Cumbrian Commotion

Today saw the last in the Helly Hansen series of races, the series has been going since September and culminated in the toughest race of the series from Grizedale forest visitors centre.

Over 1000 people turned up for the race, almost a record, a lot of teams clearly making a weekend of it, there were almost as many supporters as racers, for me however it was a great race, only 45mins down the road! Although there was a mountain bike race right outside my door in Whinlatter!!

Nick had come up from London to race and to train, and Clive was over from York.  We had a good day on Saturday with some kayaking on Windermere, then a relaxed afternoon with a big pre race feed.

The weather in the morning was lovely in Keswick, but as we headed south we entered the mist, it finally burnt off just after the race started.  The registration and start was the usual madness, everyone queueing all over the place, getting last minute bike bits, sorting out kit in transition, and the usual teams putting war paint on for the team look!

We knew the VOtwo team would be very fast, and decided to just race our own race, if they had a shocker we would then be in the perfect position to capitalise.  Heading out at the start, people set off at a fast speed, but as soon as we hit the first hill most teams dropped away, and after the 2km run leg we were comfortably in 2nd place.

The mountain bike leg was about 20km, it was mostly on fireroads, with the occasional bit of rocky singletrack which Clive and myself loved, but Nick was having an awful time, his forks had frozen on him, so he was effectively riding a rigid bike!  Riding at a good fast pace we made sure we had no mechanicals or punctures and stayed the right way up on the bikes!  Coming into transition we were about 5 minutes down on VOtwo.

The run to the kayak leg was tough, up and over the hill, then a long decent to Coniston Water.  It was a beast of a run out, with Nick struggling on the hills and then flying on the flat, Clive and me going well on the hills and lagging behind on the flat.  We reached the boats and found they were proper canadian canoes, the water was a bit choppy, but we managed to stay upright, i wonder how many teams didn’t though.

The climb back from the kayaking was really tough, but we soon seemed to be almost back at the finish.  Running the last few km’s along the fire road Clive was worried about his hamstrings, but easing up slightly he was ok to the finish.  The usual set of obstacles awaited us in the finish field, the planks, cargo net, and slippery slope were all completed and we crossed the line in a time of 2hrs 8mins, about 12 minutes behind VOtwo!  Those guys are super fast, and took a well deserved victory.

After having some scran in the cafe and a wee chat with the FGS guys Nick and I headed toWindermere Canoe and Kayaks to get a paddle session in.  We kayaked from the boat house to YMCA Lakeside and back again, a great paddle in pretty rough weather.  Finally finishing a long day of exercise we went for a we road trip to see a friend, then back to drop some kit off at my dads, before eventually getting home some 12hrs after we left, a long day out in the Lakes.

It was a great weekend, and very happy to finish in 2nd place to such a good team, Clive was very happy with his condition after not racing for a while, and Nick was loving being out in the hills again.  More training next week, getting ready for the next race!

Helly Hansen – Prunesco & Nikwax

Long term supports and good friends of Team Helly Hansen – Prunesco, Nikwax have once again used an image to promote their products. In Aprils edtion of Mountain Biking UK the image of Mark and Nicola can be seen leaving the first transition in this years Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race on mountain bike. The advert can be seen here.

The team prepared their equipment including bike bags with the following Nikwax products: Tech Wash for the Jackets,trousers and dry suits. TX-Direct Wash In for Jackets, Trousers and Drysuits. Tx-Direct – Spray-On for the Bike Bags. Base Wash for Base Layers and leggings. The team also used SkitoStop on their base layers to aviod been bitten by any bugs in the area and used SkitoStop Sun Cream to prevent sun burn. All poduct details can be found on the Nikwax website.

Helly Hansen Series Race

This weekend sees the last in the HH series of races, they have been going since September, and we have posted some great results at them all in the mixed and all male class.  The races have been run on Cannock Chase, various army bases near London, and this weekend the race heads north to Grisdale Forest in the Lake District.

For the final race we are putting in an all male team, Nick is popping up from London, Clive is heading over from York, and I have the luxury of being able to only have a 30min journey to the start!  The weather is looking mixed, we have had weeks of great weather here in the Lakes, and typically just as we have an event, the weather turns.  But i think so far every HH race this season has been dry, so fingers crossed the trend continues.

To make a good weekend of the race, a number of us will be heading out kayaking on Saturday, something we rarely manage to together, more often than not we are out running and biking, so with the number of races this year that have some good paddling sections in them its great to get out for some good paddle training, and it leaves the legs fresh for Sundays race.

Bruce

Building on success

Team Helly Hansen Prunesco have enjoyed unprecedented success this year. A strong squad and brilliant support from our partners and British Adventure Racing friends have driven us to home successes, a WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WIN and consecutive wins in the Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race. We can still hardly believe it but it just goes to show that perseverance, fitness, skill development and the right team can do ANYTHING.

What’s on the cards next?
We all work and fit this around life, family and friends so for 2010 we’re looking at races which offer excitement, journey, competition and fun. Obviously defence of the World Championships in Spain features on the calendar. We’re looking at Sweden, New England and, of course, the Adidas Terrex, which takes place on home soil. We’ll be at many of the shorter races across the UK and will continue to race individually in orienteering, running, mountain biking and kayaking races…… Mark even mentioned a roller blading race to try and regain equal footing with the Scandinavians in this alien event!!

Race report on the Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race 2010

After such a short notice period for last years race, this year we decided in September to head back with the same team to defend our title.  We all thought we would never go back, but the draw of crossing Tierra Del Fuego was too much for all of us, not many people get the chance to go there, let alone race through the remotest parts.…

Read More

Race Photos From The Team’s Eyes…..

The team are back at home recovering from another special race in Patagonia. Last year we decided to capture as much of the race as possible through from our perspective. Below are links to some of the sections of the race…. enjoy!

Pre – Race Photos
Getting to the start line….
Stage 3 – Trekking
Stage 4 – Mountain Bike
Stage 5 – Trekking
Stage 6 – Paddling
Stage 7 – Trek
Journey to Punta Arenas – 36hrs on a Chillian Naval Vessel

Video Clips:

The teams first swim location…Click Here to view

Nicola and Bruce lead the way on the second swim… Click Here to view

Kari-Tek support team Helly Hansen Prunesco

Since our birth as a team for the Adventure Racing World Championships in Scotland in 2007, Kari-Tek, of kayaking fame, have been a pleasure to work with. They’re an ayrshire based company who are passionate about paddling and have sorted us out with kayak steering systems, towing and portage systems, an easy load roofrack and other bits and pieces when we’ve been short.

This year we’re returning to Patagonia and with days to go Anne has provided a few more portage straps which make all the difference to moving with a double sea kayak out of the water! Judging by last year’s epic portage they may be very useful.

Thanks for your support http://www.karitek.co.uk

7 Days to go….

With only 7 days to go until the team leave the UK and head to Patagonia, Nicola comments on the 2009 and 2010 event..Click Here to read.

Helly Hansen Prunesco Prepare For WPER 2010…..

Team Helly Hansen Prunesco are heading off to their first big race of 2010. The same team of Nicola MacLeod, Mark Humphrey, Andy Wilson and Bruce Duncan are going back to Patagonia to take on the 2010 Wenger Patagonian Expedition Race.

This is a huge race, it is Chile’s bi centenary year, and as such Stjepan Pavicic, the racxe director, has planned a monster of a race, set to cross almost the whole of Tierra Del Fuego, and the Beagle Channel. (see a wee interview here with him Gearjunkie)

As defending champions and also current World Champions, there will be a fair amount of pressure on the team, but they are hoping to have a steady race, they know the conditions that will face them, and are hoping that it will be tough with poor weather, which will suit the British racers fine. ‘We are used to training in rubbish weather, we know how to cope with it, and to just get our heads down an get on with it’ said Mark Humphrey, out training in the snow, ice and now mud of the UK winter.

The team have been training hard over the last few months, running and biking in some pretty harsh conditions, as well as some good tough gym sessions, and with knowing more than 2 weeks in advance unlike last year, they should be more prepared.

Bruce has had an indoor kayak trainer set up in his barn, as the lakes have all been frozen. Mark has been out pushing his wee lad around as resistance training, Nicola has been altitude training, (well, skiing in the Alps at least), and Andy has been eating lots to ensure he has enough on his body to keep warm this time.

There are some good teams heading out this year, the full list and number of teams has not been released, but there are known to be teams from Finland, Switzerland, USA, Canada and 2 teams from the UK. Fast and Light, headed up by Simon Fisher has been onto Helly Hansen Prunesco for advice and tips on how to race, and they are keen to help each other out to ensure both teams finish, and finish well.

With only 12 days to go till the race starts, the team are rushing around trying to get all the kit from all our sponsors, and to make sure it all fits into our bags! We have had some great help from sponsors over the past year, and hope this year to be able to get them even more coverage.

I will try and post another update before we head off to Chile, but remember to keep tabs on us during the race from the race website
www.patagonianexpeditionrace.com

Team Helly Hansen Prunesco
www.teamhellyhansenuk.com

Also follow us on Twitter: @bikingbruce, @mark_humphrey, @teamhellyhansen

Photos From The 2009 Event….

Helly Hansen Prunseco World Champ’s on TV…..

If you missed the screening of the world championships from Portugal earlier today, you can watch again by clicking on this link World Champs 2009