When the multisport terrain changes, use a different brother.
The mud and murk of Autumn doesn't necessarily mean a complete end to the multisport season and it's this time of year that off-road duathlons are a common calender fixture.
Whereas Steve W will happily lose a place to avoid the tiniest puddle, Mick W has a thing about off-road events - the muddier the better. Fair to say he has a definite leaning towards mud and mire with his background in MTB racing; plus trail, x-country, and (recreational) fell running.
And so it came to pass that the inevitable happened and last Saturday (18/10) he found himself combining his disciplines and well and truly on the start line of the Clumber Park Off Road Duathlon (5K run - 17K bike - 3K run). This entirely off-road event featured plenty of tough little climbs, many a gloopy-mud section and over 200 people all trying to be on the same bit of single-track at the same time.
Mick had a solid first 5K (21.09) and then tore through the field on the bike (we aren't allowed to mention this super-fast leg was interrupted by an uncharacteristic spill) before hitting the second run section and discovering first hand why brick training is a good idea. Anyone that hasn't tried to run fast after an all-out cycling effort should give it a go: it's fun...
Luckily Mick had (secretly) brick trained and coaxed his jelly-legs round the last 3K to an absolutely superb 6th in age and 38/200+ overall at his first ever try.
He has two more x-duathlons upcoming and we are watching with great interest.
