Running 1:42:45 [5] 20.69 km (4:58 / km) +795m 4:10 / km
ahr:156 max:184
Feel the burns
Hadn't been planning on running this most of the week because my rib has been a big footy collision last weekend, but I got talked into the idea of considering it last night at the pub so I decided to leave it to a morning time decision.
Got up feeling relatively up for it, and a bit unclear what I would do with my day if I didn't go so off we went.
Started out controlled, didn't do anything silly on the flat early on, worked alright on the first climb and got through a couple of people who had pushed passed me earlier and got onto the back of Andy Lamont by the top (who had been touted as my main rival for the day). Made a little move on the short down and tried to keep it solid on the way up the next gradual gradient, and must have done alright because neither Andy or the fella with him got back to me.
Felt confident I was moving well over the next fast section and started reeling in the lad in front which turned out to be Ben Laverick (fun). We worked together for bits and pieces, and I finally bridged the gap and got by shortly after the turnaround when he was stuck behind another fellow. We ran hard on this long descent and closed back to Calum MacDonald (brilliant, I going to beat all potential rivals).
Ben got a little gap before the bottom, and Calum and I went through the water station together, and I crucially took too many jellies from the helpers and went back to give them back, losing 10sec or so, and losing Calum in the process. He caught Ben through the forest and I was resigned to a 20-30sec gap starting the climb. I fought as hard as I could up but my calves were going. Hit the top and they'd opened up a little bit more, so there was maybe 45sec-1min in it. I hit the descent hard in chase, by the field I knew I was close and thought I might get Ben, this gap slowly closed, but as we went on time just ran out and I never quite got there, entering the field <10sec behind both, but they sprinted each other and I was left weeping (as they also caught Leutch and another Carnethy).
If I'd found that gel I thought I'd forgotten to bring that might have saved me either, but who knows.
Anyway, a good run overall I think, pushed hard all the way, suffered hard, and not far behind some people, so really quite a good season opener, even if it is a little rough to come out on the wrong side of the battle with Ben & Calum (but the right side of the one with Andy at least! He was ~1min back).
Good times, good confidence boost, keen for more.