We managed to get the tent up in the dry, ate well and got an OK night's kip, once I'd finished my numbers pee trips and warmed my toes up. We were very pleased with the day's efforts and decided to do the same on day 2 as we had on 1. The aim was to defend a podium at the least, but if K&A were to make a mistake we'd be moving quick enough to put them under pressure. I guessed we'd have the reverse of the A course's Day 1 - looking at the winning times suggested rougher terrain than day1! The start times went up with the top 3 setting off at 6-minute intervals, but with us having J&K 3mins ahead (as leading mixed pair) to act as an early target.
Even with a 5:30 alarm we were a bit pushed for time, what with toilet queues and porridge cooking. However we got to see K&A and J&K set off up the hill and got our maps with a fill 2 minutes to look at them! Set a bearing to the short first control and looked where the others were going, but still were too far right and wandered around the hillside for what felt like an age, losing nearly 6 minutes. We then lost 3 minutes on #2 by, I think, going a little high. A direct line to 3 was better but S&D caught us nearly 13 mins here - they'd set off fast and got better lines, as well as no mistakes. A&I were also with us now so my planned route to 4 went out the window as we settled into a train. S&D were motoring, trying to put the hurt on the rest of us, I dropped a bit but ground my way back, Froome-style on the steep climb to 4. By the climb mid-leg to 5 I was OK again and followed the train in to 5 despite thinking I had a better line spotted - no need to risk it here!
Into the forest for #6. S&D again pushed the pace, we held on with I&A eventually working their way back. As we started the climb out of the forest (about 3:10 in) K&A came in to sight. Wow! I picked up a Caramel Wafer that was lying on the path (turns out Adam had dropped it) and scoffed it as Jim took my pack for 5minutes as we tried to reel them in. We'd caught them 6 mins, and now needed to beat them home by <2 mins to win overall. By the time we hit the moorland we were with them and now a group of 4 teams as the terrain got worse towards #7. The rough climb out of 7 saw I&A drop off and on the following gentle descent Jim saw Adam struggling and we attacked. Adam was gapped by maybe 20s but Kim stayed on us - a tactic Jim had played earlier when I dropped a little. However within a couple of minutes of the next climb Ad had clambered back on. Duncan dropped a bit but Shane came to the front to talk to Jim as we slogged across the longest 800m of my life `(it was so bloody rough!) to the path before 8. I dropped a bit here but a better line from Jim saw the 3 teams pop up at the cairn together and we got 8 together.
I'd been agonising over 9 for a while - a fairly short but pivotal leg. Shane had suggested a contour but I was favouring more direct, taking on a lot of climb. A brief discussion with Jim and we opted to roll the dice and go for the big climb. Jim lead it out and then I hit the front and ground out a good power walk. I think I treated myself one look back and saw Adam off the back a bit, but not by much. I was feeling really strong here, but after cutting across we all dropped into 9 together. "This is all jolly exciting guys, but It'd be nicer to be watching it than racing it." Kim agreed. There'd been some heavy breathing from everyone in the train and we'd now been racing for the win for nearly 3h. S&D had been dropped off the back on the big climb, and Jim had had to scrounge a gel off me before taking some spare food.
Together both teams dropped a bit low en route to 10, Jim saying we were at the correct height on his altimeter as the previous control, before I told him we needed to add 100m on to that for the control. A short steep climb out of the clough and K&A just eased away. They were only 30s or so ahead of me, but that was the elastic gone. By the time we were at the bottom of Hearthstane Burn they were halfway up the hill to the CP at Snout Hill. We were proud of what we'd done and cruised in the last couple of controls, finishing 2mins down on K&A on the day (7 on a resurgent S&D), 9mins overall, after racing head-to-head for over 3h.
We attacked when we got the chance but it wasn't quite to be. I am, however, pleased with how I held up, especially bouncing back to push the pace up the last big climb of the day. Unfortunately it was 2 short 100m digs that did for me in the end.
http://www.omm.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/#79&course=4