leg.

Sadly, it was a tough day for me and I struggled with the pace in the final leg, crossing the line after 1hr 54 04 in 5th place. I treat the day and result mentally as a success as I had to dig quite deep to keep some good form to the finish. Fortunately admist the incoming mince pies and Christmas cheer, I will be balancing it up with a constant search for hills to make my legs stronger!

Even though I didn't see it, from the splits, the women's race looked tightly fought with ICEman winner, Kate Robson of BRAT, finally bringing home the victory, just two minutes ahead of Aileen Anderson of Bath Amphibians Tri Club. The girls placed way up in 17th and 22nd overall amongst a large field of over 170 athletes.

Oh yes, nearly forgot, I wore a GoPro chest cam for this race. Some high or more likely lolights will make their way to http://www.trijim.co.uk/ and the http://www.humanrace.co.uk/ in due course so if you're interested in getting involved in offroad duathlon you can get to see a flavour of what's in store!

Visit www.humanrace.co.uk for more information

The ASICS Off Road Race Series

For more information on the Asics Off Road Trail Running Series check out the official website at www.humanrace.co.uk/events/trail-running