21st Red Bull Dolomitenmann 6th September 2008 Posted on August 24th
This year sees the 20th running of the event which starts in Lienz, Austria and goes a little something like this:
Leading off, the mountain-runners have to cover an 1700 meters in steep altitude track, starting in Lienz on the main-square. The track leads to the Dolomites and some very tough trail.
Reaching over 2400 metres they will hand over to the paragliders who will hotfoot it 200 metres downhill to the take off area. Taking off they will pass some of the most breath taking peaks in the Dolomites before negotiating a tricky landing. A 500 meter run sees them to the next take off station, where they will head down into the town of Leisach and hand over to the kayakers.
Tough job this, with a 1000 metre slalom course against the raging current in the river Drau. Following a short portage, they are back onto the river Isel for a quick downwater run to the final changeover.
Que the mountainbikers. The final 12 kilometres and 1300 vertical metres are done at top speed on a roller-coaster style course. Tight woodland section will see them forced to shoulder their bikes and then rocket on the down-hills and tight switchbacks. Onto open fields and alpine paths that eventually give way to asphalt and into Lienz again for the finish.
Phew! What a rush! There is money up for grabs, but as with all the best multi-sport events it is likely barely enough to cover entry, transport and partying. Oh well, lucky we don’t do it for the money. Cough!
I really do love these events for the way they reflect the different physical attributes required in all the disciplines. Get the kayaker on the run and he may struggle. Get the paraglider on the bike and the same may occur. Discounting the skill sets involved, overall mountain conditioning means you possess all the requisite physical attributes to take on any of the single events which make up the Dolomitenmann.
Wouldn’t it be great to be able to jump on a bike and it some down-hill, shoulder your trusty steed and head uphill. Follow this with some trails and then in the afternoon jump in your boat? Unless you have good reason not to want to do this (eg. you compete on a single-discipline pro tour etc.) there is no excuse for not being able to!
I am not the best kayaker, by a long way not the best trail runner and seem to come off a MTB far too often. But, condition wise I am able to take on all these single events and meet with success. Why? Because my training makes me mountain fit. It gives me the ability to hit the hard, muddy trails, stop for a refuel in the pouring rain, take a fall and keep going.
I know, I know, I am pushing my own product here but so what? I believe in it and it works! Who can deny that pure hard mental and physical training does not? Hitting the gym for an hour is good. Especially if you train hard. But doing something different, mixing it up with the pain and suffering of circuits, Olympic lifting, BJJ drills, sandbags and sprints is what makes you mountain fit.
There is no secret here. Just train hard. Go beyond what you can achieve in a wonderfully air-conditioned fitness centre. I am not saying a nice training facility does not have it’s place in your routine but it will not get you all the way there. Snacking on a chocolate bar, just below the summit of Pen Y Fan in driving rain, 5 metre visibility and gale force winds with a long way home reminds you of this.
If you fancy being a Dolomitenmann then definitely check out mountainfit conditioning.
The race website is here for more info on how to get there, who’s entered and the parties!
