News
Road focus shift for Marais ahead of Midlands Ultra
Pietermaritzburg – Living up to his multi-sport reputation Stuart Marais raced to an impressive second place finish at the recent Total Sports Xterra Grabouw in the Western Cape. With less than a week to go until the 2014 CompliMed Midlands Ultra Triathlon the focus from off-road to road racing has to change quickly as he prepares for the South African Long Course Championships at Midmar Dam over the upcoming weekend.
Xterra racing is a triathlon off-road which includes an open water swim, a mountain bike leg and a trail run which puts different pressures on the body as opposed to the road running and cycling that are typically associated with triathlons.
Marais is uses all events this year as a training event for the 70.3 iron man distance events that are Marais’ focus for 2014, making the transition from the road to the dirt track didn’t seem as difficult as one might have expected as he knew what he was up against in terms of conditions.
“I didn’t have a great swim to start with over the weekend,” the recent Iron Man 70.3 South Africa fourth place finisher said. “I had to do a lot of work on the bike which I did and had a really good split at the end of the bike leg but was still three minutes down on Dan (Hugo) going into the run but made up some time on him on the run so I am really chuffed with how the race went for me.
“Dan is really training hard and he has been a machine recently so I was quite happy with my result,” a satisfied Marais said.
After an impressive second place finish at the Totalsports Xterra Grabouw Stuart Marais has had to shift the focus from the off-road to the road as he prepares for the ‘must do’ CompliMed Midlands Ultra Triathlon series happening at Midmar Dam on Sunday 2 March.
Having finished behind four-time South African Xterra Champion Dan Hugo in the race over the weekend the multi-sport athlete understands the differences in preparation for the different events but sees these off-road events as beneficial to him once he gets back onto the road.
“Although the races are very different these Xterra events provide great training for road races because, although, it is a different type of cycling the mountain biking helps with strength training due to the changing terrain that we encounter.
“The running is also different because we are always jumping over things and running through rivers and that sort of thing so you can never get yourself into a rhythm and just clock off the kilometres like you can when you are on the road.
“The heart rate is always going up and down which helps prepare you for the challenges on the road where you feel more comfortable since you can create a consistent rhythm on the flat surface.
The major difference between the two is that you in Xterra you always have to be focused as the external factors are always changing!” Marais mentioned.
Looking forward to the Midlands Ultra Marais is excited by the prospect of returning to a venue that he has not competed at in a number of years. Having been absent Marais is also unaware of who his competition is for the event which adds a different dimension to his challenge.
“I am really amped for this weekend’s race in the Midlands, it’s been so long since I last raced there that I am excited to see what has changed and see the competition that will be racing.
After a strong run and finish at the Totalsports Xterra Grabouw from Stuart Marais he has had to now focus on the 2014 CompliMed Midlands Ultra Triathlon happening at Midmar Dam on Sunday 2 March.
“I don’t know the guys that I will be racing against which makes it interesting and but I’m really looking forward to the fast course and with a number of iron man races coming up it is great to use the Midlands Ultra as a preparation for those races,” he added.
The CompliMed Midlands Ultra Expo and Registration happens on Saturday 1 March and the racing takes place on Sunday 2 March and for all the information on the event go to www.midlandsultra.com.
Photos by: Cherie Vale/Gameplan Media
Author: Tee
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Author: Shelley
Author: Shelley
Discover the heart of KZN at Westown Square in Shongweni – a vibrant, growing destination where shopping, dining and lifestyle come together in perfect harmony.
Here, local craft, artisanal homeware and unique products find a home, bringing the very best of our region to life.
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LOCAL IS LEKKER and we’re celebrating all things Heritage this month, in this beautiful province of KZN that we call HOME! There’s something for everyone, so follow us on social media to keep up to date.
THIS WEEKEND!
OPENING OF THE PADDOCK at Westown – 27 September
Westown is excited to celebrate the opening of The Paddock– a unique new place and the ‘home’ for Westown Trails. It’s fun for the whole family, whether you’re on horseback, on your mountain bike, running or walking. Our network of marked trails, suitable for a variety of sporting codes, enhances and extends the spectacular outdoor character the area is renowned for.
* Time: Hub Opens – 06:00
Official Start – 07:00
* Venue: The Paddock at Westown
* Cost: No cost and complimentary bike and wash service from Cycle Science Shongweni
SPRINGBOK RUGBY IN THE BARN
Come & support The Bokke at the Westown Square Fan Park in The Barn at Westown.
Catch the live action on the big screen – our DJ will be in the house for the pre-match warm-up and post-match fun.
Saturday 4 October – SA vs Argentina
*Time: 15:00
* Venue: The Barn at Westown Square
Pre-match fun in the Rugby Kids Zone:
* The Garvz Sport Activation (13:00 -16:00) & Kids Activities (14:00 -16:00) including:
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PASSION PAINT & SIP – 1 October
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Date: Wednesday 1 October
Time: 18:30
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OCTOBER SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAMME – Follow our social media pages
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FREE MOVIE NIGHT AT WESTOWN – 3 October
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* Time: 18:30
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FRIDAY FLASHBACK
Get a jump-start on the weekend with our vibrant weekly Westown Wind-down. Turn after-work drinks into a full night out at Westown Square, as we dial back the clock, with our weekly 80s-themed Friday Flashback retro music experience with DJ Spike & James VN on the decks and Happy Hour food and drink specials.
Date: Every Friday
Time: 16:30-21:30
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SUNDAY SOUNDTRACK VIBES
Join a line-up of Durban’s hottest musicians, every Sunday afternoon, from 12:00-15:00 in The Barn at Westown Square. Choose a bite and beverage from a diverse selection of eateries and settle in for the afternoon.
– Sunday 5 October
A regular favourite at Westown Square, Angel is in the house for this Sunday’s session.
– Sunday 12 October
Popular songbird Carmen Rodrigues is back at Westown Square for a laid-back chill
interlude.
Author: Shelley
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