Running (Mixed) long 2:08:40 [4] 21.6 km (5:57 / km) +1085m 4:46 / km
ahr:169 max:190 shoes: Inov-8 Trailroc 255
Long hard descent from Sewage Works down the firetrail that destroyed me when faced with it in the opposite direction at the end of our Mt Solitary epic, wasn't much more fun descending but at least it was half the temperature, cool and misty in places. Taking it pretty easily, or as easily as you can on a long descent, legs not feeling particularly great about it.
Had a bit of company from Dani as we descended past the rest of the group, but once on the climbs was on my own for most of it until I had a toilet stop and was caught by Patrick for sublime point ridge, dropped him on the climb up from Jameson Creek and slowly reeled in Sam and we stuck together until the drinks stop at around 22km, ran the final section from there around Sam & Patrick at various stages.
Was plodding away reasonably on the climbs, had a couple of walking stretches where it got proper steep to sort out food & drink, but kept things moving well. From the junction with Kedumba Valley road up to the drinks point, and from there to Wentworth falls ran the whole way and was feeling ok until about 25km when the wheels started to fall off with calf and hip flexors hurting - more road running than I was expecting with the final 7-8km being along Tableland road to Wentworth Falls where I got the train back to Katoomba.
Learnt a good lesson about not eating/drinking things you're not used to, had a cup of accelerade gunk which was disgusting and really didn't sit well in the stomach on the final 7km. Also took on way more water than was needed at the drinks point, so pack was a bit full for the last section too. New Salomon vest so much better for my back than the Omm sack though, hopefully that'll aid lower back issues that are contributing the calf probs.