Whites Line. Simon won the battle of the burglars today (52.5). Less distracted today but still spent too much of the first leg remembering what I was here to do. No real damage this time though. Rode the compass on most legs, normally a weakness of mine but seemed much more disciplined about it than usual. Slowed me down in the short term but a good time investment long term (remember that in future more serious races birdman!). May never have spent so much of a race on or close to the red line. Finally got lazy about it 6 to 7 and paid the price (2 minutes lost), then another minute at 8, (changing the plan and not reading terrain carefully enough), so just 3 minutes lost by the head. Maybe up to the same again lost by the legs - ran out of gas suddenly on the way to 12. Calf again ok (a little tight on and off on the drive home) and ankle better than yesterday. Time to risk getting back on the program I think.
Was worried Martin was trying to dsq me with the proposed Swedish anti-following rule. Finally reeled in my 3 minute head start at 5, then at 6, 9 & 11 just as I was coming into the control he would appear from another direction and get in first. Was also just ahead at 10 but I may have to admit to not exactly following, but certainly monitoring his progress on an ever so slightly different route ;-)
Routegadget