Human Race Mudman 2009

This weekend was my first multisport race of 2009. I won the same race in 2008, so knew it would be very hard and hilly, but along with all Human Race events it would be well organised and have a good field.

Missing from the start line were rivals Colin Dixon and my Panasonic Toughbook team mate Jim McConnel who got 1st and 2nd at the recent Human Race Iceman event. However Eliot Chalifour and Paul Davies (also from Panasonic Toughbook) would provide the competition instead.

On the first run, I was happy to stay behind Eliot for most of the lap, knowing that the race would be close to 2 hours long and confident that I could get a gap on the bike. So into transition we ran neck and neck, with a 2 minute lead of Paul (who had been short of running miles due to an injury).

I really think my training full time is paying off and the additional biking i've been doing recently and using a power meter, helped me to create a 5 minute lead by the end of the bike section. My brand new Cannondale Scalpel soaked up the bumps and without my Schwalbe Nobby Nick tires I'd not have been able to ride the climbs each lap.

Onto the 2nd run, I just had to keep a good rythmn and not panic. In the end, my 2nd run was less than 2 minutes slower than my first and I inceased my winning margin by another minute to almost 7 minutes in total.

I am very pleased with my current form, I am now planning 3 more big training weeks before I fly out to Guam for a month away racing in the Pacific with Jim McConnel and current womens world champ Julie Dibens. Here, we will be racing Xterra Guam, Xterra Saipan and also the Tagaman middle distance road triathlon.

Look out for Men's Fitness May Issue which is due out at the end of this month. This will feature a 4 page article on the different types of triathlon including Xterra with plenty of pictures of me in kit and plugs for my sponsors too.

Hope you're all well, I'm off out training soon. Sam