Fall Racing Preview

It's an exciting time to be a duathlete. In many parts of the United States, duathlon is a two season sport with races in the spring and fall. While the weather might not be cool, fall duathlon season is kicking into high gear starting with our sports two world championships this coming weekend. We highlight some aspects of this weekend's world championships and the upcoming Powerman Muncie race set for October 2.

In many ways it is unfortunate that the ITU World Duathlon Championships and the Powerman World Championships in Zofingen are the same weekend. There are certainly many athletes who are unaffected but for at least one athlete, Joerie Vansteelant, the situation presents a challenge we would guess. Vansteelant is the defending champion from Zofingen but like many professionals, would have a hard time passing up the ITU World Championships. Whether duathletes are racing Zofingen or the ITU Worlds this weekend, many of the sport's best will be in action.

ITU World Championships
Those athletes who have attended the past two years' world championships will continue to see a story of contrasts. From the beaches of an Italian resort town to a NASCAR track in North Carolina to the capital of Scotland this year, the ITU Duathlon World Championships have certainly presented athletes with different experiences in the past few years.

The race itself follows the recent trend among ITU duathlons with multiple laps for the runs and the bike legs. Set around the Scottish capital, the age group course includes 4 laps for the initial 10K run and 5 laps on the bike for a total distance of 41.6K. The second run is 2 laps for 5K. The elite races use a slightly different course and include 7 laps on the bike for a total ride length of 38.4K.

The United States fields a team of over 250 athletes.

Elite Athletes from the United States includes the following:
Elite Men
Sean Jefferson
Josh Merrick
Matt Russell
Matthew Sheeks
David Thompson
Dereck Treadwell

Elite Women
Marisa Asplund
Gwen Jorgensen
Melissa Miller
Ane Preisig
Heidi Sarna
Rachel Sears

A full roster of athletes from the United States can be found at http://assets.teamusa.org/assets/documents/attached_file/filename/30229/2010_DuWorlds_Roster.pd f

It looks to be another great duathlon world championships. Details on the race can be found at the official website, http://www.edinburghduathlon2010.com/

Powerman World Championhips, Powerman Zofingen
While athletes battle for short course supremacy in Scotland, those favoring the longer distances will be in Switzerland taking on the iconic Powerman Zofingen. The race is legendary for its distances, with the 10K run, 150K bike and 30K run, and its rugged and challenging course within those distances. With hilly trails on the runs and tough hills on the bike, Zofingen is a race like few others.

This year is the 22nd edition of the race and seems primed to be a success. With its early September date, only time will tell if some of the horrible weather that plagued the race in the 1990s and 2000s will hold off.

Details regarding Powerman Zofingen can be found at www.powerman.ch

Powerman Muncie
While duathletes in the United States have long had Powerman Alabama as a spring long course challenge, there have not been such races in the fall to a huge degree. The American Zofingen race, initially held in the fall, brought some of the mystique of that race to the United States but it has been moved to the spring in 2010. Into this void steps Powerman Muncie, one of two new Powerman races in the fall. The other, Powerman Como, will take place in Italy, later in October.

In bringing Powerman to the Midwest, Muncie Multisports have created an event that looks to be a great racing opportunity for athletes of all types. There are multiple race distances. Not only are there numerous racing distances, there will be a stand alone elite race in the afternoon so age group athletes can compete and then watch some of the world's best duathletes battle it out.

We recently caught up with Muncie Multisport's Steven Tomboni, who we interviewed earlier in the year to discuss his upcoming race. Steve noted that not only did the elite race make him proud, it was the whole package for multisport athletes. Specifically, Steve said ÒYes, the Pro's are fun to watch, but this event is all about the extraordinary duathletes that make up the basis for this event. Here's what the AG's are promised:
Legendary venue
Awesome courses-THE bike course video you must see!
Chip timing
Family park setting
Finisher medal second to none
Huge transition area
Tons of volunteers
Great post race party with adult refreshments-BEER
And a chance to win the $10,000 AeroCat t605!Ó

This race has all the makings of a great fall duathlon. So, might be time to look at the racing calendar and get excited. It's Du time, go out there and rock it!

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