DPHS MUDMAN 2011

RESULT: 1st Overall

It was a rough lead up to the DPHS MudMan for me, I had done 2 mountain bike races over the last 2 weeks and not felt great in either, then to top it off I came down with a stomach bug the week of the MudMan so not much training was done. It took a lot of work from everyone around me to keep me positive but Im so thankful they did.

It was going to be a very wet and cold race but that was exactly what I had hoped for to make sure bike skills came into play on the fairly fast bike course. All the top guys were there as well as the addition of some German triathletes who are out in SA training.

The water was freezing so I was very happy I had packed my wetsuit. The start was frantic and it took a while to find some space. After pushing hard I found the feet of one of the German athletes and felt comfortable at his pace throughout the swim. I came out the water in 4th after having my best swim of the series.

I got onto the bike in 2nd along with a German athlete and Ryan Redman who was doing the first 2 of the 3 disciplines, great to see him healing up after his injury. I pushed hard early on the bike and I was elated to see that my legs were responding and feeling great. I quickly caught and passed the leader and set about building as big a gap as possible. The 1st lap was pretty slippery with all the mud but the 2nd lap after hundreds of bikes had been through was a different story, the lappers were keeping me highly entertained while many of them lay sprawled out in the mud laughing. Was great to see everyone having such fun in those conditions.

Exiting onto the run I had over 5mins on 2nd place and could enjoy myself out on the final leg. It was like running on ice in some sections so I was quite careful not to cause any unnecessary injury. The 2nd lap I could push harder chasing Brad Schuit and Justin Porteous who were on their 1st lap, its always fun having someone to chase. Unfortunately there was some confusion at the finish of the run and I was sent on the wrong route by the marshals but I still managed to get to the finish 1st with 3mins over Daniel Carleton and Justin Porteous a further 2min30 back in 3rd.

This result meant I won the series with Daniel and Justin tieing for 2nd. It was another awesome MudMan series and Im sad its over. I can’t wait for next year.

Just need to say a huge thanks to Coach Russ, Karen Keyter (chiropractor) and Angelique (massage therapist) they turned me round from feeling absolutely broken the week before the race to having probably my best race of the year.

CORDWALLES MUDMAN 2011

RESULT: 1st Overall

After finishing 2nd in 2010 I arrived at Midmar Dam wanting to move up to the top step of the podium and back up my win at the Epworth Mudman. I left home with the rain pouring down which excited me hoping that would make the usually very fast bike a bit more technical and suited to me but it ended up being overcast and cool at the race venue which made it very easy race conditions.

It turned out that this was the biggest Mudman ever held with well over 1400 athletes, great news for multisport in general. Along with the usual opponents of Daniel Carleton and Justin Porteous. (Unfortunately Ryan Redman was sidelined to just the swim due to a knee injury) there was the addition of 2 top road triathletes, Henri Schoeman and Glen Gore, they are both amazing swimmers and with the bike being pretty easy this had me a little nervous and I would have to give it everything on the bike to pull them back.

The midmar water was the cleanest I have ever experienced it, which made the swim quite pleasant. I exited the water in the 2nd pack but knew I had to get a move on when I got a 2min time gap to the leader Henri who had blitzed the swim.

I exited the transition with Justin Porteous glued to my wheel and I knew I couldn’t afford to play cat and mouse with him and had to focus on chasing down the leaders. We got by Glen fairly early in the 1st lap but we still had to chase hard after Henri. The catch was made early in the 2nd lap and I used a climb to attack hard and ensure he didn’t stick with Justin and I. This seemed to snap the ‘elastic’ as he was soon out of sight. Unfortunately later I heard Henri had a big crash and broke his collarbone, a sad blow as he was having a good race. Now it seemed to be down to Justin and I and it looked like the run would decide it. But then about a km from the finish of the bike Justin miss-read the run bike split and took the wrong turn I quickly shouted to him that he was on the wrong track as well as the many marshals that were at the split.

I exited the transition onto the run and was given a time gap of 30seconds to the now chasing Justin. It was going to be a tough run to hold him off but my legs were feeling great and I knew he would have had to have worked extremely hard on the bike to stay in contact. After the one big climb on the run route I took a quick glance back and could see the gap had increased and I could enjoy the run back to the finish, ending up with a 51second gap over Justin in 2nd. Daniel Carleton had fought hard for 3rd overall another great result for the Russell White Academy. Finally having my race kit and giving THULE the coverage they deserve for all the help they have given me added to the sweetness of the victory, as well as having so many friends and family at the event making it a fun filled day.

The Cordwalles crew did a great job with the route and organization and were rewarded with the number of entrants and smiles on everyone’s faces after the race. These are truly amazing events and I hope to see everyone out at the DPHS MudMan on the 13th April.

Article and Pic in the NATAL WITNESS newspaper