JUKOLA 1st Leg 34th +2:41
GPS-
http://www.tulospalvelu.fi/gps/2017jukol1/
Splits-
http://results.jukola.com/tulokset/fi/j2017_ju/kil...
An unsurprisingly very fast start. I probably dropped about 10/15 places but that was after running a 68 first 400m (1 seconds too fast unfortunately). Yet after about 5min people started slowing so moved up the field and I had wanted to be about 10th so got there and stayed there feeling good. Then the field split with 8 one way and 1 the other. I knew the one person was a much better route for me so went that way. I lost sight of him in the green and even though I only had about 100m to do by myself I missed and blew a minute overshooting the control. Then to two I got caught up with everyone else dropping and ended up much too low losing another 45sec (with Antonio) . At the first common control I was 2:01 behind and 103rd which wasn't great.
Getting slightly annoyed in the train but had a rough plan of sit in uphill then go parallel to train on downhills and throw myself down. This worked well. Nailed my gaffle on 6 not getting distracted by everyone else then flew down to 7 winning the split. A bit of confusion at 9 but got away with only a small miss then hit the path to 10 and started overtaking people. Including Ravinen 2nd team.
Then on long leg just followed the pack to the field (got very confused as it looked like a lake) then had my gel as we hit the field and put the motors on. Really pushed hard and this showed as I overtook 47 teams and was 6th fastest only 17sec down on an ungaffled leg.
Then another best split to 14 on another downhill smash. Small miss to 15 as I went via the other gaffle but realised quickly. Then lost a lot of time 59sec on longish leg. I think I was just slow up the hill and then hesistant through the green trying to get the control. Which I did at least. Then my group split so was solo to my gaffle 17 which I nailed then I just had to hang on for dear life on the running to finish as I was now paying for earlier efforts. Passed by a few teams but not losing too much time hopefully.
Well another first leg and another performance where I would say I did my job (don't fuck it all up) but not much more than that. I'm definitely capable of coming in in the lead group but it is much more important to be consistent.
History
2017 - 34th +2:41
2016 - 38th +2:52
2013 - 32nd +1:19
2012 - 263rd +18:07 (not sure why they let me do it again after this one)
Then we managed to hold solid performances through the night to send out the demon duo of Ruslan and Gustav in 30th who had flyers to bring us up to 10th. Never expected to come this high.