The Marysville to Melbourne Multisport Challenge presented by The Difference (M2M) brings together the popular disciplines of road cycling, trail running and flat water paddling into the one event. As the event is open to individuals as well as teams it means that if you are ‘just a runner’ or ‘just a cyclist’ you can still be involved, and obviously if you are willing to give all of them a go you can do the whole thing.
So no matter what your levels of fitness is, with a bit of preparation and customised training you should be able to make up a team and be involved with the event.
If you are new to this format of racing or want some basic ideas on how to prepare for a race like this then here are some specialised GENERAL TRAINING TIPS to get you under way. These tips provide some insights into each of the disciplines and some very usable ideas for how to start getting into shape for each one. (They were also prepared by Race Director John Jacoby who incidentally won the predecessor of this race – the JLL Mt. Buller to Melbourne 5 times! – so he knows a thing or two about training for an event like this).
If you after a bit more detail then we have prepared a SERIES OF 7 RACE TIPS that will further help you prepare for the event. These customised race tips are listed and linked below, why not download them all and start your training and preparation now!
You can also check out a series of three 'Insider' course preview and racing tips videos, seen at the bottom of this page, presented by last year's winner, Luke Haines, and runner-up female, Peri Gray.
1. An introduction
2. The run legs
3. The first bike leg
4. The second bike leg
5. The paddle legs
6. Race day logistics and support
7. Do it as a team
OR click here to download them all as a PDF document for future reference.
NUTRITION ADVICE
Rapid Ascent is happy to partner with Next Level Nutrition to bring you a series of sports nutrition online presentations. The presentations cover a range of topics relating to endurance sports nutrition, including training, weight management, sports supplements, competition preparation and eating and drinking strategies for racing.
About Next Level Nutrition: Next Level Nutrition is a sports nutrition consultancy, founded by sports dietitian Alan McCubbin with the vision of "Redefining Performance Through Food". Alan is at the forefront of sports nutrition in Australia, as a board member and Vice President of Sports Dietitians Australia. He is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian, Accredited Sports Dietitian and mountain biker. He works with everyone from Olympians to recreational athletes and through the use of web technologies he provides (Rapid Ascent and) his clients with a premium level of support and guidance with their training.
We highly recommend taking the time (approximately 30 minutes per presentation) to watch and learn from these very valuable presentations.
Adventure Sport Nutrition Presentations (menu page):
If you like what you see here but want some more personalised information then we encourage you to contact Alan at Next Level Nutrition directly via his website: www.nextlevelnutrition.com.au
M2M TRAINING PROGRAM
Luke Haines - the winner of the inaugural M2M – and his Train 4 Adventure group will be conducting some specific training sessions and on the Marysville to Melbourne course over the 4 months leading up to the race. Each session offered will be suitable for beginners through to advanced competitors and provide a great opportunity to see the course and receive some expert tuition on how to race over it.
Click here to download Luke’s course training schedule and further details.
OR contact Luke directly via 0410 554 526, luke@train4adventure.com or visit his website at www.train4adventure.com
TRAINING ADVICE
Now there are plenty of opportunities to get into running and cycling, with clubs and training groups going out every day all over the country, plenty of shops willing to give you advice and set you up with the equipment needed and good networks of friends and other competitors to tap into for advice.
In some ways you could say that the running and riding legs will be ‘easy’ to train up for. As such - listed below are some insights and list of contacts for Victorians on how to become a paddler capable of doing this event.
Footpro Advice
Competing in the Marysville to Melbourne requires strength in each discipline and the ability to conserve energy from one stage to the next. A high percentage of this event is running and cycling and being fully prepared on race day requires more then just running and riding fitness.
Every athlete is different in terms of biomechanical strengths and weaknesses, and knowing your own areas of strength and weakness are the key to injury prevention and training smart. Footpro are the official retail footwear sponsor for the M2M, and apart from being the specialised footwear store with a great range of trail running and cycling shoes, the services they provide can be just as important. Clinical Running gait analysis, dynamic strength and weakness observations and advice on what muscles you need to focus on with stretching exercises are all areas of their expertise.
Be sure to visit Footpro and discuss your goals for the event with one of their highly trained technicians. The advice you receive will help shape your training week and improve your results on race day. This level of analysis is usually reserved for laboratory environments. Footpro is a friendly, relaxed environment and their technicians are trained to deliver this service in a way that everybody understands.
www.footpro.com.au/
PADDLE TRAINING
Basic paddling advice and information about the paddle legs
- Paddling is not a difficult sport to learn. It is incredibly enjoyable, is a great impact free sport that can be very social and peaceful – especially paddling on the river.
- BUT don’t leave it to the last minute to learn! You will experience far greater satisfaction with the more paddling you do it, so it really does pay to start early and get comfortable in your boa
t well before the race
- It is important to choose the right boat. You will be far faster on a boat that you cat sit and paddle comfortably on rather than one that may be a bit faster but is also more tippy and unstable
- In some ways swimming and paddling are quite similar as they use similar muscle groups, so if you are a frequent swimmer then chances are you will take to be paddling quite well – that doesn't mean that you don't have to practise and train!
- The river paddling sections in the M2M are on flat water. There are no rapids and very little current flow, so you will not need a spray deck
- You will need to portage your boat around Dights Falls. This is where the transition area is between the two paddle legs (legs 5 and 6) so your support crew can help you if required
Outlaw Paddling
Outlaw Paddling is an initiative of Jarad Kohlar from 
Peak Adventure who is a very passionate and talented paddler across a range of disciplines. Outlaw Paddling conducts a series of ocean paddling sessions and races around Victoria but can equally provide tuition on the basic through to advanced techniques required to paddle on the flat water of the Yarra River as required in the M2M. Jarad can provide one-on-one sessions through to group classes, as well as providing all the equipment required to go for a paddle.
For all further information and advice please look them up at www.outlawpaddling.com or individually via:
Jarad Kohlar: jarad@peakadventure.com.au or mobile: 0409 786 237
WE PADDLE
“Anyone can develop paddling fitness, but only a few paddle with CLASS”
HIGH QUALITY COACHING SERVICES FOR MOST TYPES OF PADDLING – Torquay/Surfcoast, Geelong & Melbourne
One on one or group sessions available.
• Flatwater kayak paddling – marathon and sprint.
• Ocean ski & surf ski/surf lifesaving paddling
• Multisport/Adventure race paddling
Tim Altman B.Sc, B.H.Sc (Naturopathy) – over 30 years of experience as a paddler in kayaks, surf lifesaving and recently multisport. Twice Australian representative in kayaks. 15 years of experience in paddle coaching - both from grassroots to international levels of competition.
Lisa Munro B.App.Sc (Phys Ed) – over 15 years paddling experience also in kayaks, surf lifesaving and multisport. Representative of Australian marathon kayak team. Extensive paddle coaching and teaching experience.
We specialise in:
• Extensive technique analysis – using most up to date international techniques
• Learn to paddle
• Advanced honing of technique and skills, including team boat skills
• Improving surf skills – including negotiating the break and open ocean skills; i.e. downwind paddling.
• Advice on equipment
• Race day tactics
Tim is also a naturopath specialising in nutrition and breathing retraining for sports and performance (www.timaltman.com.au).
Call Tim on 0425 739 918 or email tim@wepaddle.com.au
Other paddling centres, clubs and information
In addition to Outlaw Paddling, there are a few other locations and clubs where you can get some advice and get into paddling.
Vigor paddling / running / riding sessions
Liam Delany at Vigor Health and Fitness regularly takes paddle training sessions on the M2M paddle course so if you want to train specifically then feel free to join Liam for a regular session:
Flat-water Kayak from the Ivanhoe Northcote Canoe Club (INCC)
Wednesday evenings 6:30pm-7:30pm (daylight saving only)
Friday mornings 6:30am- 7:30am
Trail runs along the Yarra
Sunday mornings 8am until you finish, meeting points vary but often from the INCC.
Road rides on the M2M course
Saturday mornings 7:30am until you finish (1-5hrs).
Other sessions are also held, to find out more visit www.vigor.net.au
Canoeing Victoria
Canoeing Victoria is the peak body for kayaking and canoeing in the state. They conduct some learn to paddle classes but are more the administrative centre for the sport and the clubs that maintain it.
They can provide some advice on how to get into paddling and have a great list and set of links to all the paddling clubs in Victoria here:
www.vic.canoe.org.au/myclub/tools/nattree.asp
Canoeing Victoria can be contacted via:
Postal Address: PO Box 1010, Templestowe 3106
Ph: 03 88464120 Email: cvoffice@canoevic.org.au
www.vic.canoe.org.au
Paddling clubs
There are a number of active paddling clubs in Melbourne (and also throughout Victoria listed here: http://www.vic.canoe.org.au/myclub/tools/nattree.asp ) that are always welcoming of new members and new paddlers. They are typically less tuition focussed than Outlaw Paddling but are well worth a call to see what sessions they are running. They also usually have a number of boats that club members can paddle in events.
The more active clubs in the Metro Area are:
Surf Life Saving Clubs
Surf Life Saving Clubs are also a great source of paddlers and paddling education. Although they are more focussed on paddling on the ocean (and the Bay) they can still provide some excellent advice and tuition to get you into paddling.
The best resource for SLS Clubs is the Life Saving Victoria Website where you will find a comprehensive list of clubs here:
www.lifesavingvictoria.com.au/www/html/1468-club-locations.asp
COURSE PREVIEW #2: The road rides