Off-road specialist Jim McConnel (www.trijim.co.uk) reports from the Merrell Mudman Duathlon, where once again the puncture gods were to scupper his race.

Arriving at Merrell MUDman, racers were greeted with treacherous sandy puddles to urge their cars through on the way to parking, even before the event started. Truly we've had some rain this week right? Destined for a gritty soggy race, in my head I was ticking precautions off - Brooks offroad Cascadia's - check, Sundog clear glasses - check, crud guard - check, mudpack and insane grin .. hmmm, coming soon.

I lined up with an ever increasing field (Human Race are doing a good job of pulling out around 100 new racers each time at these offroad events! Hurrah!!), and 400 of us splashed our way out along the initial fireroad 7.5k run route. At the pointy end the field thinned as we took on seven of the hardest climbs I can imagine. The closest thing I can relate them to is running up an escalator that's going backwards and doesn't really have steps. Tough.

On we trucked, me, the favorite Colin Dixon and newby road man Lee Rankin making transition first. Onto the bike and my heart settled down after the manic bpm peaks from the run. On the second lap it was going well, I had caught Colin and left Lee far behind. As we flew down a descent toward the end of the lap, I was suddenly sickened to feel my front wheel slide across the track as a puncture hit and I careered off course. Colin shouted encouragement, or it could have been 'goodbye' (!) but whatever, after several attempts to fix the mess with a trusty foam catridge, I had to admit defeat and slowly ride to transition on a flat. Twice in 2 years at MUDman, I should really learn to ride better?!

After hastily pulling on some warm clothes I put my disappointment aside, joined the Human Race team - and became an official cheerleader as riders and runners appeared in various states of muddiness, smileyness and general total exhaustedness at the transition arena.

Colin took the win (2-0 with 2 to go! Bugger), and there were two fellow Oxford locals in the top five. Top marks to Jim Griffiths and Pete Godwin from Oxford Tri, you both looked smashed and happy at the finish. The way it should be!

Well done to everyone who took part yesterday, you're seriously nails for completing such an event, the devious people at Human Race are really setting out to make us earn our mince pies before the Christmas festivities begin!

Full results available HERE.