Well the weekend came and I finally got some relief. Not the kind you get in the Valley you understand, but the kind you get from indulging in your passion and being able to mix with many people, friends and otherwise, who are of a like mind. I have some pretty intense emotions at the moment so it was great to get out there.
As for the race, I had my chance and the opportunity was there, yet my bad patch, as they unerringly do, came at the wrong time.
My goal on Sunday was to get under nine hours and finish ahead of Roger Guard in the process. Alas, I was Rogered again!
We ran with quite a large group for about 10km before Roger and I were slightly ahead and running/chatting together (had a brief but informative education on the location of Venus and Pluto after I'd pointed out Mars too!). From CP6 I went ahead and once I'd gone through the 'Big Dipper' I actually turned my light off until I got to the lookout as I didn't want to give a target to anyone (that's you Roger!). Stealth mode I think it's been referred to as, usually associated with Milov.
Anyway, long story short, I went really well for 50km and was looking at 8:30 but the loop at 8a got me again. I had to take my time around there to regroup during which Roger and Narelle Coutts passed me. So, at least I kept him at bay for nearly 60km this time!
After that section I had a reasonable run in but had lost too much time there. I did well from then on (aside of being run over by 4 4x4's on Cooks Climb!) and more or less raced Ashley Druve for the last 10km. I kept ahead of him but was unable to reel in Dom as, having passed him about 500m from the turn to the pool, he gave himself a kick and I didn't have it to get past him again ... another 30 metres and I'd have had you mate!
I didn't get my sub 9 but at 9:07 I got a 31 minute PB over an altered course that clocked up the same distance as last year so pretty chuffed.
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