Kohlar scorches field in Seasons of Pain

DSC_0109 medThe first outing in this year’s Seasons of Pain series was marked by blistering racing in more ways than one, as temperatures nudged the 37 degree-Celsius mark, adding extra sting to the offroad duathlon challenge.

As Melbournites sweltered in an even hotter 45-degree concrete jungle, adventure athletes tackled the 32km course amidst a snowgum jungle, with the slight cooling benefit of a 1500 metre altitude and shade of Mount Baw Baw’s Victorian alpine bushland.

With the lure of a pool sitting at the finish line atop the infamous ‘Sting’ – a 300-metre vertical run ascent – solo and team competitors headed out for two trail run laps including an out-and-back to Mt St Gwinear, and two mountain bike loops on freshly groomed singletrack.

DSC_0398 medLeading the pack was last Seasons’ (2013) summer edition winner, Jarad Kohlar, who belted out fast, chased hard by Spring’s winner, Brodie Gardner, keen for a back to back win off last year’s November effort.

It was still either racers’ title at the end of the first trail run, only seconds separating the two into bike transition. However, Kohlar’s expertise on the tight technical singletrack gave him a four minute breather as he came back off the first ride.

On the second run the difference between the two athletes was negligible, both recording 29-minute legs before Kohlar again put another three minutes on Gardner on the final mountain bike loop. Lucky he did, as Gardner fought hard up the killer climb that is the 1.4km Sting, snatching back four minutes. It wasn’t enough to extinguish Kohlar’s lead, the well-regarded adventure racer’s mountain bike legs and an overall time of 2 hours 41 minutes enough to secure the win, Gardner collapsing into the finish line pool three minutes in arrears.

Seasons of Pain: a mountain of whipping from Adventure Types on Vimeo.

It is early days for Gardner, however, as he transitions from competing in triathlons. Given improvement on the mountain bike over time and with more singletrack experience, there is sure to be some heated racing up front in future Seasons of Pain events.

In third place was Ben Pattie, a further three minutes behind Gardner in 2 hours 47 minutes.

IMG_9783 med“I didn’t know what to expect coming back, but I’d hear about Brodie’s win in the last edition and I knew Ben was in the field, so I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy day to stay out in front,” said Kohlar. “The heat was a game changer, and I tried to find the balance between pushing too hard and hitting a heat wall and maintaining enough pace to stay in the lead. The Sting still got me though – I felt lightheaded trying to get up it, so was happy to come away with the win and even happier to see that pool at the finish line.”

In the women’s category, all early bets were on Jade Forsyth, a racer with a mountain biking background and a previous winner at Seasons of Pain in 2013. Claim on the first female title for 2014 was, however, made on the first run leg by Britta Weller, who edged out in front and stayed there all afternoon. Her splits across all course legs were never threatened, despite notable runner and second place-getter, Ashley Lofton, putting in some smashing run times. Weller recorded a time of 3 hours 31 minutes. The split between second and third was closer, with Nicola Smithers punching up the Sting six minutes faster than Lofton, close but not enough to rise above third place, four minutes behind Lofton.

DSC_0420 med“The first lap I was in a lot of pain, and was thinking that it was going to be really tough,” said Weller, who has a mixed competitive background across both mountain biking and trail running, making the Seasons of Pain format well suited. “But then I settled in, relaxed and started to enjoy the racing. But I never expected to win!”

In the teams, Craig Flockhart and Chris Ord, stayed ahead of the pairs pack, recording the fastest times in the teams division across all four laps of the course bar the Sting, where they slowed somewhat (and were only third fastest team). Their time of 2 hours 56 was still enough to secure the win over Drew Cummings and Damien Bowden in 3 hours 22 mins.

 

DSC_0123 Brodie GardnerSUMMARY RESULTS:

Men’s
1. Jarad Kohlar       02:41:16
2. Brodie Gardner    02:44:19
3. Ben Pattie      02:47:56

Women’s

1. Britta Weller   03:31:37
2. Ashley Lofton  04:03:04
3. Nicola Smithers   04:07:38

Team (2)

1. Flockhart / Ord                   02:56:24
2. Cummings/Bowden          03:22:19
3. Crunden / Ormsby             03:26:23

FULL RESULTS: here

FOR INFORMATION ON UPCOMING SEASONS OF PAIN EVENTS (WINTER & SPRING):
www.seasonsofpain.com.au

KEEP UP TO DATE BY LIKING THE SEASONS OF PAIN FACEBOOK PAGE:
https://www.facebook.com/seasonsofpain#

Sting returns to spring with multisport

IMG_2392 med 300 IMG_2470 med copy 300 IMG_2618_med 300Multisport athletes (with a penchant for running sweet singletrail) will celebrate the end of spring with a little extra sting come 30 November when they race the unique Montane Seasons of Pain multisport event held on the flanks of Victorian alpine resort, Mount Baw Baw, located 2.5 hours east of Melbourne.

The series will be in its fourth outing for the year, the previous Winter edition testing a format that included a cross country ski and snow run. This final edition of 2013 will return to the regular trail run and mountain bike format, with participants completing two laps of each discipline over a cumulative course of approximately 30km.

Runners loop up and over Mt Baw Baw summit before diving into the Baw Baw National Park on an out and back to Mount St Phillack. Riders explore the technical singletrack looping around the village including the highly praised Mueller’s Track, a speedy downhill section that tests the nerve.

The ‘sting’ component comes during the final 1.5km trail ‘dash’, which takes in a leg-busting 400m vertical ascent to meet the finish line, the course rising up what is usually a downhill mountain bike trail. And of course competitors who make it to the top must abide by the social race ruling: everyone has to sit on the finisher’s couch (admiring the huge view of Gippsland Valley) until the next competitor arrives over the line, and congratulate them, before being allowed to head off for a celebratory beverage.

IMG_2598_MED 300The Montane Seasons of Pain multisport series has gained a reputation as one of the more social, fun events if not one of the harder multisport outings on the calendar. Entrants racing either as individuals or teams of two sharing duties, face an undulating course at an altitude or 1500 metres: not Himalayan by any stretch but enough to definitely put a noticeable squeeze on lungs.

The Montane Seasons of Pain Spring edition will join other on mountain activities as part of opening weekend for Mount Baw Baw’s summer seasons of activity, with a focus on it opening of the mountain’s singletrack bike trails.

For mountain bikers, there will be a ‘Pin It To Win It’ challenge on the Sunday, with $1000 cash up for grabs to the rider who gets the most consistent times (x 2, closest split) down the 1.4km downhill MTB course (the one Seasons of Pain entrants will have run up the day prior). This is a perfect competition for beginners to intermediates, as the aim is not the fastest ride, rather the most consistent.

There will also be a DJ and bar open on the Saturday night for those looking to make a weekend of their trip to Mount Baw Baw.

SPRING EARLY BIRD SPECIAL: enter Seasons of Pain before 10 October, and get a half price early bird entry.

Simply put ‘matesrates’ in the promotion code box when entering!

ENTER HERE: http://seasonsofpainspring.eventbrite.com.au/

EVENT INFORMATION HERE: http://mountbawbaw.com.au/events/seasons-of-pain-spring/

KEEP UP TO DATE BY LIKING THE SEASONS OF PAIN FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/seasonsofpain#

EVENT OVERVIEW: MONTANE SEASONS OF PAIN – SPRING

WHEN:                       Saturday 30 November
WHERE:                      Mount Baw Baw, Gippsland

WHAT:                        Run 8km + Ride 8km + Run 6km + Ride 8km + Run 1.5km

ENTRIES:                     Solo or team of two

NOTES:                       Mountain bike hire available, limited supply, book now

Accommodation deals available, contact Mount Baw Baw Guest Services

Proudly supported by Montane, available through Mainpeak. Australia’s Online Adventure Store.

NOTE: The publisher of Trail Run Mag, Adventure Types, is through its adventure consultancy business contracted to assist Mount Baw Baw Alpine Resort in the design, curation and management of the Seasons of Pain series and Brooks Trail Run Fest (8-11 March 2014) events. Just means you know you’ll have a good time if you enter… what was that? Half price til early October you say…geddin…

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