Cycling race (MTBO Long Distance Champs) 3:45:39 [2] 31.06 km (7:16 / km) +316m 6:55 / km
shoes: Giant Anthem 26 ex Wally
Back to Marrinup with the event info threatening lots of hills to the west of where we did the Aus Mids last year. Went out with the same intention as the Mids yesterday but made a hash of the first control. Settled down for the next three and then had a long leg to 5. Was going OK until I got up onto the broad flat area around the control. Thought I'd gone through one multi track junction and when I reached one that really didn't fit the map, I still convinced myself that I'd bypassed the track with the control on it. Went down what I thought was a typical Duncan track and couldn't find my way back out :-( Thrashed around in the scrub (pushing my bike) until I got back to the track I came in on - back to the junction and headed east to relocate - finally worked out the problem and found the right track then the right junction. Not the finest hour of my modest MTBO career. The rest of the course was just a wet slog for me as I was most concerned that I wouldn't get back until after the courses closed and I'd miss out on my wine glass - had to keep pushing where practicable, fortunately aided by some prior knowledge from last year as I got over to the eastern part of the map. Got back with ten minutes to spare! Thanks to Duncan, Anna, tRicky and the crew who did all the hard work in miserable weather. Special thanks to Tash and her mum for saving me a sausage :-)
