Skate Ski race (Balsams Long) 1:42:12 [4] 21.23 km (4:49 / km) +444m 4:22 / km
Up to Mud Pond, down to the golf course, then all the way to the highway and back up to the hotel. Lots of climb. About four serious route choice decisions. First was to 1, went high CW and that was good. Then 3-4 went along the mill race and that was slightly slower, probably because it is longer than it looks; was in hot pursuit of a junior and lost a little ground on that leg. Then 5-6 went near 2 instead of 7 and that was an error, may have cost me a minute or two. Finally 10-11, dropped low unlike yesterday and that was good, gained a bunch of time. And going back to the finish, it was just grinding straight up, but people made weird choices like going up the road and that didn't work for them.
Felt good, although famished at end, despite pigging out at dinner and having a pretty good breakfast, too. Ended 1st M-55, doing red today. Maybe 2nd fastest on the course.