Event organiser Human Race has witnessed rising interest and participation in its Off Road Race Series in the UK as athletes, runners and duathletes get set to take to the mud, sand and hills for harder, more technical and competitive races this winter.
Now with five off road duathlon and trail running races staged in five unique locations across the South East of England, the Off Road Race Series is positioned at all types of runners and duathletes who are itching for a change of scenery and are keen to spice up their training during the winter months.
Adventure racing of this sort has become increasingly popular over recent years, with its growth being largely attributed to the physical benefits that athletes can achieve from taking part in Off-Road activity throughout the winter months.
Richard Stannard, elite triathlete and 2011/2012 Off-Road Series Champion said, “Off Road Racing is brilliant fun! I now schedule off road adventure racing, cross country and trail running into my yearly plan without fail. It tests my fitness levels, in a different way to a traditional triathlon, requiring real mental focus as well as serious physical exertion. The events provide a focus for my training and improving my fitness levels throughout the winter months.”
As well as satisfying a sense of adventure, Human Race notes that the sights of the selected wooded trails and natural landscapes are far more pleasing to the eye than the classic concrete pavement and traffic-ridden roads, a common occurrence in many athletes’ Sunday morning training.
Duathlete, mountain biker and ultra-runner Nikalas Cook said, “I really look forward to the winter months in anticipation of the off-road racing. It makes a nice change to run through such interesting landscapes; I find it distracts you from the pain!”
Cook continued, “I love this series of races and each course offers a very different challenge. The water filled tank trap at Mudman, the sandy final bike descent at Wildman and the brilliant bike course at Tuffman were the highlights for me last year.”
Entries are now open for the Human Race Off Road Series. With the competition heating up through the trail running and duathlon leadership boards for the 2012/13 Off Road Race Series, the series also presents an opportunity for athletes to enhance their winter training schedule in order to optimise spring and summer performances.
